Suturing method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A suturing device for applying a suture, comprising:
- an elongated body;
at least one arm having a suture mounting portion to releasably hold a portion of said suture, said arm being mounted to cause an end portion of said arm to move (i) away from said elongated body from a first position to a second position and (ii) towards said elongated body from the second position to the first position, said end portion of said arm being adapted to penetrate tissue as the arm moves away from said elongated body to said second portion while holding said portion of the suture during such movement; and
at least one needle having a distal end, said needle mounted to move relative to said elongated body, said distal end of said needle movable from a first position adjacent to said elongated body to a second position adjacent said suture mounting portion of said arm when said arm is in said second position;
wherein said distal end of said needle is adapted to capture said portion of the suture from the suture mounting portion of the arm and draws said portion of said suture toward said elongated body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A suturing apparatus comprises an elongated body, at least one arms movable relative to the elongated body and at least one needle movable relative to the elongated body. The arm releasably holds an end portion of a length of suture. The arm has a sharp end portion adapted to pierce an inner surface of a wall of a biological structure and pass an end portion of the suture through the inner surface. The needle is adapted to pierce the inner surface of such biological structure at a location proximal to the location where the end portion of the suture was inserted. The needle captures an end portion of the suture from the arm and draws the end portion of the suture back through the inner surface. The end of the suture is then drawn out of the biological structure by removing the elongated body.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A suturing device for applying a suture, comprising:
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an elongated body;
at least one arm having a suture mounting portion to releasably hold a portion of said suture, said arm being mounted to cause an end portion of said arm to move (i) away from said elongated body from a first position to a second position and (ii) towards said elongated body from the second position to the first position, said end portion of said arm being adapted to penetrate tissue as the arm moves away from said elongated body to said second portion while holding said portion of the suture during such movement; and
at least one needle having a distal end, said needle mounted to move relative to said elongated body, said distal end of said needle movable from a first position adjacent to said elongated body to a second position adjacent said suture mounting portion of said arm when said arm is in said second position;
wherein said distal end of said needle is adapted to capture said portion of the suture from the suture mounting portion of the arm and draws said portion of said suture toward said elongated body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19)
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17. A suturing device for applying a suture, comprising:
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an elongated body;
at least one arm connected to said elongated body having a suture mounting portion and an end portion, said suture mounting portion being formed to releasably hold an end portion of said suture, said end portion of said arm being adapted to penetrate tissue; and
at least one needle having a distal end, said needle being extendable and retractable relative to said elongated body, said distal end of said needle being adapted for cooperation with said suture mounting portion of said arm;
whereby said needle can be extended such that said distal end of said needle captures said end portion of said suture from said suture mounting portion of said arm and said needle can be retracted to draw said end portion of said suture back toward said elongated body.
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20. A suturing device for applying a suture, comprising:
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an elongated body;
two arms located on opposite sides of said elongated body, each of said arms having a suture mounting portion and an end portion, said suture mounting portions being formed to releasably hold an end portion of said suture, said arms being extendable and retractable relative to said elongated body, said arms having sharp end portions adapted to penetrate tissue when said arms are extended; and
two needles located on opposite sides of said elongated body, each needle having a distal end, said needles being extendable and retractable relative to said elongated body, said distal ends of said needles being adapted for cooperation with said suture mounting portions of said arms when said needles and said arms are extended;
whereby said arms are advanced outward from said elongated body, said needles are advanced distally from said elongated body such that said distal ends of said needles engage and capture said end portions of said sutures from said suture mounting portions of said arms, and said needles are retracted to draw said end portions of said sutures back toward said elongated body.
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21. A method of placing a suture, comprising:
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positioning a distal portion of an elongated member adjacent a location to be sutured;
deploying at least one arm which releasably holds a portion of a suture;
penetrating tissue with a sharp end portion of the arm;
penetrating tissue with a needle and driving the needle toward said suture portion; and
capturing the suture portion from the arm with the needle and drawing the suture portion through the tissue and toward the elongated body. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39)
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36. A method of closing a tubular biological structure from within the tubular biological structure, the method comprising:
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inserting a distal portion of an elongated member into the tubular biological structure;
deploying a pair of arms, each arm releasably holding an end portion of a suture;
penetrating an inner surface of the tubular biological structure with sharp end portions of the arms such that the arms position the suture portions beyond the inner surface of the tubular biological structure;
penetrating the inner surface of the tubular biological surface with a pair of needles;
capturing the suture portions from the arms with the needles and drawing the suture portions through the tissue and toward the elongated body; and
tying the suture to close the tubular biological structure.
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40. A method of suspending a biological structure, comprising:
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positioning a distal portion of an elongated member adjacent the biological structure to be suspended;
positioning a first arm connected to the elongated member on one side of the biological structure, the first arm releasably holding an end portion of a suture;
penetrating tissue of an adjacent biological structure with a sharp end portion of a second arm, the second arm releasably holding an end portion of the suture;
driving a first needle toward the end portion of the suture in the first arm, the first needle moving on an opposite side of the biological structure such that when the first needle engages the first arm, the biological structure is surrounded by the first arm, the first needle and the elongated member;
driving a second needle toward the end portion of the suture in the second arm, wherein the second needle penetrates tissue to engage the second arm;
capturing the suture portions from the arms with the needles and drawing the suture portions with the needles toward the elongated member; and
tying the ends of the suture together to suspend the biological structure to the adjacent biological structure. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of blocking the vas deferens to achieve male sterilization, comprising:
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accessing the vas deferens through the scrotum;
positioning a distal portion of an elongated member adjacent a vas deferens to be blocked;
deploying an arm connected to the elongated member on one side of the vas deferens, the first arm releasably holding an end portion of a suture;
deploying a needle toward the end portion of the suture in the first arm, the needle moving on an opposite side of the vas deferens such that when the needle engages the arm, the vas deferens is surrounded by the arm, the first needle and the elongated member;
capturing the suture portion from the arm with the needle and drawing the suture portion with the needle toward the elongated member;
tying the ends of the suture together to block the vas deferens; and
repeating the procedure on the other vas deferens.
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Specification