Frenotomy method and apparatus
US4655223A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 5, 1985 |
| Grant date | Apr 7, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 5, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B17/04
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A frenotomy is performed by first injecting an infiltrating anesthesia between the superficial tissue of the frenum and the underlying muscles, the anesthesia thereby undermining the frenum and separating the superficial tissue from the underlying muscles. The undermined frenum tissue is then crimped with an instrument having crimping jaws pierced by adjacent longitudinal scalpel guide slots and two rows of adjacent suture guide holes bounding the slots. As the frenum is crimped, the slots are aligned such that a scalpel passing through, and along, the length of the slots, will sever the crimped frenum at the desired location. Prior to severing the frenum, opposing sides of the crimped frenum bounding the incision site are sutured by passing a suturing needle through the suture guide holes. The frenum is then severed between the resulting rows of sutures by passing a scalpel through, and along the length of, the adjacent scalpel guide slots. The instrument is then removed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.