1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ligation devices and methods, and more particularly to devices and methods for accurately locating and ligating an anatomical vessel.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
The Doppler effect is currently utilized in many fields. For example, Doppler stethoscopes and Doppler wands are currently utilized to listen to the blood flow within the anatomical structures in patients, especially in mammalian patients. Continuous wave Doppler sound signals are used to identify blood vessels, but do not provide feedback as to the distance of the vessel from the Doppler probe used. Pulsed wave Doppler has been used to identify blood vessels and, in conjunction with two dimensional (2D) imaging systems, identify the distance to a blood vessel and blood flow characteristics. Ultrasound systems with Doppler imaging are also currently used in medical fields, and typically produce gray-scale two-dimensional images. The addition of Doppler processing allows for the evaluation of fluid flow velocities through fluid conduits within the patient, and the relative position of these vessels to other anatomical structures.
Ligation devices have previously been proposed. These prior ligation devices have typically been used in laparascopic procedures, and have typically required that the anatomical feature of interest be dissected or visualized prior to ligation of that feature. Other ligation devices require the penetration of a tissue bundle encapsulating the anatomical vessel in order to perform location and ligation of the vessel.
The tissue of the vaginal wall is very elastic, pliable, and flexible. The vaginal wall can made to assume different shapes without tearing and without significant patient discomfort or pain. Heretofore, this inherent characteristic of these tissues has not been utilized in the area of tissue ligation.
According to a first exemplary embodiment, a method of preparing an anatomical vessel contained within a tissue bundle for ligation, comprises the steps of positioning a cannula adjacent to the tissue bundle, wherein the positioning is non-penetrating, the cannula including a first extendable member, a second extendable member, a Doppler wand, and a distal end, transmitting ultrasound signals toward the vessel through the tissue bundle with the Doppler wand, receiving ultrasound signals reflected by the vessel through the tissue bundle with the Doppler wand, invaginating the tissue bundle with the first extendable member on a first side of the tissue bundle, invaginating the tissue bundle with the second extendable member on a second side of the bundle opposite the first side, and interpenetrating a length of ligation material between the first and second extendable members on a side of the vessel opposite the cannula distal end.
According to a second exemplary embodiment, a ligation device for invaginating a vessel contained within a tissue bundle comprises a means for noninvasively positioning a cannula about the tissue bundle, the cannula including a Doppler wand and a distal end, a means for transmitting ultrasound signals toward the vessel through the tissue bundle with the Doppler wand, a means for receiving ultrasound signals reflected by the vessel through the tissue bundle with the Doppler wand, a first means for invaginating the tissue bundle on a first side of the tissue bundle, a second means for invaginating the tissue bundle on a second side of the bundle opposite the first side, and a means for interpenetrating a length of ligation material between the first and second invaginating means on a side of the vessel opposite the cannula distal end.
Still other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of embodiments constructed in accordance therewith, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The invention of the present application will now be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments of the apparatus and method, given only by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to the drawing figures, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements throughout the several figures.
Ligation device 100 includes a proximal handle 102 and a cannula 104 extending distally from the handle. Handle 102 includes a hollow housing 103 sized and shaped to fit comfortably in the hand of a practitioner. A proximal thumb ring 106 is fixed to the housing 103 opposite cannula 104. A pair of top slots 108, 110 are formed in the top surface 107 of the housing 103, and a pair of side slots 109, 111, are formed in the sidewalls 113, 115. A first actuation ring 112 and a second actuation ring 114 are slidably mounted in housing 103, through the opposite side slots 109, 111 (see also
Cannula 104 is fixedly mounted to the distal end of handle 102. Cannula 104 includes a plurality of lumenae extending longitudinally through the cannula, which are best illustrated in
The first and second extendable elements 120, 122 are positioned laterally opposite each other in cannula 104, as best illustrated in
First extendable element 120 carries a detachable element at its distal end. In the embodiment illustrated in
Ligation device 100 further includes a Doppler ultrasound device or wand 140 mounted in the ligation device. In accordance with the present invention, the Doppler ultrasound device can be removably mounted in the ligation device, or the components of a Doppler ultrasound device can be integrated into the ligation device, e.g. into cannula 104, so as not to be removable. Thus, when the Doppler ultrasound device is removably mounted in ligation device 100, the Doppler ultrasound device can be removed at the termination of a use, removed from the remainder of the ligation device, and the Doppler ultrasound device sterilized and reused. Alternatively, when the Doppler ultrasound device's components are integrated into the ligation device 100, the entire ligation device can be disposed of at the conclusion of a use.
