Radiused tip surgical needles and surgical incision members
AssigneeUnited States Surgical Corporation
InventorGeorge R. Proto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surgical needle or surgical incision member is provided including a body portion defining first and second longitudinal ends, a radiused tissue penetrating portion adjacent at least one longitudinal end of the body portion having a radius of approximately 0.005 to 0.015 inches, suture attachment structure formed in the body portion and a suture attached to the suture attachment structure. A method of suturing is also provided wherein the surgical needle may be passed through tissue while minimizing trauma to adjacent bony structures or the like.
Claims2
A method of suturing tissue with minimal trauma to bony structure comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a surgical needle having a body portion, a relatively blunt tissue penetrating portion on at least one end of the body portion having a radius of approximately 0.005 to 0.015 inches, and a length of suture affixed to the body portion;
- b) penetrating a first tissue section with the surgical needle;
- c) moving the relatively blunt tissue penetrating portion along the surface of bony structure without penetration thereof;
- d) penetrating a second tissue section with the surgical needle;
- and
- e) drawing the surgical needle through the first and second tissue sections to draw the length of suture through the first and second tissue sections.
A method of endoscopically suturing tissue with minimal trauma to bony structure comprising the steps of:
- a) mounting a surgical needle to an endoscopic suturing apparatus, the surgical needle having a body portion, a relatively blunt tissue penetrating portion on at least one end of the body portion having a radius of approximately 0.005 to 0.015 inches, and a length of suture affixed to the body portion;
- b) inserting the endoscopic suturing apparatus into a body cavity through a tubular cannula;
- c) penetrating a first tissue section with the surgical needle;
- d) moving the relatively blunt tissue penetrating portion along the surface of bony structure without causing permanent deformation of the body portion of the surgical needle;
- e) penetrating a second tissue section with the surgical needle;
- and
- f) drawing the surgical needle through the first and second tissue sections to draw the length of suture through the first and second tissue sections.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.