Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
US005171251A
United States Patent [19] [ii] Patent Number: 5,171,251
Bregen et al. [45] Date of Patent: Dec. 15,1992
[54] SURGICAL CLIP HAVING HOLE THEREIN AND METHOD OF ANCHORING SUTURE
[75] Inventors: Michael Bregen, Lebanon, N.J.;
Brian H. Luscombe, Washington
Crossing, Pa.
[73] Assignee: Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, N.J.
[21] Appl. No.: 844,253
[22] Filed: Mar. 2,1992
[51] Int. CI.* A61B 17/00
[52] U.S. CI 606/151; 606/157;
606/221
[58] Field of Search 606/151, 157, 158, 221;
128/831, 843
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4.418,694 12/1983 Beroffetal 128/326
4.476,865 10/1984 Failla et al 128/326
4,519,392 5/1985 Lingua 606/151
4.662,068 5/1987 Polonsky 30/124
5.059.202 10/1991 Liang et al 606/157 X
5,078,731 1/1992 Hayhurst 606/232
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Marshall, "Microsurgical Vasovasostomy Clamp", 1979, Urology, vol. XIII, No. 4, p. 419.
Primary Examiner—Stephen C. Pellegrino
Assistant Examiner—Jeffrey A. Schmidt
[57] ABSTRACT
A method of clamping suture strand by applying heat and compressive force to a polymeric surgical clip having first and second opposed leg members so as to clamp the suture strand between the opposed inner clamping surfaces of the first and second leg members; a surgical clip defined by first and second leg members, the first leg member having a hole therein; and a surgical device for clamping a clip about a suture, such device defined by a trigger-activated handle, clamping jaws with a heating element disposed on one of the clamping members of the clamping jaws, a shaft connecting the jaws to the handle, and means for activating the heating element and for delivering compressive force to the clamping jaws to close the clip about a suture.
18 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