Cannula 104 includes a third center lumen 138 (see
Doppler ultrasound wands suitable for use in the present invention are presently commercially available. For example, Koven model ES 100X MiniDop VRP-8 probe (St. Louis, Mo.) is a Doppler wand suitable for use as Doppler wand 140, and DWL/Neuro Scan Medical Systems' Multi-Dop B+system with their 8 MHz handheld probe (Sterling, Va.) is a continuous and pulsed wave Doppler wand suitable for use as wand 140. Commercially available Doppler stethoscopes or wands have an ultrasound dispersion pattern which is generally conical, i.e., the wand “looks” out along a cone-shaped portion of a plane originating at the end of the wand. Thus, vessels with fluid flow in them, such as a blood vessel, which lie anywhere in this conical plane and within the effective range of the wand would be picked up by the wand. Doppler wands presently available are attached to a signal processing and display unit 156, which processes the electrical signals generated by wand 140 to generate displays and/or other data derived from the electrical signals for additional uses. Alternatively, the Doppler system can be gated to identify blood vessels within a predetermined distance range, e.g. from between 0 to 5 cm, more preferably between 0.5 and 3 cm.
Unit 156 includes a display 158 which indicates the distance from the distal tip 152 the source of reflected ultrasound waves is located, e.g., vessel 10. This information is typically calculated utilizing a predetermined function, because the distance is a function of the time it takes for the ultrasound waves to travel to and from the wand. Unit 156 preferably also includes a display or meter 160 of the magnitude of the reflected ultrasound waves's Doppler shift, which is the indication of the velocity of the fluid flowing through vessel 10. Unit 156 also preferably includes a sound source 162 which gives an audible indication of the Doppler shift, which can be louder when the Doppler shift is greater or the vessel is optimally positioned.
In the ligation device of the present invention, however, such a wide conical “field of view” typically returned by many commercially available Doppler wands is not preferable, because the practitioner is concerned with locating the vessel between the extendable elements in order to ligate the vessel. Were the present invention to utilize such “wide-view” Doppler wands without narrowing or otherwise affecting their field of view, vessels which are not directly distal of ligation device 100 would be picked up by the device, and would return Doppler shift data for vessels not of interest in the use of the ligation device. Ligation device 100, and specifically cannula 104, is therefore sized so that the distahnost end 152 of Doppler wand 140 is spaced proximally from the distal end 150 of the cannula, for use with “wide-view” wands to collimate the signal. Some commercially available Doppler wands, such as the aforementioned DWL probe, however, produce a sufficiently collimated signal so that further collimation is not necessary.
When utilizing a Doppler probe which does not produce a sufficiently collimated signal, lumen 138 is preferably coated, formed of a material, or is otherwise provided with a sleeve of a material on the interior surface of which collimates the sound waves emanating from Doppler wand 140. By way of example and not of limitation, lumen 138 can be coated or formed of polycarbonate, although other materials are also usable within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The result of spacing distal end 152 proximally of distal end 150, and optionally further providing a material and/or sleeve which acoustically collimates the ultrasound waves from wand 140, is that ligation device 100 is substantially unidirectional in its Doppler field of view in a direction parallel with, and preferably between, first and second extendable elements 120, 122, and longitudinally distal of distal end 150. Stated differently, ligation device 100 is capable of receiving reflected ultrasound waves, originating from Doppler wand 140, reflected back from anatomical features directly distal of distal end 150. Thus, because distal end 152 is a fixed and known distance from distal end 150, and Xref is known, a maximum distance Xmax is predetermined by the structures of ligation device 100 within which a vessel 10 must be in order for the ligation device to be capable of ligating it. Stated somewhat differently, once it is determined that a vessel is within a predetermined distance of distal end 152, which is indicated by the time lag of the reflected ultrasound waves, ligation device 100 can be used to ligate that vessel.
