Endoscopic assisted abdominoplasty

Claim 2

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.

Claim 3

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis.

Claim 4

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which selected portions of the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin are marked to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and stapled in the procedure.

Claim 5

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and stapled in the procedure, and the plication and stapling drawing together and stapling the fascia along said elliptical mark.

Claim 6

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which a second incision is made within the pubic hair line and an endoscopic tube and endoscopic viewing instrument inserted therein to permit observation of the surgical site during the surgical undermining and plicating and stapling procedures.

Claim 7

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which fat is removed by liposuction during or after undermining of the skin and prior to plication and stapling.

Claim 8

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which a further or supplemental undermining of the skin is carried out, as needed, during or after the plication and stapling steps to assure that the skin is undermined a predetermined distance around the fascial and muscular repair and permit subsequent uniform contraction of the skin over the repair.

Claim 9

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which said surgical cutting and cauterizing instrument is an electrosurgical cutting and cauterizing instrument or a laser instrument operable to be inserted 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.

Claim 10

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which said surgical clamping instrument is a cervical tenaculum inserted through said incision, underneath the skin and above the fascia, to engage the fascia at predetermined spaced points and operated to plicate the fascia.

Claim 11

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which said fascial stapler is an open end type stapler operable to compressing staples into a closed "B" or "8" shape to secure the plicated fascia.

Claim 12

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which said plication and stapling is done at a spacing of about 4-6 cm. and using about 20-60 staples for the procedure.

Claim 13

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which said surgical clamping instrument is a cervical tenaculum inserted through said incision, underneath the skin and above the fascia, to engage the fascia at distances of about 12-24 cm. and operated to plicate the fascia.

Claim 14

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which said surgical clamping instrument is a cervical tenaculum inserted through said incision, underneath the skin and above the fascia, to engage the fascia at distances of about 12-24 cm. and operated to plicate the fascia, said fascial stapler is an open end type stapler operable to compressing staples into a closed "B" or "8" shape to secure the plicated fascia, and said plication and stapling is done at a spacing of about 4-6 cm. and using about 20-60 staples for the procedure.

Claim 15

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which said surgical clamping instrument and said fascial stapler are a single combined instrument for plicating and stapling in sequence.

Claim 16

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which said surgical clamping instrument is a cervical tenaculum and said fascial stapler is an open end type stapler operable to compressing staples into a closed "B" or "8", combined as a single instrument for plicating and stapling in sequence.

Claim 17

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis, and selected portions of the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin are marked to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and stapled in the procedure.

Claim 18

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis, the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and stapled in the procedure, and the plication and stapling drawing together and stapling the fascia along said elliptical mark.

Claim 19

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis, the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and stapled in the procedure, the plication and stapling drawing together and stapling the fascia along said elliptical mark, and a second incision is made within the pubic hair line and an endoscopic tube and endoscopic viewing instrument inserted therein to permit observation of the surgical site during the surgical undermining and plicating and stapling procedures.

Claim 20

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis, the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and stapled in the procedure, the plication and stapling drawing together and stapling the fascia along said elliptical mark, a second incision is made within the pubic hair line and an endoscopic tube and endoscopic viewing instrument inserted therein to permit observation of the surgical site during the surgical undermining and plicating and stapling procedures, and fat is removed by liposuction during or after undermining of the skin and prior to plication and stapling.

Claim 21

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis, the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and stapled in the procedure, the plication and stapling drawing together and stapling the fascia along said elliptical mark, a second incision is made within the pubic hair line and an endoscopic tube and endoscopic viewing instrument inserted therein to permit observation of the surgical site during the surgical undermining and plicating and stapling procedures, and a further or supplemental undermining of the skin is carried out, as needed, during or after the plication and stapling steps to assure that the skin is undermined a predetermined distance around the fascial and muscular repair and permit subsequent uniform contraction of the skin over the repair.

Claim 22

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis, the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and stapled in the procedure, the plication and stapling drawing together and stapling the fascia along said elliptical mark, a second incision is made within the pubic hair line and an endoscopic tube and endoscopic viewing instrument inserted therein to permit observation of the surgical site during the surgical undermining and plicating and stapling procedures, and a further or supplemental undermining of the skin is carried out, as needed, during or after the plication and stapling steps to assure that the skin is undermined a predetermined distance around the fascial and muscular repair and permit subsequent uniform contraction of the skin over the repair, and fat is removed by liposuction during or after undermining of the skin and prior to plication and stapling.

Claim 23

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis, the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and stapled in the procedure, the plication and stapling drawing together and stapling the fascia along said elliptical mark, said surgical cutting and cauterizing instrument is an electrosurgical cutting and cauterizing instrument or a laser instrument operable to be inserted 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, a second incision is made within the pubic hair line and an endoscopic tube and endoscopic viewing instrument inserted therein to permit observation of the surgical site during the surgical undermining and plicating and stapling procedures, and a further or supplemental undermining of the skin is carried out, as needed, during or after the plication and stapling steps to assure that the skin is undermined a predetermined distance around the fascial and muscular repair and permit subsequent uniform contraction of the skin over the repair, and fat is removed by liposuction during or after undermining of the skin and prior to plication and stapling.

