Surgical suturing apparatus with measurement structure
AssigneeTyco Healthcare Group LP
InventorsMichael Primavera, Kevin Clair
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is disclosed suture manipulating instrumentation having measuring structure to determine the length of suture during a given point in a surgery. The instrument is preferably a surgical suturing instrument capable of manipulating a suture carrying needle at the distal end. The measuring structure in the form of a scale is provided on the suturing instrument at a location remote from the distal end. The length of suture can easily be determined with the use of the scale at any point during a surgery. There is also disclosed a kit for providing the suture measuring structure on other suture manipulating instruments, as well as, methods of using suture manipulating instrumentation having the disclosed measuring structure.
Claims13
A method for measuring a length of a suture during surgery, a suture comprising:
- providing an elongate suture manipulating instrument configured to hold a first end of a suture at a predetermined point on a distal end of the instrument and a scale having at least one graduation provided on the instrument at a location remote from the distal end;
- grasping a second end of the suture with a separate device;
- and
- drawing the suture along the instrument adjacent the scale so that a second end of the suture is adjacent the at least one graduation on the scale to measure the length of suture while the instrument is in the body cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.