Device for gauging suture depth
OwnerRandall L. Browninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for gauging the depth of suture penetration is provided. The device has a sheath with a closed end, where the interior of the sheath is sized to fit over a finger, and a plurality of tines positioned on the closed end so that a suturing device has at least one path across the surface of the closed end unobstructed by the tines. The sheath is generally constructed of material resistant to puncture or penetration by a suturing device. The device can be incorporated into a fingermember of a glove.
Claims18
An apparatus to determine the depth to which sutures are placed in tissues, which comprises:
- (a) a sheath forming an elongated sidewall and a closed end defining an opening opposite said closed end leading into an interior space, said opening and interior space sized to permit at least a portion of a finger having at least one finger joint to be inserted through said opening and into said interior space;
- and
- (b) a plurality of separated tines affixed to and projecting outwardly from said closed end.
On a surgical glove having fingermembers, each fingermember having a closed end, an apparatus to determine the depth to which sutures are placed in tissues which comprises a plurality of separated tines affixed to and projecting outwardly from at least one of said closed ends of said fingermembers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.