BigPatents India

An applicator assembly for use in applying a sheet of surgical material through an opening to bridge the remote internal termination of the opening has a deployment sleeve (1), a plunger (2) for location within the sleeve (1) and a sheet of surgical material (3) which can be folded or collapsed to a conical form as shown for location at and within thedistal end of the deployment sleeve. An actuating means (4) comprising a suture is provided operative to unfold or erect the sheet (3) following expulsion from the distal end of the deployment sleeve (1) through longitudinal movement of the plunger (2). The sheet (3) includes radial ribs (5) connected along their length to the sheet except at an inner region (5a) defined by a hinge (5b) where the ribs are free and joined at the ends to a collar (5c) through a further hinge connection.