According to another embodiment in accordance with the present invention, a Doppler wand can be chosen which has a “field of view” which is narrow enough that, when used in the combination of the ligating device 100, additional collimation structures are not necessary. For example, selection of a probe is based on its field of view and its operating frequency, and should also be based on the distance between the target artery and the Doppler probe so that the probe's depth of view is larger than this distance yet not so long as to include other blood vessels. By way of example and not of limitation, a Koven Doppler probe as described above can be used as wand 140 without requiring either a collimating sleeve and without spacing the distal end proximal of distal end 150. In general, Doppler wands suitable for use as Doppler wand 140 are selected with small enough diameter to be insertable in cannula 104, preferably operate at a frequency which is sufficiently sensitive to blood flow to monitor uterine artery blood flow, have a relatively narrow field of view and limited depth of view so as not to generate a signal from other blood vessels, and can be based on either pulsed or continuous wave Doppler signals.
Suture advancing element 134 at least in part is formed of a superelastic material, less preferably a shape-memory alloy (SMA) material, also less preferably (surgical) stainless steel. NiTi (nitinol) is preferred, although other superelastic, SMA, and biocompatible materials are within the scope of the present invention. Forming at least portions of suture advancing element 134 of NiTi allows the suture advancing element to be preformed with a curved distal end, so that the suture advancing element can be easily retracted into first extendable element 120, yet the distal end will accurately position loop 124 to be snared by extendable element 122 when the suture advancing element is advanced out of the first extendable element.
Suture/loop advancing element 134 preferably is a hollow tube and includes structure at the distal end of the element which holds loop 124, the loop in turn being attached to a length of suture material 154 (see also
Cannula 104 includes a second lumen 132 in which second extendable element 122 is longitudinally slidably received. Second extendable element 122 preferably includes a lumen 144 which longitudinally slidably receives an extendible hooking or snaring element 136. Cannula 104 also includes a third lumen 138 which removably receives Doppler wand 140, so that the Doppler wand can be used with the other structures of ligation device 100 and then disassembled, as discussed above. Optionally, the ligation device 100, including the third lumen 138, can non-removably house the functional components of a Doppler wand, so that the entire ligation device can be conveniently disposed of.
As illustrated in
At least curved portion 172 of element 134 is preferably formed of a superelastic material. Alternatively, portion 172 can be formed of a SMA material. While the characteristics and use of superelastic materials are readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, a brief description as applied to curved portion 172 will aid in an understanding of the present invention. Portion 172 is preferably formed of a superelastic material, e.g., NiTi (nitinol). Portion 172 is given a curvature or bent configuration which, upon heating of the curved portion above a certain temperature for the superelastic material, is ‘remembered’ by the curved portion. In the embodiment illustrated in
The length of curved portion 172 and the shape, as well as the distance Y, are selected so that when curved portion 172 is in its curved configuration, loop 124 is positioned directed distally of second extendable element 122. In this location, snare 126 can be extended and can hook loop 124, to be pulled from suture/loop advancing element 134. The angular orientation of the lateral direction in which curved portion 172 extends when in its curved configuration can be preset so that loop 124 registers or lines up with snare 126, and slot 170 assists in maintaining this orientation. This present angular orientation can be determined, by way of example and not of limitation, by heating curved portion 172 above its transition temperature and rotating element 134 until loop 124 is directly distal of snare 126, prior to using device 100.
