Patent · US Expired

Surgical staple

US5026390A · kind A · utility

321Cited by
5References
12Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 20, 1990
Grant dateJun 25, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 20, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S411/92
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A surgical staple is made from highly flexible material and has at least two piercing projections or points spaced from each other a first predetermined linear distance in a generally unstressed, neutral and inoperative condition of the staple. The staple is stressed in a selected fashion causing the piercing projections to be spaced from each other a second predetermined linear distance greater than the first predetermined linear distance. While the piercing projections are spaced from each other, the second predetermined linear distance under the induced forces, the staple is implanted by penetrating the skin with the piercing projections at opposite sides of an associated wound or incision. The forces are then removed from the surgical staple which inherently rebounds to its generally unstressed condition which in turn automatically draws opposite margins of the wound toward each other.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.