Cycling suturing and knot-tying device

• US 20030083674A1
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gibbens Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Gibbens Group LLC
• Inventors: Gibbens, George H. III
• Granted Patent: US 7,004,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/144
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0467 Instruments for cutting sutures surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0485 Devices or means, e.g. loops, for capturing the suture thread and threading it through an opening of a suturing instrument or needle eyelet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0491 Sewing machines for surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0475 using sutures having a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06047 located at the middle of the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0609 having sharp tips at both ends, e.g. shuttle needle alternately retained and released by first and second facing jaws of a suturing instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

A cycling suturing and knot-tying device is characterized by an arcuate fixed, grooved or recessed way provided in a correspondingly-shaped support frame for accommodating a curved needle fitted with thread, and frictional needle-engaging devices provided in the way for selectively engaging the needle and driving the needle in one or both rotational directions to suture a wound with the thread. Selective articulation of the frame and the way and driving of the needle in the way by positioning the frictional needle-engaging devices with respect to the needle are typically effected by manipulation of a pistol-grip operating apparatus having a transmission tube that mounts the frame and the way in articulating relationship and rotates and articulates with respect to the pistol grip and carries various operating elements that interface with the frictional needle-engaging devices in the way. In at least one embodiment needle direction-adjusting elements are provided in the frame in cooperation with selected devices in the way for determining the direction of needle rotation responsive to manipulation of an interfacing operating element located on the operating apparatus. Auxiliary thread-handling or incrementing and knot-tying devices are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A suturing device comprising an arcuate frame;

an arcuate fixed way provided in said frame;

a groove provided in said fixed way;

an arcuate needle slidably disposed in said groove;

a plurality of oppositely-disposed blades movably disposed in said frame for releasably engaging said needle; and

a drive mechanism engaging said blades for driving said blades and said needle in concert in said groove.

2. A thread advancing device comprising a fixed housing adapted for attachment to at least one end of an arcuate suturing device;

a movable housing slidably disposed in said fixed housing;

at least one set of blades movably disposed in said movable housing for selectively engaging the thread; and

a control mechanism connected to said movable housing for causing said blades to selectively engage and disengage the thread responsive to operation of said control mechanism.