ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- United States Patent no. 12,778,578, issued on Nov. 3.
"Wedge lock needle holder" was invented by John DeGregorio (Pittsburgh).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A suture needle holder device and method including a handle assembly and an elongate body including an outer hollow cannula and an inner push rod. A distal end of the outer hollow has at a suture release slot between two fenestrations configured as suture needle entry and exit points. The suture needle holder device is configured to be operable between an open position wherein the inner push rod is proximal to the at least two fenestrations, a closing position wherein a tapered face of the inner push rod is conf...