Axial Stitching Devices

• US 20120277768A1
• Filed: 07/09/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Viola, Frank J., Taylor, Eric J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,454,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/145
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• 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 17/0625 the needle being specially adapted to interact with the manipulator, e.g. being ridged to snap fit in a hole of the manipulator A61B17/06109 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00327 with actuating members moving in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/047 having at least one proximally pointing needle located at the distal end of the instrument, e.g. for suturing trocar puncture wounds starting from inside the body J-shaped suture needles A61B2017/0608
• 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 MIS suturing instruments A61B17/0469; jaws of MIS forceps A61B2017/2926
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06176 with protrusions, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion

Abstract

An endoscopic stitching device is provided including an end effector configured and adapted to perform at least a pair of functions; and a single actuation cable operatively connected to the end effector, wherein the actuation cable is capable of effecting operation of at least the pair of functions. The actuation cable is capable of effecting a first operation of the pair of functions upon an axial translation thereof, and a second operation of the pair of functions upon a rotation thereof.

Claims

1. An endoscopic stitching device, comprising:

an end effector;

a force transmitting member operatively coupled with the end effector, the force transmitting member being capable of transmitting axial forces and rotational forces; and

a suture needle operatively associated with the end effector, wherein the end effector is configured and adapted to;

selectively engage the suture needle in one of a head assembly and a hub of the end effector; and

axially translate the needle between the head assembly and the hub,

wherein axial translation of the force transmitting member results in axial translation of the head assembly and the hub relative to one another, and

wherein rotation of the force transmitting member results in selective retention of the suture needle in one of the head assembly and the hub.

2. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 1, further comprising an articulatable neck portion supporting the end effector, wherein the articulatable neck portion is configured and adapted for articulation in at least one direction transverse to a longitudinal axis thereof.

3. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 1, wherein the force transmitting member is a cable.

4. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 1, wherein each of the head assembly and the hub defines a needle retaining recess formed in a tissue contacting surface thereof.

5. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 4, further comprising a needle holding member supported in each of the head assembly and the hub, wherein each needle holding member is in registration with and translatable with respect to a respective needle retaining recess.

6. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 5, wherein each holding member includes an advanced position wherein the holding member engages the suture needle when the suture needle is in one of the respective head assembly and hub to thereby secure the suture needle therewith.

7. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 6, wherein each holding member includes a retracted position wherein the holding member is out of engagement with the suture needle.

8. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 7, further comprising a cam shaft rotatably supported in the end effector, wherein a rotation of the cam shaft results in opposed translation of each holding member between the advanced and retracted positions.

9. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 8, wherein the cam shaft is axially fixed and rotatably connected to the head assembly, wherein an axial translation of the cam shaft results in an axial translation of the head assembly relative to the hub.

10. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 9, wherein a proximal end of the cam shaft is fixedly secured to the force transmitting member.

11. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 2, further comprising at least one articulation cable slidably extending through the neck portion and having a distal end fixedly connected to one of the end effector and a distal end of the neck portion.

12. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 11, wherein the articulation cable is disposed along an axis spaced a distance from a neutral bending axis of the neck portion.

13. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 1, wherein the suture needle includes a length of barbed suture extending therefrom.

14. An endoscopic stitching device, comprising:

an end effector configured and adapted to perform at least a pair of functions, the end effector including;

a head assembly and a hub disposed in juxtaposed relation to one another and being axially translatable relative to one another, each of the head assembly and the hub defines a needle retaining recess formed in a tissue contacting surface thereof;

a needle holding member supported in each of the head assembly and the hub, wherein each needle holding member is in registration with and translatable with respect to a respective needle retaining recess;

a cam shaft rotatably supported in the end effector, wherein the cam shaft is axially fixed and rotatably connected to the head assembly, wherein an axial translation of the cam shaft results in an axial translation of the head assembly relative to the hub, and wherein a rotation of the cam shaft results in opposed translation of each holding member between the advanced and retracted positions; and

a force transmitting member operatively connected to the cam shaft, wherein the force transmitting member is capable of effecting a first operation of the pair of functions upon an axial translation thereof, and a second operation of the pair of functions upon a rotation thereof

15. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 14, further comprising a suture needle operatively associated with the end effector, wherein the end effector is configured and adapted to:

selectively engage the suture needle in one of a head assembly and a hub of the end effector; and

axially translate the needle between the head assembly and the hub.

16. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 15, wherein the first operation includes a translation of the force transmitting member to translate the head assembly and the hub relative to one another resulting in passage of the suture needle between the head assembly and the hub.

17. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 16, wherein the second operation includes a rotation of the force transmitting member resulting in rotation of the cam shaft to selectively retain the suture needle in a respective one of the head assembly and the hub.

18. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 17, wherein each of the head assembly and the hub defines a needle retaining recess formed in a tissue contacting surface thereof.

19. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 18, further comprising a radially translatable needle holding member supported in each of the head assembly and the hub, wherein each holding member includes:

an advanced position wherein the holding member engages the suture needle when the suture needle is in one of the respective head assembly and hub, to thereby secure the suture needle therewith; and

a retracted position wherein the holding member is out of engagement with the suture needle.

20. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 19, wherein rotation of the force transmitting member results in rotation of the cam shaft to move each holding member between the advanced and retracted positions.

21. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 14, further comprising an articulatable neck portion supporting the end effector, and at least one articulation cable slidably extending through the neck portion, the articulation cable having a distal end fixedly connected to one of the end effector and a distal end of the neck portion.

22. The endoscopic stitching device according to claim 15, wherein the suture needle includes a length of barbed suture extending therefrom.