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:
Aug. 19, 1997
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
Vernon L Vincent, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Frederick L Coe, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
INAMED Development Company, Carpinteria, CA (US);
Abstract
A tool is described which is useful for tightening a band or ligature having a buckle end and a free end during laparoscopic surgery. The tool comprises outer and inner elongate, slidably mounted cylindrical members. The outer member, which is slotted, has mounted on the distal end thereof a member for grasping the buckle end of a ligature. The inner member has a grasping portion mounted thereon and projecting through a slot in the outer member which is suitable for releasably engaging the free end of the ligature. In practice, the free end of the ligature is brought around to encircle a tissue and passed through a conduit within the buckle portion of the ligature, much as one threads a belt end through a buckle prior to cinching tight and fastening. The buckle portion preferably has a tab projecting therefrom with a hole therein which accommodates the buckle grasping member on the end of the outer member. The buckle grasping member is preferably a post or stationary pin which is inserted into the hole in the tab on the buckle portion. The free end of the end of the ligature has a special site for receiving and releasably engaging the free end grasping portion (fork) of the tool. A manually induced sliding motion of the inner member with respect to the outer member pulls the free end of the ligature a fixed distance through the buckle until a locking member engages the ligature within the buckle preventing removal of the free end therefrom. The buckle grasping member and the free end grasping member can be in opposite positions on the tool if anatomical circumstances are better suited by the arrangement.