Suturing instrument

• US 20060041263A1
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Chu, Michael S. H., Mers Kelly, William C., Furnish, Greg R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,123,762 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 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0491 Sewing machines for surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

The suturing instrument includes an elongate member having an articulating distal portion biased offset from the elongate member, and a sheath slideably disposed about the elongate member. The user positions the sheath in contact with the articulating distal portion to actuate the distal portion relative to the elongate member. The articulating distal portion is pivotally coupled to the elongate member for improved maneuverability within the body of a patient during surgical procedures.

Claims

1. A suturing instrument comprising:

an elongate member including a longitudinal axis and a distal portion offset from the longitudinal axis; and

a sheath slideably disposed about the elongate member, the sheath positionable in contact with the distal portion to actuate the distal portion relative to the longitudinal axis.

2. The suturing instrument of claim 1, wherein the distal portion is pivotally coupled to the elongate member.

3. The suturing instrument of claim 1, wherein the distal portion is biased up to about 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis.

4. The suturing instrument of claim 1, wherein the distal portion comprises a range of actuation from about 1 degree to about 90 degrees.

5. The suturing instrument of claim 1 further comprising a needle deployment mechanism at least partially housed in the elongate member.

6. The suturing instrument of claim 5, wherein the needle deployment mechanism comprises:

a needle carrier at least partially disposed in the distal portion for holding a needle; and

an actuator at least partially disposed within the elongate member and coupled to the needle carrier for advancing the needle out of an opening defined by the distal portion of the elongate member.

7. The suturing instrument of claim 6 further comprising a needle catch disposed proximate the distal portion of the elongate member and configured to receive the needle.

8. The suturing instrument of claim 1, wherein the distal portion is offset from the longitudinal axis by a push rod and spring arrangement at least partially disposed in the elongate member.

9. The suturing instrument of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the elongate member can rotate relative to a remainder of the elongate member.

10. A suturing instrument comprising:

an elongate member;

a head coupled to a distal portion of the elongate member; and

a sheath disposed about and slideable along a length of the elongate member wherein sliding the sheath proximally causes the head to pivot.

11. The suturing instrument of claim 10, further comprising a tab extending from a distal end of the sheath and a fastener coupling the tab to the head.

12. The suturing instrument of claim 11, wherein the fastener couples the tab to the head via a slot defined by the tab and sliding the sheath proximally causes the tab to engage the fastener.

13. The suturing instrument of claim 11, wherein the sheath extends substantially the entire length of the elongate member.

14. The suturing instrument of claim 11, wherein sliding the sheath proximally relative to the elongate member, biases the head offset from a longitudinal axis of the elongate member and sliding the sheath distally causes the head to pivot into substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis.

15. The suturing instrument of claim 11 further comprising a needle deployment mechanism at least partially housed in the elongate member.

16. The suturing instrument of claim 15, wherein the needle deployment mechanism comprises:

a needle carrier at least partially disposed in the head for holding a needle; and

an actuator at least partially disposed within the elongate member and coupled to the needle carrier for advancing the needle out of an opening defined by the head.

17. The suturing instrument of claim 16 further comprising a needle catch disposed on the head and configured to receive the needle.

18. A suturing instrument comprising:

an elongate member including a longitudinal axis;

a head coupled to the elongate member; and

a needle deployment mechanism at least partially housed within the elongate member, the needle deployment mechanism comprising,

a needle carrier at least partially disposed in the head for holding a needle, and

a carrier activation wire coupled to the needle carrier and extending substantially along the longitudinal axis of the elongate member, the activation wire biasing the head offset from the longitudinal axis of the elongate member when in tension and articulating the head relative to the longitudinal axis and preferentially deploying the needle from the head when in compression.

19. The suturing instrument of claim 18 further comprising a sheath disposed about the elongate member and slideable along a length of the elongate member, the sheath including a distal end for engaging and articulating the head relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

20. The suturing instrument of claim 18, wherein the head is offset up to about 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis.

21. The suturing instrument of claim 18, wherein the head comprises a range of articulation from about 1 degree to about 90 degrees.

22. The suturing instrument of claim 18 further comprising a needle catch disposed on the head and configured to receive the needle.

23. The suturing instrument of claim 18, wherein the head is offset from the longitudinal axis by a push rod and spring arrangement at least partially disposed in the elongate member.