The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 19, 1994
Filed:
Jul. 12, 1993
Gerald W Johnson, Houston, TX (US);
Other;
Abstract
A novel surgical procedure is an endoscopic assisted abdominoplasty. This procedure eschews the use of abdominal incisions and obtains the desired result with no visible scars on the abdomen of the patient. A traditional or standard abdominoplasty (also called a dermolipectomy of the abdomen) has always required a surgical incision in the abdomen followed by surgical removal of part of the skin, the underlying fat layer, and suturing the opening. The endoscopic assisted abdominoplasty shown herein uses two small incisions, one in the umbilicus for introduction of the surgical instruments, and a small incision within the pubic hair line for endoscopic observation and control of the procedure. While observing the procedure through the endoscope, the surgical instruments are inserted through the umbilicular incision to remove fat (by liposuction) and plicate and repair the muscles (by use of a tenaculum and fascial staples or a single instrument which combines the function of these instruments). After removal of the instruments, the small incisions are sutured and the skin layer allowed to retract and tighten. The procedure has had considerable success and leaves no visible scars, which is of great importance to most patients.