Importance

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Abstract

A device for inserting a substantially square sheet of flexible material through a laparoscopic cannula into an abdominal cavity. The device is an elongate, generally cylindrical member having a proximal end and a distal end and a body portion therebetween. A pair of tines is rigidly affixed to the distal end of the body portion with a slot separating the tines. A handle is affixed to the proximal end of the body portion. The slot defined between the pair of tines is dimensioned to accommodate the sheet thickness therewithin. In a preferred use, the sheet of material is inserted between the tines with diagonal corners of the sheet within the slot. The free corners of the sheet are drawn together with one hand and the handle of the device is rotated to wrap the sheet around the exterior surface of the two tines. The distal end of the body portion is then inserted into a laparoscopic cannula and advanced therethrough with a twisting motion until the distal end of the device emerges from the cannula positioned within the abdominal cavity. At this point, the device is slightly withdrawn to dislodge the film from the receptacle at the base of the tines and the sheet unwinds from around the tines, effectively unfolding the sheet within the target cavity. The sheet is finally released from the slot between the tines when the device is withdrawn from the cannula; the sheet remaining within the abdominal cavity.

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First Claim