United States Patent m
Sgro
[54] PROSTHETIC ELEMENT FOR THE
TREATMENT OF INGUINAL HERNIAS, IN
PARTICULAR BY THE CELIOSCOPIC
ROUTE
[76] Inventor: Jean-Claude Sgro, 42 cours General de Gaulle, 21000 Dijon, France
[21] Appl. No.: 579,273
[22] Filed: Dec. 27,1995
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data
Dec. 30, 1994 [FRJ France 94 16019
[51] Int CL6 A61F2/04
[52] U.S. CI 623/12; 623/11; 623/13;
606/151; 606/213; 600/37
[58] Field of Search 623/12, 11, 13,
623/14; 606/151, 213; 602/44; 600/37
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
2,671,444 3/1954 Pease 128/82
4,769,038 9/1988 Bendavid et al 623/13
■■IHIIIIIIHI1I
US005697978A [ii] Patent Number: 5,697,978 [45] Date of Patent: Dec. 16, 1997
5,147,374 9/1992 Fernandez 606/151
5,254,133 10/1993 Seid 606/213
5,456,720 10/1995 Schultz et al 606/213
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
0 621 014 Al 10/1994 European Pat. Off. .
Primary Examiner—John G. Weiss
Assistant Examiner—Francis K. Cuddihy
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Nikaido, Marmelstein. Murray &
Oram LLP
[57] ABSTRACT
A prosthetic element for the treatment of an inguinal hernia by celloscopy is disclosed, comprising an elongate and flexible binding member, and three leaves which are linked to one another by the binding member, each leaf extending away from the binding member, the leaves being made of a biocompatable material which is sufficiently lacunar or porous to support in vivo a tissue implantation or growth, and sufficiently flexible to be folded back on itself and unfolded, one of the leaves having a cutting therethrough culminating in a hole, the leaf being adapted to tightly enclose the spermatic cord after its passage through the hole.
21 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
