ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 16 -- United States Patent no. 12,357,444, issued on July 15, was assigned to PerQHern Ltd. (Dublin).

"Method and prosthesis for percutaneous hernia repair" was invented by David Keane (Dublin).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method and prosthesis is provided for percutaneous repair of an anatomical defect, such as an inguinal hernia. The method involves percutaneously accessing the inguinal canal of a patient. Following hernia reduction, if required, the hernia defect may be accessed and repaired percutaneously from within the inguinal canal. An implantable prosthesis may be percutaneously delivered into the inguinal canal. The prosthesis may be advanced along the ingui...