Curved portion 172 and straight portion 174 can both be formed of the same (superelastic) material. Alternatively, only portion 172 is formed of an superelastic material, and straight portion 174 can be formed of another material, e.g., stainless steel, and the two portions 172, 174 can be joined together at joint 180, as by welding, crimping, swaging, adhesive bonding, or the like. The distalmost end of portion 172 includes a slot 178 in which loop 124 is temporarily held. Slot 178 has a width W3 and a depth D selected so that loop 124 can be received therein by a press fit, or loosely received and crimped therein. Loop 124 is not permanently held in slot 178, however, and is mounted in the slot so that the loop can be pulled out of the slot by a preselected force transmitted by snare 126 after the loop has been hooked by the snare (see, e.g.,
Also visible in
Once the practitioner has established that vessel 10 is directly distal of the distal end 150 of cannula 104, first and second actuation rings 112, 114 are moved distally to move first and second extendable members 120, 122 distally, as illustrated in
While the loop 124 is positioned directly distal of snare 126, snaring element 136 is moved distally to advance snare 126 distally. Snare 126, and more particularly head 160, enters loop 124, and is pushed through the loop. Snare 126 is then retracted proximally so that hook portion 164 deflects loop 124 into slot 162, thus causing the loop to be grabbed by the snare. In this respect, a widened mouth to slot 162, as suggested by phantom line 168, can facilitate capture of loop 124.
With loop 124 ensnared by snare 126, snaring element 136 is retracted proximally, which pulls on the loop in a proximal direction. As the materials out of which portions 172, 174 are formed are relatively rigid (superelastic, SMA, and stainless steel being preferable), the force applied by snaring element 136 to loop 124 will cause the joint between loop 124 and slot 178 to break or otherwise release the loop from element 134. As will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the joint between loop 124 and slot 178 is designed as a breakaway element, with the minimum force needed to break the joint selected so that the loop will not prematurely break free of curved portion 172, yet not so high that a practitioner will not readily be able to generate the required force by pulling proximally on tab 118. Once loop 124 has been broken free of slot 178, snaring element 136 and second extendable element 122 are further pulled proximally so that the loop is pulled into cannula 104. As described above, suture material 154 extends through curved portion 172 and is secured to loop 124, and is therefore pulled along with the loop.
Thus, suture material 154 is advanced distally past vessel 10 by distal extension of first extendable element 120 and suture/loop advancing element 134, is advanced laterally behind the vessel by curved portion 172 having assumed its curved superelastic configuration, and is advanced proximally by proximal retraction of loop 124 after having been grabbed by snare 126. Alternatively, the suture material 154 is advanced distally past vessel 10 by non-penetrating, distal invagination of tissue by the first extendable element 120, and suture/loop advancing element 134 is advanced to penetrate laterally behind the vessel by curved portion 172 having assumed its curved superelastic configuration, and is thereafter advanced proximally by proximal retraction of loop 124 after having been grabbed by snare 126. With the loop of suture material passing around vessel 10, ligation device 100 can be pulled proximally, leaving the loop of suture material around vessel 10, as illustrated in
Further optionally, the element 134 can be electrically insulated on its exterior surface proximal of the detachable arrowhead 262, as indicated by dithering 268, and element 136 can similarly be electrically insulated on its exterior surface proximal of a preselected point 270, as indicated by dithering 272. When provided with this electrical insulation, the arrowhead 262 and the portion 274 of the element 136 distal of the point 270 can be electrically connected to opposite poles of a bipolar RF electrical energy source (not illustrated) and the arrowhead can be used as an RF cutter to easily push through tissue beds and tissue planes which lie between it and the opening 264. For example, proximal portions of the elements 134, 136 can be electrically connected to an RF energy source to permit the arrowhead 262 to act as an RF cutter, as will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Element 300 includes a longitudinally extending cannula or tube 302 having a hollow interior 303. A stationary guide tube 304 is mounted in the cannula 302 and has a distal end 305 which is positioned proximally of the distal end of the tube 302. The guide tube 304 is provided to guide a pushrod or the like carrying a length of suture material (not illustrated) toward the distal end of the tube 302. A pair of wire guides 306, 308 are mounted to the top and bottom of the of the guide tube 304 adjacent to its distal end, and extend distally out of the distal end 305 of the guide tube. The guides 306, 308 are preferably formed of a flexible material and are flat in cross-section so that when a suture-bearing pushrod or the like is advanced out the distal end of the guide tube 304, the pushrod is caused to follow a path between the wire guides 306, 308.
