Surgical suturing apparatus with measurement structure

Abstract

There is disclosed suture manipulating instrumentation having measuring structure to determine the length of suture during a given point in a surgery. The instrument is preferably a surgical suturing instrument capable of manipulating a suture carrying needle at the distal end. The measuring structure in the form of a scale is provided on the suturing instrument at a location remote from the distal end. The length of suture can easily be determined with the use of the scale at any point during a surgery. There is also disclosed a kit for providing the suture measuring structure on other suture manipulating instruments, as well as, methods of using suture manipulating instrumentation having the disclosed measuring structure.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] The present disclosure claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 416,058, filed Oct. 4, 2002, entitled Surgical Suturing Apparatus With Measurement Structure, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Technical Field [0003] The present disclosure relates generally to surgical instrumentation and, more particularly, to surgical instrumentation having measuring apparatus for use in endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedures. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] Endoscopic procedures are typically performed through an elongated cannula structure having a relatively small diameter with a proximal and distal end. In laparoscopic surgery an incision is made in the abdominal wall and the distal end of the cannula is passed through the tissue into the body cavity wherein the surgical procedure or examination is to be effected, thus providing a conduit for the insertion of...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] Various measuring structures are provided for use with a number of different laparoscopic surgical instruments. The measuring structures are disposed on the apparatus for determining the length of a suture or determining the amount of suture material remaining when using the apparatus. Preferably, the measuring structure is an integral part of the laparoscopic instrument and is disposed at the distal end of the instrument for accurate measurement of the suture. Alternatively, by measuring structure is included in a kit that can be used with a number of different laparoscopic instruments. In either embodi

Problems solved by technology

Laparoscopic suturing presents a particularly challenging task, because it must be accomplished using instrumentation extended through a port that typically has an internal diameter that averages between five and twelve millimeters.

However, while

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