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. 10, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 17, 1999
Robert F. Leonard, Suwanee, GA (US);
Genzyme Corporation, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
A surgical knot pusher and method for use thereof to facilitate the tying of surgical sutures at remote sites within the body during endoscopic surgery and other minimally invasive surgical procedures, the knot pusher having a tubular, elongated housing having a passage defining a rod axis therethrough, a suture receiving tip forming a J-shaped hook defining a gap, a drive rod slidably disposed within the passage of the housing and extending substantially co-axial to the rod axis of the housing, wherein the drive rod is connected to the tip so that said tip is selectively operable between an open position, wherein axial movement of the drive rod relative to the housing causes a portion of the tip to extend beyond the distal end of the housing so that a length of suture may be inserted therein the gap of the hook of the tip, and a closed position, wherein axial movement of the drive rod relative to the housing causes the tip to be received within the passage of the housing proximate the distal end of the housing so that an eyelet having an aperture for releasably capturing the first length of the suture is formed, and a knot pushing surface formed from the exterior surface of the tip.