ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 16 -- United States Patent no. 12,496,054, issued on Dec. 16.
"Intracorporeal retracting suture" was invented by Alexander Ramirez Valderrama (St. Petersburg, Fla.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The intracorporeal suture device is intended to provide users with a medical device that may be used to retract intraabdominal organs and tissue for better exposure during minimally invasive procedures (laparoscopic and robotic surgical procedures). More specifically, the device allows for retraction without the need for needle extraction through the abdominal wall, thereby avoiding risk for infection, contamination, bleeding and iatrogenic vessels or nerves injuries. Accordingly...