DR. ROBERT D. KUGEL, M.D.
Radiology at Lilly Rd, Olympia, WA

6176863, Jan 23, 2001

Mar 24, 1999

9/275587

Robert D. Kugel - Olympia WA
J. Douglas Inman - Arlingtion TX
Keith D. Biggers - Southlake TX

Bard ASDI Inc. - Murray Hill NJ

A61B 1704

606151

A hernia patch has a first layer of inert synthetic mesh material selectively sized and shaped to extend across and beyond a hernia. A second layer of inert synthetic mesh material overlies the first layer to create a generally planar configuration for the patch. The first and second layers are joined together by a seam that defines a periphery of a pouch between the layers. One of the layers has a border that extends beyond the seam and has a free outer edge. A plurality of border slits extend from the outer edge through the border substantially to the seam. Access slits are formed between the layers to allow insertion of a surgeon's finger into the pouch. The pouch allows the surgeon to deform the planar configuration of the patch to facilitate insertion of the patch into the patient and to position the patch across the hernia. A resilient monofilament I-shaped spring is located within the pouch at the seam for urging the patch to conform to the generally planar configuration across the hernia as the surgeon withdraws his or her finger.

6280453, Aug 28, 2001

Feb 11, 1999

9/250224

Robert D. Kugel - Olympia WA
J. Douglas Inman - Arlington TX
Keith D. Biggers - Southlake TX

Bard Asdi Inc. - Murray Hill NJ

A61B 1704

606151

A hernia patch has a first layer of inert synthetic mesh material selectively sized and shaped to extend across and beyond a hernia. A second layer of inert synthetic mesh material overlies the first layer to create a generally planar configuration for the patch. The first and second layers are joined together by a seam that defines a periphery of a pouch between the layers. One or both of the layers has a border that extends beyond the seam. A plurality of border slits extend from an outer edge of the border through the border substantially to the seam. An access slit is formed between the layers for insertion of a finger of a surgeon into the pouch to allow the surgeon to deform the planar configuration of the patch to facilitate insertion of the patch into the patient and to position the patch across the hernia. A resilient monofilament spring is located within the pouch at the seam for urging the patch to conform to the generally planar configuration across the hernia as the surgeon withdraws his or her finger.

6224615, May 1, 2001

Feb 11, 1999

9/250225

Robert D. Kugel - Olympia WA
J. Douglas Inman - Arlington TX
Keith D. Biggers - Southlake TX

Bard ASDI Inc. - Murray Hill NJ

A61B 1704

606151

A hernia patch has a first layer of inert synthetic mesh material selectively sized and shaped to extend across and beyond a hernia. A second layer of inert synthetic mesh material overlies the first layer to create a generally planar configuration for the patch. The first and second layers are joined together by a seam that defines a periphery of a pouch between the layers and provides stiffness to the patch for urging the patch to conform to the generally planar configuration across the hernia, which helps to prevent folding of the patch as the surgeon withdraws his or her finger. The seam may be straight, zig-zag, sinusoidal or other configurations that effectively urge the patch to conform to a planar configuration. One of the layers has a border that extends beyond the seam and that has a free outer edge. A plurality of border slits extend from the outer edge through the border substantially to the seam.

5634931, Jun 3, 1997

Sep 29, 1994

8/315249

Robert D. Kugel - Chehalis WA

Surgical Sense, Inc. - Arlington TX

A61B 1700

606151

Surgically implantable hernia mesh patches are available in several embodiments, wherein each embodiment has double like size layers of inert synthetic mesh material, compressibly positioning an internally positioned loop of a resilient monofilament fiber, when these double layers of mesh are sewn together around their edges, while leaving one centimeter free of both top and bottom layers of mesh. During operating time of a surgical repair of an inguinal hernia, one of these hernia mesh patches is compactively arranged and then inserted through a relatively small incision, for subsequent planar expansion and directed placement to where the hernia is, usually under minimal anesthesia, without the need for entering a patient's abdominal cavity, and without the need to use instrumentation, such as laparoscopic equipment. One of the double layers has a transverse slit for the insertion of a surgeon's finger between these layers of mesh, which facilitates a surgeon's maneuvering and positioning of these double layers of mesh, being always expanded by the loop of resilient monofilament fiber, within a patient's preperitoneal pocket volume to serve as this surgical patch without sutures. The other embodiments have very worthwhile additive features.

6224615, May 1, 2001

Feb 11, 1999

9/250225

Robert D. Kugel - Olympia WA
J. Douglas Inman - Arlington TX
Keith D. Biggers - Southlake TX

Bard ASDI Inc. - Murray Hill NJ

A61B 1704

606151

A hernia patch has a first layer of inert synthetic mesh material selectively sized and shaped to extend across and beyond a hernia. A second layer of inert synthetic mesh material overlies the first layer to create a generally planar configuration for the patch. The first and second layers are joined together by a seam that defines a periphery of a pouch between the layers and provides stiffness to the patch for urging the patch to conform to the generally planar configuration across the hernia, which helps to prevent folding of the patch as the surgeon withdraws his or her finger. The seam may be straight, zig-zag, sinusoidal or other configurations that effectively urge the patch to conform to a planar configuration. One of the layers has a border that extends beyond the seam and that has a free outer edge. A plurality of border slits extend from the outer edge through the border substantially to the seam.

6171318, Jan 9, 2001

Feb 11, 1999

9/250223

Robert D. Kugel - Olympia WA
J. Douglas Inman - Arlington TX
Keith D. Biggers - Southlake TX

Bard ASDI Inc. - Murray Hill NJ

A61B 1704

606151

A hernia patch has a first layer of inert synthetic mesh material selectively sized and shaped to extend across and beyond a hernia. A second layer of inert synthetic mesh material overlies the first layer to create a generally planar configuration for the patch. The first and second layers are joined together by a seam that defines a periphery of a pouch between the layers. The pouch houses a stiffening layer to provide stiffness to the patch for urging the patch to conform to the generally planar configuration across the hernia as the surgeon withdraws his or her finger. An access slit is formed in one of the layers for insertion of a surgeon's finger or instrument into the pouch to allow the surgeon to facilitate insertion of the patch into the patient and to position the patch across the hernia.

6174320, Jan 16, 2001

Aug 2, 1999

9/365379

Robert D. Kugel - Olympia WA
J. Douglas Inman - Arlington TX
Keith D. Biggers - Southlake TX

Bard Asdi Inc. - Murray Hill NJ

A61B 1704

606151

A hernia patch having a first layer of inert synthetic mesh material. A second layer of a inert synthetic mesh material overlies the first to create a pouch between the first and second layers. A curved elongated resilient member adjacent a periphery of the pouch for creating tension in both layers and a slit in the layers of mesh material extending inward from an outer edge and terminating in an enlarged opening for placement around a patient's chord structure.

D416327, Nov 9, 1999

Mar 25, 1998

D/085507

Robert D. Kugel - Olympia WA

Surgical Sense, Inc. - Arlington TX

2404

D24189