United States Surgical Corporation

Paul Nolan

David T Green

Corbett W Stone

Keith Ratcliff

H Jonathan Tovey

Salvatore Castro

Graham W Bryan

Gregory S Gardner

A surgical cutting instrument for performing endoscopic procedures such as carpal tunnel release. The cutting instrument consists of a tubular sheath or obturator constructed of a transparent material which is connected to a handle which includes means for securing a viewing instrument such as an endoscope thereto. A cutting blade is moved from a first protected or enclosed position to a second armed position, where only the blade edge is exposed at an opening in the obturator.

Surgical cutting instrument with guarded blade

The disclosure contemplates a method for using an endoscopic suturing apparatus to conveniently place various knots in suture such as a square knot, a modified fisherman's knot, a securing knot, an alternative square knot and a surgeon's knot. The knots are formed variously by placing the suture between the jaws or around one jaw and passing the needle from one jaw to the other to be able to draw the suture through loops formed in the suture.

Method of employing surgical suturing apparatus to tie knots

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Wilton, CT, United States of America

Paul Nolan