Compact suture punch with malleable needle
First Claim
1. Suturing instrumentation for suturing tissue comprising:
- a malleable needle portion having a sharpened distal tip and constructed and arranged to deliver a length of suture material to the tissue;
a handheld instrument having a passageway and having a distal end terminating in a nonlinear portion having a first radius; and
a force-supplying structure configured for applying a force to the needle portion, wherein the force-supplying structure includes a distal end capable of pushing the malleable needle portion through the nonlinear portion, such that when the distal end of the handheld instrument is positioned proximate to the tissue to be sutured and the malleable needle portion is pushed by the distal end of the force-supplying structure through the nonlinear portion, the needle portion is deformed, thereby causing the needle portion to deliver the suture material to the tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A suture punch system that is capable of directly passing braided suture through tissue in a simple, one-step process. The system includes three principle components: a malleable needle capable of delivering the suture to the tissue, a handheld instrument for grasping tissue and controlling needle placement, and a force-supplying mechanism to supply the force required for needle placement. Needle deformation begins at the tip of the instrument, which beneficially includes a curved segment. As the distal tip of the needle pierces the tissue, it continues its radial path through the tissue. When the proximal end of the needle exits from the instrument, the needle may be radial in shape and traverses an essentially radial path through the tissue. Non-radial linear or non-linear segments may alternatively be used. In one embodiment, the tissue to be sutured is constrained by pressure applied through closure between an upper, moveable jaw at the distal portion of the instrument, which acts as a fixed jaw. The upper, movable jaw contains a shaped passageway that permits the needle to pass therethrough during use. Once the needle has passed entirely through the tissue it may be retrieved using the jaws of the punch or another instrument. Different needle designs and separate instruments and sutures may be used.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. Suturing instrumentation for suturing tissue comprising:
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a malleable needle portion having a sharpened distal tip and constructed and arranged to deliver a length of suture material to the tissue;
a handheld instrument having a passageway and having a distal end terminating in a nonlinear portion having a first radius; and
a force-supplying structure configured for applying a force to the needle portion, wherein the force-supplying structure includes a distal end capable of pushing the malleable needle portion through the nonlinear portion, such that when the distal end of the handheld instrument is positioned proximate to the tissue to be sutured and the malleable needle portion is pushed by the distal end of the force-supplying structure through the nonlinear portion, the needle portion is deformed, thereby causing the needle portion to deliver the suture material to the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Suturing instrumentation for suturing tissue comprising:
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a malleable needle portion having a sharpened distal tip and constructed and arranged to deliver a length of suture material to the tissue;
a handheld instrument having a passageway and having a distal end terminating in a nonlinear portion having a first radius; and
a force-supplying structure configured for applying a force to the needle portion, wherein the force-supplying structure includes a distal end capable of pushing the malleable needle portion through the nonlinear portion, such that when the distal end of the handheld instrument is positioned proximate to the tissue to be sutured and the malleable needle portion is pushed by the distal end of the force-supplying structure through the nonlinear portion, the needle portion is deformed, thereby causing the needle portion to deliver the suture material to the tissue; and
a jaw pivotally coupled to the distal end of the handheld instrument for holding tissue as the needle portion and suture material enters into the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A suture needle adapted for use with a handheld instrument defining an axis and having an off-axis distal end, the needle comprising:
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a length of material having a sharpened distal tip and constructed and arranged to deliver a length of suture material; and
the material of the needle being malleable, such that when the needle is pushed through the handheld instrument, it elastically deforms in accordance with the off-axis distal end. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A suturing system comprising:
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a malleable needle portion having a sharpened distal tip and constructed and arranged to deliver a length of suture material;
a handheld instrument having a passageway and having a distal end terminating in a nonlinear portion; and
a push member configured for movement in the passageway of the handheld instrument, the push member being operative to push the malleable needle portion through the nonlinear portion, such that when the distal end of the handheld instrument is positioned proximate to a tissue to be sutured and the needle portion is pushed by the push member through the nonlinear portion, the needle portion is deformed and enters into the tissue and delivers the suture material to the tissue being sutured. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for suturing, comprising the steps of:
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providing a malleable needle portion having a sharpened distal tip;
positioning the needle portion in a passageway of a handheld instrument;
providing a suture material to be delivered by the needle portion; and
using a push member to push the needle portion in the handheld instrument, the needle portion upon exiting the handheld instrument penetrating the tissue being sutured and delivering the suture material to the tissue being sutured. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification