Device for use in tying knots
AssigneeUniversity College London
InventorsPaul Swain, Feng Gong, Geoffrey John Brown, Timothy Noel Mills
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thread guide device is provided which is adapted to be removably or fixedly mounted on the distal end of an endoscope, or which is an integral part thereof. Alternatively, the device may comprise a head joined to the distal end of an elongate shaft that is slidable within the endoscope. The device has a pair of thread guides, for example in the form of longitudinally extending passages, which are laterally spaced from one another. The device permits a knot formed by threads which have passed through the thread guides to be viewed by the endoscope.
Claims6
An endoscope having a distal end and a proximal end, and a thread guide device in the form of an annular member which surrounds the said distal end without impairing the field of view of the endoscope, the thread guide device having a pair of thread guide means which are laterally spaced from one another, the device permitting a knot formed by threads which have passed through the thread guide means to be viewed by the endoscope.
A method of pushing a knot to a suture site within a patient comprising:
- providing an endoscope;
- providing a guide member at the distal end of an endoscope without impairing the field of view of the endoscope, the guide member having a pair of thread guides which are laterally spaced from one another, the device permitting a knot formed by threads which have passed through the thread guide to be viewed through the endoscope;
- tying a knot with free ends of a suture outside the patient;
- inserting the free ends of the suture through the thread guides;
- holding the free ends of the suture while inserting the thread guide device and endoscope into the patient;
- pushing the knot to the suture site while permitting unobstructed viewing of the knot through the endoscope.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.