ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 20 -- United States Patent no. 12,390,211, issued on Aug. 19, was assigned to Intuitive Surgical Operations Inc. (Sunnyvale, Calif.).
"Apparatus and method for minimally invasive suturing" was invented by John C. Meade (Mendon, Mass.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An apparatus and method for minimally invasive suturing is disclosed. A suturing device for minimally invasive suturing includes proximal section having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween; a suture head assembly extending from the distal end of the proximal section; a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end, the suturing needle capable of rotating about an axis appro...