Suture knot sealing instruments and methods of using the same
US6488690B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 3, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2017/0619
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A hand-held instrument coagulates suture knots for enhanced security, preferably applying heat to thermoplastic materials. The instrument includes a proximal end adapted for gripping by a user, and a distal tip with a heating element activated by a user control. A knot-retaining feature is provided which allows the tool to function as a knot slider or pusher prior to sealing. The retaining feature may be a fork-shaped element, or may including a surface in communication with a tube, channel or groove, tube, enabling one or more strands of suture material to be dressed away from the tip when heated. The electrical conductors used to activate the heating element at the tip of the tool may be bipolar or unipolar, in which case the body of the patient is utilized as the return electrical path through a grounding pad. The tool may be entirely self-contained and battery operated, and the distal portion of the tool may be provided as a removable insert to existing Bovie instruments.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.