Importance

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Abstract

A surgical needle is attached to a handle which includes a vibrating device for inducing vibrations in a prescribed frequency range to the needle. The needle's vibration helps avoid damage to major blood vessels and nerves when the needle is pushed through subcutaneous patient tissue. In one form the needle has provision to grip the end of a suture, so that the suture may be attached after the needle is pushed through and emerges out of subcutaneous tissue. In a face-lift operation the needle may be pushed through a path where support is desired, then the end of a one-way suture can be attached to the distal end of the needle, after which the one-way suture can be retracted so that the one-way suture occupies the same path where the needle was inserted. The suture attachment can be via a hollow bore through the needle, with suction applied through the handle, so that the end of the suture can be drawn into the needle from the needle's distal end, retaining the suture to the needle when the needle is retracted from the tissue. After such insertion of a one-way suture, the suture can be tensioned from the distal end so as to pull and maintain the desired tension in the skin tissue.

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First Claim