Patent ID: 7806895
Filing Date: 2010-10-05
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A thoracic closure device, comprising: a base member having a first end, a second end, an internal surface, and a feed path defined between the first and second ends along the internal surface, the feed path terminating in an opening at one or both of the first and second ends; a handle member having a first end and a second end, the handle member being mounted on the base member for rotation about a first generally horizontally-extending axis of rotation between (1) a first position, in which the second end of the handle member is angularly displaced from the base member, and (2) a second position in which the second end of the handle member is proximate to the base member; an elongate pawl arm having an elastic member mounted within the thoracic closure device, the elastic member being arranged to bear between the handle member and the pawl arm to place the handle member in a driving relationship with respect to the pawl arm such that (1) the pawl arm is biased toward the internal surface of the base member and, if a toothed closure tie is in the feed path, the engaging structure of the pawl arm engages the teeth of the closure tie, and (2) as the handle member is moved between the first and second positions, the pawl arm is driven to rotate in such a way as to advance the closure tie unidirectionally along the feed path before the elastic member resiliently returns the pawl arm to a position in which the engaging structure is in engagement with the teeth of the toothed closure tie; and a stop post on the handle member, the stop post being constructed and arranged to block the rotation of the pawl arm in order to prevent the pawl arm from engaging the closure tie prior to a defined point in the feed path.