Patent ID: 6368334
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A surgical apparatus for closing a wound characterized by a given circumference comprising:a body portion; an elongate body assembly having a longitudinal axis and extending from the body portion; a tongue member extending from a distal end of the elongate body assembly; a sleeve holder on a distal portion of the tongue member and separated from a proximal portion of the tongue member by a gap; the tongue member having a perimeter at a cross section of the sleeve holder, and at a cross section of the gap, approximately equal to the given circumference of the wound for holding the wound substantially fully open in the gap; a face opposing the sleeve holder across the gap, the tongue member having a cross sectional perimeter at the face larger than the circumference of the wound to stop further insertion of the instrument into the wound; and, a needle slidable from a position in the body assembly, through an opening in the face, across the gap to the sleeve holder.