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:
Nov. 03, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 13, 1997
Shaw P Wan, Rolla, MO (US);
Rosendo Martinez, St. Louis, MO (US);
Other;
Abstract
An instrument comprising a substantially rigid guide tube having opposite open ends which are distal and proximal relative to a person using the instrument. The guide tube has a shank portion and a distal end portion extending generally laterally with respect to the shank portion. A handle is provided on the shank portion of the guide tube generally adjacent the proximal end of the guide tube. A stiff but flexible shaft inside the guide tube has a distal end part movable distally relative to the guide tube to extend through and beyond the open distal end of the guide tube. A suture thread holder is provided on the distal end part of the shaft. The shaft is manually movable relative to the guide tube to move the distal end part of the shaft and the suture thread holder from a retracted position to an extended position along a substantially straight path extending generally laterally at an angle of not substantially less than ninety degrees with respect to the shank portion of the guide tube.