Patent ID: 8753358

Claim:
A hernia mesh system comprising: a mesh patch including a top ply and a bottom ply, wherein the top ply includes an opening; and a placement tool including an elongated handle having a proximal end and a distal end, a plurality of rigid blades, each of the blades having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the blades coupled to the distal end of the elongated handle, and a control to rotate the rigid blades around a longitudinal axis of the elongated handle in first and second directions, the rotation of the blades in the first direction causing each of one or more of the blades to pivot about the proximal end of the blade and distal end of the elongated handle, moving the plurality of blades from a clustered position in which the distal ends of the blades overlap one another or are positioned side-by-side, allowing the distal ends of the blades to be inserted in the opening in the mesh patch in the clustered position, to an expanded position in which the distal ends of the blades spread the mesh patch out in a planar fashion, and the rotation of the blades in the second direction causing the one or more of the blades to pivot about the proximal end of the blade and distal end of the elongated handle, moving the plurality of blades from the expanded position to the clustered position wherein the control is a dial near the proximal end of the placement tool and rotation of the dial causes rotation of the one or more of the plurality of blades in the first and second directions.