Curved needle suturing tool
First Claim
1. A needle delivery device comprising:
- a needle for holding suture material and being made of a shape memory alloy preformed in an unconstrained configuration;
a needle delivery guide having a needle channel for passage of the needle therethrough, a distal end and a proximal end, said needle channel defining a longitudinal axis and being configured to hold the needle in a constrained configuration;
a suturing guide connected to the delivery guide; and
,a positioning member for moving the suturing guide between an extended position and a collapsed position, wherein, in said extended position the suturing guide is configured to guide the needle in the unconstrained configuration thereof.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A needle delivery device is described and includes generally, a needle made of a shape memory alloy pre-formed in an unconstrained configuration, such as, for example, an arc or a curved needle. The needle delivery device also includes a needle delivery guide, a suturing guide and a positioning member. The needle has an eye at its leading tip for holding suture material. The needle delivery guide has a needle channel for passage of the needle therethrough. The needle channel is configured to hold the needle in a constrained configuration, for example, in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the needle channel. The suturing guide is pivotally connected to the delivery guide. The positioning member moves the suturing guide between an extended position and a collapsed position, wherein, in the extended position, the suturing guide is configured to stabilize the tissue and guide the needle in its unconstrained configuration and to enable access by, for example, a grasper or other tool, to the suture material.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A needle delivery device comprising:
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a needle for holding suture material and being made of a shape memory alloy preformed in an unconstrained configuration; a needle delivery guide having a needle channel for passage of the needle therethrough, a distal end and a proximal end, said needle channel defining a longitudinal axis and being configured to hold the needle in a constrained configuration; a suturing guide connected to the delivery guide; and
,a positioning member for moving the suturing guide between an extended position and a collapsed position, wherein, in said extended position the suturing guide is configured to guide the needle in the unconstrained configuration thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An endoscopic suturing method comprising:
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a.) directing a needle delivery device through a first working channel of an endoscope in the distal direction to an internal patient site having tissue in need of suturing, said needle delivery device comprising; a needle having an eye therein through which a length of suture material is attached, the needle being made of a shape memory alloy preformed in a curved configuration; a needle delivery guide having a needle channel for passage of the needle therethrough, a distal end and a proximal end, the needle channel having a longitudinal axis and being configured to hold the needle in a constrained, substantially axial configuration relative to the axis of the needle channel; a suturing plate pivotally connected to the delivery guide and defining an opening therethrough and a lateral access path; and
,a positioning member for moving the suturing plate between an extended position and a collapsed position; b.) positioning the distal end of the needle delivery guide on tissue at a first puncture site at the internal patient site; c.) moving the suturing plate into the extended position; d.) advancing the needle distally out of the needle channel whereupon the needle punctures the tissue at the first puncture site drawing the suture material through the first puncture site, and assumes the curved configuration as the needle leaves the needle channel; e.) continuing to advance the needle distally out of the needle channel whereupon the curve of the curved needle directs the needle proximally to puncture the tissue at a second puncture site spaced from the first puncture site, drawing the suture material through the second puncture site and through the opening in the suture plate; f.) directing a grasper distally through a second working channel of the endoscope to the internal patient site; g.) grasping the suture material at a location proximal to the second puncture site; h.) pulling the needle proximally into the needle channel while the grasper holds the suture material, whereupon the curved needle withdraws distally through the second puncture site and through the first puncture site to the needle channel and the grasped suture material forms a loop on the proximal side of the tissue; i.) optionally (i) completing a single suture stitch, comprising tying the suture material held by the grasper and cutting the tied suture material, or (ii) continuing the stitch, comprising moving the needle delivery device laterally and directing the eye of the needle through the loop of the suture material held by the grasper and positioning the needle on tissue at a third puncture site at the internal patient site; repeating steps d) through i) until a desired area of the tissue at the internal patient site is sutured; and
,moving the needle proximally into the needle channel and moving the suturing plate into the collapsed position.
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20. A method comprising:
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obtaining a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises a needle delivery device comprising; a needle for holding suture material and being made of a shape memory alloy preformed in an unconstrained configuration; a needle delivery guide having a needle channel for passage of the needle therethrough, a distal end and a proximal end, said needle channel having a longitudinal axis and being configured to hold the needle in a constrained configuration; a suturing guide pivotally connected to the delivery guide; and
,a positioning member for moving the suturing guide between an extended position and a collapsed position, wherein, in said extended position the suturing guide is configured to guide the needle in the unconstrained configuration thereof and to enable access to the suture material; sterilizing the surgical instrument; and storing the surgical instrument in a sterile container.
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Specification