Loader for surgical suturing instrument
First Claim
1. A quick loader for a surgical suturing instrument of the type having at least one ferrule receiving chamber and a suture receiving passage, comprising:
- a loader body having a recess for receiving an end of a suturing instrument;
a seat adjacent the recess for releasably holding at least one end of a suture having a ferrule attached thereto, the seat being aligned with and adjacent to the ferrule receiving chamber in the suturing instrument when the end of the instrument is positioned in the recess for permitting the transfer of the ferrule from the seat on the loader and into the ferrule-receiving chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A quick loader and associated method for a surgical suturing instrument of the type having at least one ferrule receiving chamber and a suture receiving passage, includes a loader body having a recess formed therein for receiving an end of a surgical suturing instrument, a seat adjacent the recess for releasably holding at least one ferrule-tipped end of a suture in the seat, the seat being aligned and adjacent to a ferrule receiving chamber in the suturing instrument when the instrument is positioned in the recess, for permitting the transfer of the ferrules from the seat on the loader into the ferrule receiving chamber.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A quick loader for a surgical suturing instrument of the type having at least one ferrule receiving chamber and a suture receiving passage, comprising:
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a loader body having a recess for receiving an end of a suturing instrument;
a seat adjacent the recess for releasably holding at least one end of a suture having a ferrule attached thereto, the seat being aligned with and adjacent to the ferrule receiving chamber in the suturing instrument when the end of the instrument is positioned in the recess for permitting the transfer of the ferrule from the seat on the loader and into the ferrule-receiving chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of loading a suture in a surgical suturing instrument of the type having at least one ferrule receiving chamber and a suture receiving passage, comprising the steps of:
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positioning an end of the surgical suturing instrument in a chamber of a quick loader body carrying at least one end of a suture having a ferrule attached thereto in a seat aligned with and adjacent to the ferrule receiving chamber;
inserting a flexible tube carrying a loop of the suture into and through the suture receiving passage;
withdrawing the flexible tube, leaving the loop of the suture in place in the suture receiving passage; and
transferring the end of the suture having a ferrule attached into the ferrule-receiving chamber. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of loading a suture into a suturing instrument comprising the steps of:
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loading a center loop of the suture into a flexible tube;
inserting the flexible tube into one end of a suture receiving passage in the suturing instrument and out a second end; and
pulling the tube off of the center loop of the suture through the second end.
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Specification