Suturing method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of placing a suture, comprising:
- 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.
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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
24 Claims
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1. 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 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. 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. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. 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 (21, 22, 23)
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24. 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