Laparoscopic suture snare
First Claim
1. A suture snare instrument comprising:
- a hollow housing defining an internal cavity;
an introducer needle having a first end secured to said hollow housing and a second end, said second end terminating in a sharp point to permit the insertion thereof through body tissue;
a plunger extending within said hollow housing and supported for sliding movement relative thereto between first and second positions;
a spring engaged with said plunger to urge said plunger toward said first position anda wire disposed within said introducer needle and connected to said plunger for movement therewith, said wire having a looped end which is retracted within said second end of said introducer needle when said plunger is in said first position and which extends outwardly from said second end of said introducer needle when said plunger is in said second position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An instrument for facilitating the use of sutures in laparoscopic surgical procedures includes a hollow housing defining an internal cavity. A plunger extends within the cavity of the housing and is supported therein for relative sliding movement between first and second axial positions. A spring disposed within the cavity urges the plunger to the first axial position relative to the housing. An introducer needle is secured to the housing and extends co-axially therefrom, terminating in an angled tip having a sharp point. An actuator tube is disposed within the introducer needle and is secured to the plunger for axial movement therewith relative to the housing. A flexible wire is disposed within portions of the actuator tube and is secured thereto for axial movement with the plunger. The wire is folded back over itself to form a looped end. When the plunger is in the first axial position, the looped end of the wire is withdrawn within the angled end of the introducer needle. When the plunger is moved to the second axial position, the looped end of the wire is extended outwardly from the angled end of the introducer needle. The looped end of the wire is permanently deformed in a diamond-like shape to facilitate usage when extended outwardly from the introducer needle.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A suture snare instrument comprising:
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a hollow housing defining an internal cavity; an introducer needle having a first end secured to said hollow housing and a second end, said second end terminating in a sharp point to permit the insertion thereof through body tissue; a plunger extending within said hollow housing and supported for sliding movement relative thereto between first and second positions; a spring engaged with said plunger to urge said plunger toward said first position and a wire disposed within said introducer needle and connected to said plunger for movement therewith, said wire having a looped end which is retracted within said second end of said introducer needle when said plunger is in said first position and which extends outwardly from said second end of said introducer needle when said plunger is in said second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A suture snare instrument comprising:
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a hollow housing defining an internal cavity; an introducer needle having a first end secured to said hollow housing and a second end which extends at an angle relative to said first end; a plunger extending within said hollow housing and supported for sliding movement relative thereto between first and second positions; a wire disposed within said introducer needle and connected to said plunger for movement therewith, said wire having a looped end which is retracted within said second end of said introducer needle when said plunger is in said first position and which extends outwardly from said second end of said introducer needle when said plunger is in said second position; and a flange extending outwardly from said hollow housing and having a flat formed thereon for providing a tactile indication of the angle at which said second end of said introducer needle extends relative to said first end thereof. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A suture snare instrument comprising:
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a hollow housing defining an internal cavity; an introducer needle having a first end secured to said hollow housing and a second end; a plunger extending within said hollow housing and supported for sliding movement relative thereto between first and second positions; a wire disposed within said introducer needle and connected to said plunger for movement therewith, said wire having a looped end which is retracted within said second end of said introducer needle when said plunger is in said first position and which extends outwardly from said second end of said introducer needle when said plunger is in said second position; and a slot formed in one of said hollow housing and said plunger and a pin provided on the other one of said hollow housing and said plunger, said slot and said pin cooperating to selectively retain said plunger in said second position. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification