Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for suturing a wound in a body wall having a near side and a far side, comprising the steps of: providing a wound closure apparatus including a proximal section, a distal section and an intermediate section; providing a suture having two ends and a suture loop therebetween; providing an expansion mechanism in the distal section of the apparatus, the expansion mechanism being operable to move the suture between a first position and a second position disposed radially outwardly of the first position, providing a finger tab in the proximal section of the apparatus; inserting the distal section through the wound from the near side to the far side of the body wall; deploying a pair of needles through the body wall surrounding the wound to form an associated pair of needle holes; moving the finger tab in the proximal section of the apparatus to operate the expansion member and move the suture between the first and second positions to thread the needles on the far side of the body wall; withdrawing the threaded needles through the needle holes to access the ends of the suture on the near side of the body wall; and withdrawing the distal section of the apparatus through the wound.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for suturing a wound in a body wall having a near side and a far side, comprising the steps of: providing a wound closure apparatus including a proximal section, a distal section and an intermediate section; providing a suture having two ends and a suture loop therebetween; providing an expansion mechanism in the distal section of the apparatus, the expansion mechanism being operable to move the suture between a first position and a second position disposed radially outwardly of the first position, providing a finger tab in the proximal section of the apparatus; inserting the distal section through the wound from the near side to the far side of the body wall; deploying a pair of needles through the body wall surrounding the wound to form an associated pair of needle holes; moving the finger tab in the proximal section of the apparatus to operate the expansion member and move the suture between the first and second positions to thread the needles on the far side of the body wall; withdrawing the threaded needles through the needle holes to access the ends of the suture on the near side of the body wall; and withdrawing the distal section of the apparatus through the wound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: providing a detent mechanism to removably lock the expansion mechanism with a suture in the second position; and after the deploying step releasing the detent mechanism to move the suture from the second position toward the first position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
131 words
A wound closure apparatus for suturing a wound in a body wall, comprising: a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end; a handle disposed at the proximal end of the cannula; a catheter coupled to the distal end of the cannula, the catheter being sized and configured to extend through the wound in the body wall; a suture extending at least partially through the cannula and the catheter; a suture manipulator associated with the catheter and operable to manipulate the suture relative to the cat meter; a pair of needles extendable from the cannula into proximity with the catheter; and a finger tab movable relative to the handle to operate the suture manipulator in order to move the suture into threading engagement with the needles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
131 words
A wound closure apparatus for suturing a wound in a body wall, comprising: a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end; a handle disposed at the proximal end of the cannula; a catheter coupled to the distal end of the cannula, the catheter being sized and configured to extend through the wound in the body wall; a suture extending at least partially through the cannula and the catheter; a suture manipulator associated with the catheter and operable to manipulate the suture relative to the cat meter; a pair of needles extendable from the cannula into proximity with the catheter; and a finger tab movable relative to the handle to operate the suture manipulator in order to move the suture into threading engagement with the needles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The wound closure apparatus recited in claim 3 wherein the needles are threaded substantially simultaneously by operation of the suture manipulator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus recited in claim 3 further comprising: an actuator movable relative to the handle and coupled to the needles for moving the needles between an extended position and a retracted position; and the needles having properties for being threaded in the extended position and for capturing the suture in the retracted position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The wound closure apparatus recited in claim 3 further comprising: an actuator movable relative to the handle in a single direction to extend the needles from the cannula and to thread the needles in proximity to the cannula.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The wound closure apparatus recited in claim 6 further comprising: a suture tensioning mechanism engaging the suture in a first state and operable by movement of the actuator in the first direction to release the suture in a second state.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
157 words
A wound closure apparatus for a wound in a body wall, comprising: a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end; a handle disposed at the proximal end of the cannula; a catheter coupled to the distal end of the cannula, the catheter being sized and configured to extend through the wound in the body wall; a pair of needles movable from a proximal position in proximity to the cannula to a distal position in proximity to the catheter; a suture having a first end and a second end, a suture manipulator associated with the catheter for moving the suture relative to the needles; an actuator movable in a first direction relative to the handle to move the needles from the proximal position to the distal position; and the actuator having properties for being moved in the direction to operate the suture manipulator and move the suture into threading with the needles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
157 words
A wound closure apparatus for a wound in a body wall, comprising: a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end; a handle disposed at the proximal end of the cannula; a catheter coupled to the distal end of the cannula, the catheter being sized and configured to extend through the wound in the body wall; a pair of needles movable from a proximal position in proximity to the cannula to a distal position in proximity to the catheter; a suture having a first end and a second end, a suture manipulator associated with the catheter for moving the suture relative to the needles; an actuator movable in a first direction relative to the handle to move the needles from the proximal position to the distal position; and the actuator having properties for being moved in the direction to operate the suture manipulator and move the suture into threading with the needles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
The wound closure apparatus recited in claim 8 further comprising: a plurality of legs included in the suture manipulator and having a first radially contracted position and a second radially extended position, the legs being biased to the first radially contracted position; a tab movable relative to the handle to hove the legs from the first radially contracted position to the second radially expanded position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
The wound closure apparatus recited in claim 9 wherein the tab is lockable in the second position and the wound closure apparatus further comprises: a trip mechanism operable when the actuator is moved in the first direction to unlock the tab and release the legs from the second radially expanded position to the first radially contracted position in order to thread the needles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
The wound closure apparatus recited in claim 8 wherein: the catheter extends into the cannula; portions of the catheter inside the cannula define a pathway extending radially through the catheter; the suture has a suture loop disposed between the first end and the second end of the suture; and the suture loop extends through the catheter and exits the catheter through the pathway.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The wound closure apparatus recited in claim 11 further comprising: a suture tensioning mechanism disposed distally of a pathway and engaging the suture loop between the catheter and the cannula to tension the suture loop when the suture tensioning mechanism moves distally of the path.