The distal ends of the wire guides 306, 308 are positioned in a hollow arm 310, and are preferably not secured to the hollow arm. The arm 310 is attached to the cannula 302 at a pivot 326. The cannula 302 includes a window, cutout, or fenestration 320 adjacent to the arm 310, and is sized and positioned so that the arm 310 can rotate between a deployed orientation, illustrated in
The element 300 also includes two pulling elements with which the orientation of the arm 310 can be controlled. In the embodiment illustrated in
The element 300 preferably includes one or more structures which facilitates operation of the upper pullwires 312, 314. A port 328 is preferably formed through the cannula wall somewhat proximally of the fenestration 320, and the upper pullwire pair extends through this upper port. Additionally, a groove or trough 330 is optionally formed in the outer surface of the cannula between the port 328 and the fenestration 320. The trough 330 is sized to be deep enough to receive the upper pullwire pair so that when the arm 310 is in the retracted orientation, the pullwires are positioned in the trough and do not extend much or at all beyond the outer diameter of the cannula.
The element 300 preferably includes structure which permits the lower pullwires to rotate the arm 310. In the embodiment illustrated in
Also illustrated in
Turning now to
The operation of the embodiment illustrated in
While the invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes can be made, and equivalents employed, without departing from the scope of the invention.
This application is a continuation under 37 C.F.R. § 1.53(b), of copending prior application Ser. No. 09/909,124, filed Jul. 17, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,635,065, of Fred H. Burbank et al., for DOPPLER DIRECTED SUTURE LIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD, which is a continuation-in-part of then copending application Ser. No. 09/713,020, filed Nov. 16, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,638,286, all of which are incorporated herein in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2400251 | Nagel | May 1946 | A |
3209753 | Hawkins et al. | Oct 1965 | A |
3411505 | Nobis | Nov 1968 | A |
3777740 | Hokanson | Dec 1973 | A |
4292960 | Paglione | Oct 1981 | A |
4428374 | Auburn | Jan 1984 | A |
4428379 | Robbins et al. | Jan 1984 | A |
4509528 | Sahota | Apr 1985 | A |
4650466 | Luther | Mar 1987 | A |
4757823 | Hofmeister et al. | Jul 1988 | A |
4945896 | Gade | Aug 1990 | A |
4991588 | Pflueger et al. | Feb 1991 | A |
4994069 | Ritchart et al. | Feb 1991 | A |
5037430 | Hasson | Aug 1991 | A |
5037433 | Wilk et al. | Aug 1991 | A |
5081997 | Bosley, Jr. et al. | Jan 1992 | A |
5108408 | Lally | Apr 1992 | A |
5201314 | Bosley, Jr. | Apr 1993 | A |
5226911 | Chee et al. | Jul 1993 | A |
5261409 | Dardel | Nov 1993 | A |
5275166 | Vaitekunas et al. | Jan 1994 | A |
5289831 | Bosley | Mar 1994 | A |
5336229 | Noda | Aug 1994 | A |
5336231 | Adair | Aug 1994 | A |
5383922 | Zipes et al. | Jan 1995 | A |
5456693 | Conston et al. | Oct 1995 | A |
5458596 | Lax et al. | Oct 1995 | A |
5488958 | Topel et al. | Feb 1996 | A |
5496331 | Xu et al. | Mar 1996 | A |
5507744 | Tay et al. | Apr 1996 | A |
5542944 | Bhatta | Aug 1996 | A |
5549624 | Mirigian et al. | Aug 1996 | A |
5549824 | Trumpf et al. | Aug 1996 | A |
5556396 | Cohen et al. | Sep 1996 | A |
5570692 | Morinaga | Nov 1996 | A |
5588960 | Edwards et al. | Dec 1996 | A |
5598841 | Taniji et al. | Feb 1997 | A |
5614204 | Cochrum | Mar 1997 | A |
5658299 | Hart | Aug 1997 | A |
5662676 | Koninckx | Sep 1997 | A |
5662680 | Desai | Sep 1997 | A |
5665096 | Yoon | Sep 1997 | A |
5672153 | Lax et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
5672172 | Zupkas | Sep 1997 | A |
5691314 | Hodgen | Nov 1997 | A |
5697942 | Palti | Dec 1997 | A |
5702407 | Kaji | Dec 1997 | A |
