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:
Dec. 02, 1997
Filed:
Feb. 23, 1996
Javin C Pierce, Stowe, VT (US);
Neil J Maki, Thibodaux, LA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A knot puller instrument and its method of use with surgical suture aids a surgeon in tying surgical knots. The apparatus includes a main body member that is formed of rigid structural material that can be sterilized such as stainless steel. The body is elongated, having a preferably linear central longitudinal axis, and proximal and distal end portions. The proximal end of the main body provides a handle for gripping. The distal end of the main body is comprised of a pair of spaced apart appendages that are positioned to hold a length of suture therebetween at a transverse concavely shaped bridge portion. A space between the appendages is formed by having one appendage suspended free of the instrument body, connected only to the bridge member. This allows a surgeon to place a length of suture in between the two appendages for engagement by the transverse curved bridge connector. During use, the surgeon simply forces the main body in a desired direction to pull one of the suture free ends away from the knot being formed thus applying tension that helps the surgeon tie a very tight knot.