System with a surgical needle and a handle

• US 20020091298A1
• Filed: 09/19/2001
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon GmbH (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon GmbH (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Landgrebe, Susanne
• Granted Patent: US 6,638,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06 Needles ; Sutures; Needle-suture combinations; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials puncturing needles A61B17/34; hypodermic needles A61M5/32 ; sewing needles D05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06004 Means for attaching suture to needle tipping A61B17/06195; connecting wire to other metallic objects B21F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence

Abstract

In a system with a surgical needle (10) and a handle (20), the surgical needle (10), in its proximal end region opposite the needle tip, comprises a support section which is adapted to be pushed in the handle (20). The handle (20) includes a lumen adapted to support the support section of the surgical needle (10) and a locking means (30, 26), which can be adjusted from a locking position, in which the support section is secured to the handle (20), to a release position, in which the support section can be pulled out of the lumen.

Claims

1. A handle for accepting a surgical needle for use in surgical procedures, the handle comprising:

a lumen for accepting a portion of the surgical needle; and

locking means having a first position for locking the surgical needle within the lumen and a second position allowing the surgical needle to be placed within or removed from the lumen.

2. A handle and surgical needle combination for use in surgical procedures, the handle comprising:

a lumen for accepting a portion of the surgical needle; and

a locking means having a first position for locking the surgical within the lumen and a second position allowing the surgical needle to be placed within or removed from the lumen; and

the needle comprising;

a first portion having a circular cross-sectional area;

a second portion having a noncircular cross-sectional area for insertion into the lumen.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the lumen has in part a cross-sectional shape adapted to receive the second portion for securing the surgical needle against rotational motion.

4. The combination of claim 2, wherein the lumen has an opening at the distal end of the handle and the section portion of the surgical needle is adapted to longitudinally insert into the lumen.

5. The combination of claim 2, wherein the second portion of the surgical needle comprises a depression, which engages, in the first position, a locking element provided at the locking means.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the locking means comprises, in an interior space of the handle, a rotatably mounted sleeve.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein the locking element is positioned at the distal end region of the sleeve.

8. The combination of claim 6, wherein the sleeve is coupled to an actuating lever.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the actuating lever extends through an opening in the handle.

10. The combination of claim 2, wherein the locking means comprises an actuating means, and said actuating means extends through an opening in the handle.

11. The combination of claim 2, wherein the handle comprises a two-part casing.

12. The combination of claim 2, wherein the proximal end of the handle comprises at least one broadening structure.

13. The combination of claim 2, wherein the first portion of the needle comprises an attachment means for a suture material or mesh tape.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein the attachment means is located at the distal end of the surgical needle.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein the second portion of the surgical needle comprises a depression, which engages, in the first position, a locking element provided at the locking means.

17. The combination of claim 15, wherein the locking means comprises an actuating means, and said actuating means extends through an opening in the handle.

18. The combination of claim 13, wherein the attachment means is located at the distal end of the surgical needle.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the needle is passed into the body in step (c) via the vagina.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the needle is passed into the body in step (c) via the abdomen.

15. A handle and surgical needle combination for implanting a tape to treat female urinary incontinence, the handle comprising:

a lumen for accepting a portion of the surgical needle; and

a locking means having a first position for locking the surgical within the lumen and a second position allowing the surgical needle to be placed within or removed from the lumen; and

the needle comprising;

a first portion having attachment for accepting the tape;

a second portion having a noncircular cross-sectional area for insertion into the lumen.

19. A method for treating female urinary incontinence comprising the steps of:

a) providing a curved needle element defining in part a curved shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;

a tape for attaching to the needle; and

a handle having a lumen for accepting a portion of the surgical needle and a locking means having a first position for locking the needle within the lumen and a second position allowing the needle to be placed within or removed from the lumen;

b) locking the needle to the handle

c) passing the needle into the body on one side of the urethra;

d) attaching the tape to the needle and passing the needle and tape through the body;

e) passing the needle into the body on the opposite side of the urethra; and

f) attaching the tape to the needle and passing the needle and tape through the body to form a sling beneath the urethra.

22. A kit for treating female urinary incontinence comprising:

a) at least one curved needle element defining in part a curved shaft having a distal end and a proximal end

b) a tape for attaching to the needle; and

c) at least one handle having a lumen for accepting a portion of the surgical needle and a locking means having a first position for locking the needle within the lumen and a second position allowing the needle to be placed within or removed from the lumen.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the needles are passed into the bodys in steps (b) and (d) via the abdomen.

23. A method for treating female urinary incontinence comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first and second curved needle element each defining in part a curved shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;

a tape for attaching to the needle; and

a handle having a lumen for accepting a portion of the surgical needle and a locking means having a first position for locking the needle within the lumen and a second position allowing the needle to be placed within or removed from the lumen;

b) passing the first needle into the body on one side of the urethra;

c) attaching the tape to the distal end of the first needle and passing the first needle and tape through the body;

d) passing the second needle into the body on the opposite side of the urethra; and

e) attaching the tape to the distal end of the second needle and passing the needle and tape through the body to form a sling beneath the urethra.