Suturing apparatus and method

• US 20030065337A1
• Filed: 09/25/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medos International Sarl (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: DePuy Mitek Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Benson, J. Terry, Weisel, Tom, Topper, Brad, Bannerman, Brett
• Granted Patent: US 7,377,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/144
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0625 the needle being specially adapted to interact with the manipulator, e.g. being ridged to snap fit in a hole of the manipulator A61B17/06109 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06019 by means of a suture-receiving lateral eyelet machined in the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06042 located close to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06095 pliable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws

Abstract

A suturing apparatus comprises a pair of jaws. A bendable needle housed in one of the jaws is adapted to carry a suture. An optional suture receiver may be disposed adjacent to the opposite jaw. A transition block curves the needle and directs it in a direction generally unparallel to an axis of the carrying jaw. The needle may also be configured to retrieve a suture. A retaining mechanism holds a suture in place to be engaged by the needle. The jaw housing the needle may include a lateral opening through which the suture may be inserted. The needle may also include a lateral notch which may be aligned with lateral opening to receive the suture. An actuator coupled to the needle enables the user to move the needle proximally to align the notch with the lateral slot.

Claims

1. A suturing apparatus, comprising:

a first jaw and a second jaw movable with respect to each other;

a bendable needle carried by the first jaw and adapted to carry a suture, the needle being movable between a first position wherein the needle is substantially housed within the jaw and a second position wherein a distal portion of the needle protrudes from the first jaw; and

means for securing the suture in place prior to being carried by the bendable needle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the securing means comprises a cantilevered spring included in a distal portion of the first jaw.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the securing means comprises a groove defined in a distal portion of the first jaw.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a suture receiver spaced apart from the first jaw and configured to disengage the suture carried by the bendable needle.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the suture receiver comprises at least one flap.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the suture receiver comprises an elastomeric pad.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first jaw defines an axis and further comprises a transition block adapted to guide the bendable needle in a direction generally unparallel to the axis.

8. A suturing apparatus, comprising:

a first jaw defining an ingress;

a second jaw movable with respect to the first jaw;

a bendable needle carried by the first jaw and movable between a proximal position and a distal position, the needle defining a needle slot that may be aligned with the ingress to enable loading of a suture through the ingress into the needle slot.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a suture receiver disposed adjacent to the second jaw.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second jaw further comprises a an integral suture receiver.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an actuator coupled to the bendable needle and configured for moving the bendable needle between the proximal position and the distal position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the actuator comprises a thumb lever.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first jaw defines an axis and further comprises an axial slot in communication with the ingress.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the ingress comprises a lateral opening; and

the needle slot comprises a lateral slot.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second jaw comprises at least one hook.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the needle slot is disposed on a first side of the bendable needle; and

the bendable needle further comprises a second side opposite to the first side.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the bendable needle further comprises at least one crescent formed on the second side.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the bendable needle defines a needle axis that extends generally parallel to the first side;

the bendable needle comprises a distal ledge disposed on the first side distally of the notch and a proximal ledge disposed on the first side proximally of the notch; and

the distal ledge defines a first transverse distance from the needle axis that is greater than a second transverse distance from the needle axis defined by the proximal ledge.

19. A suture retrieving apparatus, comprising:

a first jaw and a second jaw movable with respect to each other;

a suture receiver spaced apart from the first jaw, the suture receiver being adapted to releasably retain a suture; and

a bendable needle carried by the first jaw, the bendable needle movable between a proximal position and a distal position, the bendable needle having a distal needle portion adapted to engage the suture when the bendable needle is in the distal position.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second jaw comprises the suture receiver.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the distal needle portion comprises a hook.

22. A method for suturing a piece of tissue, comprising the steps of:

securing a suture in place for engagement with a bendable needle;

clamping a piece of tissue to be sutured;

engaging a suture with a bendable needle;

carrying the suture through the piece of tissue with the bendable needle; and

retracting the bendable needle to release the suture.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of clamping a tissue to be sutured comprises the step of:

capturing the piece of tissue with a first jaw and a second jaw.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of advancing the bendable needle in an axial direction.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of carrying the suture through the piece of tissue with the bendable needle comprises the step of:

bending the bendable needle; and

moving at least a portion of the bendable needle in a direction generally unparallel to the axial direction.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

retaining the suture with the piece of tissue during the step of retracting the bendable needle to release the suture.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

retaining the suture with a suture receiver during the step of retracting the bendable needle to release the suture.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of engaging a suture with a bendable needle comprises the step of disposing the suture in a notch formed in the bendable needle, the method further comprising:

shaping a distal portion of the bendable needle to prevent the pierced tissue from getting snagged in the notch.

29. A method for loading a suture onto a suturing apparatus, comprising the steps of:

housing a needle with a needle slot in a first jaw;

biasing the needle to a position with respect to the first jaw so that the needle slot is not aligned with an ingress of the first jaw;

aligning the needle slot with the ingress;

disposing a suture through the ingress into the needle slot; and

releasing the biased needle such that the needle engages the suture.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of aligning the needle slot with the ingress comprises the step of moving the needle proximally.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of moving the needle proximally comprises moving the needle proximally with a finger slide.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of disposing a suture through the ingress into the needle slot comprises looping the suture about the ingress.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of aligning the needle slot with the ingress comprises the step of moving the needle distally.