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:
Apr. 27, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 08, 1997
InBae Yoon, Phoenix, MD (US);
Ronald J Brinkerhoff, New Richmond, OH (US);
David Stefanchik, Mason, OH (US);
Jeffrey S Swayze, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Bryan Knodel, Flag Staff, AZ (US);
Rudolph H Nobis, Mason, OH (US);
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method for suturing tissue using a needle holder device, The device includes a handle for holding it, the handle has distal and proximal ends. The device also has right and left arms extending distally from the handle. The arms of the device have proximal ends attached to the handle and distal ends having grippers attached thereto for gripping and releasing a needle. The device includes at least one mechanism for moving the distal ends of the arms closely adjacent to one another and for passing the needle from one gripper to the other and thereafter for moving the distal ends of the arms further apart from one another. The right gripper is holding a needle having a suture attached thereto. The method first involves moving the distal ends of the arms apart from one another and manually inserting the needle into the tissue and back out again. Thereafter, the method involves actuating the mechanism so as to move the arms closely adjacent one another so that the left gripper holds the needle, the right gripper releases the needle. Then the method involves moving the distal ends of the arms further apart from one another. Lastly, the method involves removing the needle from the tissue.