Claim 24

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis, the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and stapled in the procedure, the plication and stapling drawing together and stapling the fascia along said elliptical mark, said surgical cutting and cauterizing instrument is an electrosurgical cutting and cauterizing instrument or a laser instrument operable to be inserted 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, said surgical clamping instrument is a cervical tenaculum inserted through said incision, underneath the skin and above the fascia, to engage the fascia at predetermined spaced points and operated to plicate the fascia, a second incision is made within the pubic hair line and an endoscopic tube and endoscopic viewing instrument inserted therein to permit observation of the surgical site during the surgical undermining and plicating and stapling procedures, and a further or supplemental undermining of the skin is carried out, as needed, during or after the plication and stapling steps to assure that the skin is undermined a predetermined distance around the fascial and muscular repair and permit subsequent uniform contraction of the skin over the repair, and fat is removed by liposuction during or after undermining of the skin and prior to plication and stapling.

Claim 25

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis, the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and stapled in the procedure, the plication and stapling drawing together and stapling the fascia along said elliptical mark, said surgical cutting and cauterizing instrument is an electrosurgical cutting and cauterizing instrument or a laser instrument operable to be inserted 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, said surgical clamping instrument is a cervical tenaculum inserted through said incision, underneath the skin and above the fascia, to engage the fascia at predetermined spaced points and operated to plicate the fascia, said fascial stapler is an open end type stapler operable to compressing staples into a closed "B" or "8" shape to secure the plicated fascia, a second incision is made within the pubic hair line and an endoscopic tube and endoscopic viewing instrument inserted therein to permit observation of the surgical site during the surgical undermining and plicating and stapling procedures, and a further or supplemental undermining of the skin is carried out, as needed, during or after the plication and stapling steps to assure that the skin is undermined a predetermined distance around the fascial and muscular repair and permit subsequent uniform contraction of the skin over the repair, and fat is removed by liposuction during or after undermining of the skin and prior to plication and stapling.

Claim 26

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis, the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and stapled in the procedure, the plication and stapling drawing together and stapling the fascia along said elliptical mark, said surgical cutting and cauterizing instrument is an electrosurgical cutting and cauterizing instrument or a laser instrument operable to be inserted 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, said surgical clamping instrument is a cervical tenaculum inserted through said incision, underneath the skin and above the fascia, to engage the fascia at predetermined spaced points and operated to plicate the fascia, said fascial stapler is an open end type stapler operable to compressing staples into a closed "B" or "8" shape to secure the plicated fascia, said plication and stapling is done at a spacing of about 4-6 cm. and using about 20-60 staples for the procedure, a second incision is made within the pubic hair line and an endoscopic tube and endoscopic viewing instrument inserted therein to permit observation of the surgical site during the surgical undermining and plicating and stapling procedures, and a further or supplemental undermining of the skin is carried out, as needed, during or after the plication and stapling steps to assure that the skin is undermined a predetermined distance around the fascial and muscular repair and permit subsequent uniform contraction of the skin over the repair, and fat is removed by liposuction during or after undermining of the skin and prior to plication and stapling.

Claim 27

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis, the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and stapled in the procedure, the plication and stapling drawing together and stapling the fascia along said elliptical mark, said surgical cutting and cauterizing instrument is an electrosurgical cutting and cauterizing instrument or a laser instrument operable to be inserted 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, said surgical clamping instrument is a cervical tenaculum inserted through said incision, underneath the skin and above the fascia, to engage the fascia at predetermined spaced points and operated to plicate the fascia, said fascial stapler is an open end type stapler operable to compressing staples into a closed "B" or "8" shape to secure the plicated fascia, said plication and stapling is done at a spacing of about 4-6 cm. and using about 20-60 staples for the procedure, said surgical clamping instrument and said fascial stapler are a single combined instrument for plicating and stapling in sequence, a second incision is made within the pubic hair line and an endoscopic tube and endoscopic viewing instrument inserted therein to permit observation of the surgical site during the surgical undermining and plicating and stapling procedures, and a further or supplemental undermining of the skin is carried out, as needed, during or after the plication and stapling steps to assure that the skin is undermined a predetermined distance around the fascial and muscular repair and permit subsequent uniform contraction of the skin over the repair, and fat is removed by liposuction during or after undermining of the skin and prior to plication and stapling.

Claim 28

A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis, the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and stapled in the procedure, the plication and stapling drawing together and stapling the fascia along said elliptical mark, said surgical cutting and cauterizing instrument is an electrosurgical cutting and cauterizing instrument or a laser instrument operable to be inserted 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, said surgical clamping instrument is a cervical tenaculum inserted through said incision, underneath the skin and above the fascia, to engage the fascia at predetermined spaced points and operated to plicate the fascia, said fascial stapler is an open end type stapler operable to compressing staples into a closed "B" or "8" shape to secure the plicated fascia, said plication and stapling is done at a spacing of about 4-6 cm. and using about 20-60 staples for the procedure, said surgical clamping instrument is a cervical tenaculum and said fascial stapler is an open end type stapler operable to compressing staples into a closed "B" or "8", combined as a single instrument for plicating and stapling in sequence, a second incision is made within the pubic hair line and an endoscopic tube and endoscopic viewing instrument inserted therein to permit observation of the surgical site during the surgical undermining and plicating and stapling procedures, and a further or supplemental undermining of the skin is carried out, as needed, during or after the plication and stapling steps to assure that the skin is undermined a predetermined distance around the fascial and muscular repair and permit subsequent uniform contraction of the skin over the repair, and fat is removed by liposuction during or after undermining of the skin and prior to plication and stapling.