Suturing instrument
First Claim
1. A suturing instrument for use in a suturing procedure, comprisinga substantially rigid guide tube having opposite open ends which are distal and proximal relative to a person using the instrument, said guide tube having a shank portion and a distal end portion extending generally laterally with respect to the shank portion,a handle 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 having a distal end part movable distally relative to the guide tube to extend through and beyond the open distal end of the guide tube, anda suture thread holder on the distal end part of the shaft,said shaft being manually movable longitudinally relative to the guide tube to move the distal end part of the shaft from a retracted position in which the suture thread holder is generally adjacent the open distal end of the guide tube, to an extended position in which the suture thread holder is farther away from the distal end of the guide tube and farther away from the shank portion of the guide tube, the distal end portion of the guide tube being configured to guide the distal end part of the shaft and the suture thread holder thereon along a substantially straight path extending generally laterally at an angle of not less than about ninety degrees with respect to the shank portion of the guide tube.
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Accused Products
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.
89 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A suturing instrument for use in a suturing procedure, comprising
a substantially rigid guide tube having opposite open ends which are distal and proximal relative to a person using the instrument, said guide tube having a shank portion and a distal end portion extending generally laterally with respect to the shank portion, a handle 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 having a distal end part movable distally relative to the guide tube to extend through and beyond the open distal end of the guide tube, and a suture thread holder on the distal end part of the shaft, said shaft being manually movable longitudinally relative to the guide tube to move the distal end part of the shaft from a retracted position in which the suture thread holder is generally adjacent the open distal end of the guide tube, to an extended position in which the suture thread holder is farther away from the distal end of the guide tube and farther away from the shank portion of the guide tube, the distal end portion of the guide tube being configured to guide the distal end part of the shaft and the suture thread holder thereon along a substantially straight path extending generally laterally at an angle of not less than about ninety degrees with respect to the shank portion of the guide tube.
- 3. A suturing instrument as set forth in claim 3 wherein said opening is an eye.
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5. A suturing instrument for use in a suturing procedure, comprising:
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a substantially rigid guide tube having opposite open ends which are distal and proximal relative to a person using the instrument, said guide tube having a shank portion and a distal end portion extending generally laterally with respect to the shank portion, a handle 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 having a distal end part movable distally relative to the guide tube to extend through and beyond the open distal end of the guide tube, and a suture thread holder on the distal end part of the shaft, said shaft being manually movable relative to the guide tube the distal end part of the shaft having a sharp tip for penetrating tissue, to move the distal end part of the shaft from a retracted position in which the suture thread holder is generally adjacent the open distal end of the guide tube, to an extended position in which the suture thread holder is farther away from the distal end of the guide tube and farther away from the shank portion of the guide tube, the distal end portion of the guide tube being configured to guide the distal end part of the shaft and the suture thread holder thereon along a substantially straight path extending generally laterally at an angle of not less than about ninety degrees with respect to the shank portion of the guide tube.
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6. A suturing instrument for use in a suturing procedure, comprising:
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a substantially rigid guide tube having opposite open ends which are distal and proximal relative to a person using the instrument, said guide tube having a shank portion and a distal end portion extending generally laterally with respect to the shank portion, a handle 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 having a distal end part movable distally relative to the guide tube to extend through and beyond the open distal end of the guide tube, said shaft being resilient and having a middle part disposed inside the guide tube, said middle part and distal end part of the shaft being substantially straight and collinear when the shaft is unrestrained, and a suture thread holder on the distal end part of the shaft, the suture thread holder comprising an opening formed in the distal end part of the shaft, said shaft being manually movable relative to the guide tube to move the distal end part of the shaft from a retracted position in which the suture thread holder is generally adjacent the open distal end of the guide tube, to an extended position in which the suture thread holder is farther away from the distal end of the guide tube and farther away from the shank portion of the guide tube, the distal end portion of the guide tube being configured to guide the distal end part of the shaft and the suture thread holder thereon 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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 12)
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16. A suturing instrument for use in a radical prostatectomy, comprising:
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a substantially rigid guide tube having opposite open ends which are distal and proximal relative to a person using the instrument, said guide tube having a shank portion and a distal end portion extending generally laterally with respect to the shank portion, a handle 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 having a distal end part movable distally relative to the guide tube to extend through and beyond the open distal end of the guide tube, and a suture thread holder on the distal end part of the shaft, said shaft being manually movable relative to the guide tube to move the distal end part of the shaft from a retracted position in which the suture thread holder is generally adjacent the open distal end of the guide tube, to an extended position in which the suture thread holder is farther away from the distal end of the guide tube and farther away from the shank portion of the guide tube, the distal end portion of the guide tube being configured to guide the distal end part of the shaft and the suture thread holder thereon 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, the shank portion of the guide tube having a straight main section and a distal section bent at a second angle relative to the main section whereby when the instrument is held in use during the procedure the main section of the shank portion of the guide tube extends to a position adjacent the pubic bone, the distal section of the shank portion extends down and under the pubic bone, and the distal end portion of the guide tube extends laterally toward the avascular plane under the dorsal vein complex, so that upon movement of the shaft to its extended position, a suture thread held by the suture holder is carried through the avascular plane below the dorsal vein complex to a location beyond the dorsal vein complex. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification