Patent EP0121362A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0121362A1
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EP
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Split-ring type tissue fastener
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
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Filing: 1984-03-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A sterile, surgical, unitary fastener (15) having a generally circular shape and with its free ends (17,19) disposed laterally with respect to each other. Methods and instruments (30) for forming and placing such fasteners (15) to join tissue together.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert William Mericle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B17/06066; A61B2017/06076
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
37 words
A sterile, surgical, unitary fastener for joining animal or human tissue, said fastener comprising a loop having a pair of free ends with the free ends of said loop being disposed laterally with respect to one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
37 words
A sterile, surgical, unitary fastener for joining animal or human tissue, said fastener comprising a loop having a pair of free ends with the free ends of said loop being disposed laterally with respect to one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A unitary fastener according to Claim 1 wherein the free ends abut each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A fastener according to Claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the loop has a generally circular shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fastener according to Claim 1 wherein the fastener comprises a plurality of loops connected to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein at least one free end has a sharpened point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the fastener is made of stainless steel.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for joining tissue comprising approximating the tissue to be joined, inserting one end of a fastener through the approximated tissue, simultaneously forming said fastener into a generally circular shape while said - fastener is being inserted through the tissue, and further simultaneously disposing said inserted end of said fastener laterally from the opposite end of said fastener while said fastener is being formed.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for joining tissue comprising approximating the tissue to be joined, inserting one end of a fastener through the approximated tissue, simultaneously forming said fastener into a generally circular shape while said - fastener is being inserted through the tissue, and further simultaneously disposing said inserted end of said fastener laterally from the opposite end of said fastener while said fastener is being formed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to Claim 7 wherein the fastener is formed into a plurality of connected generally circular shapes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
92 words
An instrument for applying a unitary fastener for joining tissue together, said fastener comprising a loop having a pair of free ends disposed laterally with respect to each other, said instrument comprising a forming head having a curved offset end, feed means for feeding a straight fastener blank to said forming head, drive means for driving said blank from said feed means through the forming head to the curved offset end portion to form said straight fastener into a generally circular shape having its ends disposed laterally with respect to one another.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
92 words
An instrument for applying a unitary fastener for joining tissue together, said fastener comprising a loop having a pair of free ends disposed laterally with respect to each other, said instrument comprising a forming head having a curved offset end, feed means for feeding a straight fastener blank to said forming head, drive means for driving said blank from said feed means through the forming head to the curved offset end portion to form said straight fastener into a generally circular shape having its ends disposed laterally with respect to one another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
An instrument according to Claim 9 wherein the curved offset end has a sharpened point.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3858783A
Cited
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