Endoscopic assisted abdominoplasty
First Claim
1. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure eschewing the use of large abdominal incisions and sutures comprising the steps ofmaking a small incision through the umbilicus,inserting a surgical cutting and cauterizing instrument through said incision and undermining the skin over a sufficient area of the fascia and muscle to be repaired to permit smooth contraction of the skin over the repaired fascia and muscle,inserting a surgical clamping instrument through said incision, underneath the skin and above the fascia, to engage the fascia at predetermined spaced points and operating the clamping instrument to plicate the fascia,inserting a fascial stapler through the incision and stapling the plicated fascia with surgical staples,repeating the procedure at a predetermined spacing along the fascia being repaired to complete the fascial and muscular repair, andsuturing or closing the umbilical incision.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A novel surgical procedure is an endoscopic assisted abdominoplasty. This procedure eschews the use of abdominal incisions and obtains the desired result with no visible scars on the abdomen of the patient. A traditional or standard abdominoplasty (also called a dermolipectomy of the abdomen) has always required a surgical incision in the abdomen followed by surgical removal of part of the skin, the underlying fat layer, and suturing the opening. The endoscopic assisted abdominoplasty shown herein uses two small incisions, one in the umbilicus for introduction of the surgical instruments, and a small incision within the pubic hair line for endoscopic observation and control of the procedure. While observing the procedure through the endoscope, the surgical instruments are inserted through the umbilicular incision to remove fat (by liposuction) and plicate and repair the muscles (by use of a tenaculum and fascial staples or a single instrument which combines the function of these instruments). After removal of the instruments, the small incisions are sutured and the skin layer allowed to retract and tighten. The procedure has had considerable success and leaves no visible scars, which is of great importance to most patients.
59 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure eschewing the use of large abdominal incisions and sutures comprising the steps of
making a small incision through the umbilicus, inserting a surgical cutting and cauterizing instrument through said incision and undermining the skin over a sufficient area of the fascia and muscle to be repaired to permit smooth contraction of the skin over the repaired fascia and muscle, inserting a surgical clamping instrument through said incision, underneath the skin and above the fascia, to engage the fascia at predetermined spaced points and operating the clamping instrument to plicate the fascia, inserting a fascial stapler through the incision and stapling the plicated fascia with surgical staples, repeating the procedure at a predetermined spacing along the fascia being repaired to complete the fascial and muscular repair, and suturing or closing the umbilical incision.
Specification