Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for facilitating suturing of minimally invasive surgery puncture wounds comprising: a body defining a longitudinal axis, said body having a first end and a second end, said first end being adapted to be inserted into a puncture wound, said body including a pair of arms extending generally parallel to said axis from said second end to a point intermediate said first end and said second end, said pair of arms defining a recess therebetween, a portion of said recess most adjacent said first end being inclined so as to have decreasing depth toward said first end; and a reinforcement segment extending between said pair of arms.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for facilitating suturing of minimally invasive surgery puncture wounds comprising: a body defining a longitudinal axis, said body having a first end and a second end, said first end being adapted to be inserted into a puncture wound, said body including a pair of arms extending generally parallel to said axis from said second end to a point intermediate said first end and said second end, said pair of arms defining a recess therebetween, a portion of said recess most adjacent said first end being inclined so as to have decreasing depth toward said first end; and a reinforcement segment extending between said pair of arms.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus for facilitating suturing defined in claim 1, wherein said body defines a pair of opposing recesses cooperating to form a single slot defined between said arms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus for facilitating suturing defined in claim 1, wherein said body defines a longitudinal axial bore therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus for facilitating suturing defined in claim 3, wherein said axial bore is in communication with said recess.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus for facilitating suturing defined in claim 3 further comprising a seal operatively coupled to said body to selectively seal said axial bore through said body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus for facilitating suturing defined in claim 5, wherein said seal comprises latex rubber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus for facilitating suturing defined in claim 5, wherein said seal has an incision through a central portion of said seal which is aligned with said axial bore, said incision defining a pair of flaps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus for facilitating suturing defined in claim 5, wherein said seal has a plurality of circumferentially extending rings formed on the outer surface thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus for facilitating suturing defined in claim 5, wherein said first end of said body includes an extension with an enlarged end portion, and said seal is operatively coupled to said extension.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus for facilitating suturing defined in claim 1 further comprising a lug extending radially outwardly from one of said arms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus for facilitating suturing defined in claim 1, wherein said segment has a first end fixed to one of said pair of arms between said second end of said body and said point intermediate said first and said second end, said segment having a second end fixed to the other of said pair of arms between said second end of said body and said point intermediate said first and second end.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus for facilitating suturing defined in claim 1, wherein said segment has a first side which extends perpendicular to said axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus for facilitating suturing defined in claim 12, wherein said segment has a second side which slopes inwardly toward at an angle with respect to said axis and has an increasing depth toward said second end of said apparatus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus for facilitating suturing defined in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ribs formed on said outer surface of said apparatus, said ribs being adapted to removably engage body tissue defining a puncture wound.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for facilitating suturing of minimally invasive puncture wounds, said apparatus comprising: a body having a generally cylindrical shape defining a longitudinal axis, said body defining a first end of said apparatus, said body defining a longitudinal axial bore therethrough; a pair of arms extending from said body to define a second end of said apparatus; an outer surface having a longitudinally extending recess formed therein and positioned between said pair of arms, said recess extending from said second end of said apparatus to a first plane, said first being perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said apparatus and located intermediate said first and second ends, said apparatus and inclined toward said outer surface, said sloped surface extending from said first plane to a first point located on said outer surface of said apparatus, wherein said first point is located intermediate said first plane and said first end of said apparatus; reinforcement segments extending between said pair of arms; a plurality of ribs formed on said outer surfaces; a lug extending radially outwardly from one of said arms; and a seal operatively coupled to said first end of said apparatus, said seal covering said longitudinal axial bore, said seal having an incision in a central portion of said seal, said incision defining a pair of flaps.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for facilitating suturing of minimally invasive puncture wounds, said apparatus comprising: a body having a generally cylindrical shape defining a longitudinal axis, said body defining a first end of said apparatus, said body defining a longitudinal axial bore therethrough; a pair of arms extending from said body to define a second end of said apparatus; an outer surface having a longitudinally extending recess formed therein and positioned between said pair of arms, said recess extending from said second end of said apparatus to a first plane, said first being perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said apparatus and located intermediate said first and second ends, said apparatus and inclined toward said outer surface, said sloped surface extending from said first plane to a first point located on said outer surface of said apparatus, wherein said first point is located intermediate said first plane and said first end of said apparatus; reinforcement segments extending between said pair of arms; a plurality of ribs formed on said outer surfaces; a lug extending radially outwardly from one of said arms; and a seal operatively coupled to said first end of said apparatus, said seal covering said longitudinal axial bore, said seal having an incision in a central portion of said seal, said incision defining a pair of flaps.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for facilitating suturing of minimally invasive surgery puncture wounds, said apparatus comprising; a body having first and second ends; an outer surface of said body having a pair of opposed recesses formed therein, said pair of recesses extending from said second end of said body to a point intermediated said first and said second end; a pair of arms extending from said body to define the second end of said body; a plurality of body tissue engaging ribs formed on said outer surface; and p1 a pair of lugs extending radially outwardly from said second end of said apparatus.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for facilitating suturing of minimally invasive surgery puncture wounds, said apparatus comprising; a body having first and second ends; an outer surface of said body having a pair of opposed recesses formed therein, said pair of recesses extending from said second end of said body to a point intermediated said first and said second end; a pair of arms extending from said body to define the second end of said body; a plurality of body tissue engaging ribs formed on said outer surface; and p1 a pair of lugs extending radially outwardly from said second end of said apparatus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus for facilitating suturing defined in claim 16 further including an elastomeric seal attached to said first end of said body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus for facilitating suturing defined in claim 16 further including a reinforcement segment extending between said pair of arms.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus for facilitating suturing defined in claim 18, wherein each of said pair of arms has a curved inner facing wall, said wall defining a portion of an axial bore extending through said body.