5713371 | Sherman et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
5713896 | Nardella | Feb 1998 | A |
5713942 | Stern et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
5715832 | Koblish et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
5716389 | Walinsky et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
5720743 | Bischof et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
5749879 | Middleman et al. | May 1998 | A |
5759154 | Hoyns | Jun 1998 | A |
5766135 | Terwilliger | Jun 1998 | A |
5776129 | Mersch | Jul 1998 | A |
5792059 | Furia et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
5797397 | Rosenberg | Aug 1998 | A |
5800378 | Edwards et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
5817022 | Vesely | Oct 1998 | A |
5836906 | Edwards | Nov 1998 | A |
5840033 | Takeuchi | Nov 1998 | A |
5895386 | Odell et al. | Apr 1999 | A |
5895395 | Yeung | Apr 1999 | A |
5899861 | Friemel et al. | May 1999 | A |
5904651 | Swanson et al. | May 1999 | A |
5910484 | Haupert, Jr. | Jun 1999 | A |
5911691 | Mochizuki et al. | Jun 1999 | A |
5916173 | Kirsner | Jun 1999 | A |
5921933 | Sarkis et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
5941889 | Cermak | Aug 1999 | A |
5979453 | Savage et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
6013088 | Karavidas | Jan 2000 | A |
6015541 | Greff et al. | Jan 2000 | A |
6019724 | Gronningsaeter et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
6032673 | Savage et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
6033398 | Farley et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
6034477 | Peeters et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
6035238 | Ingle et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
6039693 | Seward et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
6045508 | Hossack et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6066139 | Ryan et al. | May 2000 | A |
6077257 | Edwards et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
6080118 | Blythe | Jun 2000 | A |
6096051 | Kortenbach et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6106473 | Violante et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6169914 | Hovland et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6175751 | Maizes | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6186947 | Ouchi | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6210330 | Tepper | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6231515 | Moore et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6254601 | Burbank et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6261234 | Lin | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6280441 | Ryan | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6368340 | Malecki et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6425867 | Vaezy et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6905506 | Burbank et al. | Jun 2005 | B1 |
20020165579 | Burbank et al. | Nov 2002 | A1 |
20020183771 | Altieri et al. | Dec 2002 | A1 |
20030120306 | Burbank et al. | Jun 2003 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
195 28 440 | Feb 1997 | DE |
200 22 012 | May 2001 | DE |
0 472 368 | Feb 1992 | EP |
0 598 579 | May 1994 | EP |
0 890 342 | Jan 1999 | EP |
1 072 282 | Jan 2001 | EP |
1 220 773 | May 1960 | FR |
2 302 025 | Jan 1997 | GB |
2 311 468 | Jan 1997 | GB |
WO 9502370 | Jan 1995 | WO |
WO 9502371 | Jan 1995 | WO |
WO 9610365 | Apr 1996 | WO |
WO 9727897 | Aug 1997 | WO |
WO 9747246 | Dec 1997 | WO |
WO 9819713 | May 1998 | WO |
WO 9900057 | Jan 1999 | WO |
WO 9911179 | Mar 1999 | WO |
WO 0239904 | May 2002 | WO |
WO 02078521 | Oct 2002 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20040059352 A1 | Mar 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 09909124 | Jul 2001 | US |
Child | 10666075 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 09713020 | Nov 2000 | US |
Child | 09909124 | US |