LAPAROSCOPY INSTRUMENTS AND METHOD FOR SUTURING AND LIGATION

• US 3,763,860 A
• Filed: 08/26/1971
• Issued: 10/09/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Henry C.N. Clarke
• Original Assignee: Henry C.N. Clarke
• Inventors: Clarke, Henry C. N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Medbery, Aldrich F.
• Application Number:
  US05/175,163
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 128/340,334X,329,326,321,347X
• US Class Current: 128/830
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0474 Knot pushers

Abstract

An improved combined laparoscopic needle and forceps comprising an elongated parallelogram type of linkage suitable for insertion through a trocar and having first and second ends, a needle, means for mounting said needle on said first end for movement from a position in substantial alignment with said linkage, which permits it to pass through a trocar, to a position transverse to said linkage, handle means on said second end of said linkage for actuating said linkage to effect movement of said needle, and a forceps construction including jaw means mounted proximate said first end of said needle linkage and being formed from a portion of said linkage and a portion of the holder of the needle. An improved combined laparoscopic forceps, suture guide and cutter comprising an elongated parallelogram type of linkage which is sufficiently slender for passage through a trocar and having first and second ends, jaw means on said first end, and handle means on said second end for actuating said linkage to move said jaws, groove means associated with said jaws for receiving a suture to thus act as a suture guide, and cutter means mounted on said jaws for cutting a suture. An improved laparoscopic ligator comprising an elongated stem having first and second ends, a handle at said first end and suture guiding means at said second end, said suture guiding means being of substantially the same cross sectional dimension as said elongated stem for guiding a suture through a trocar. An improved method of performing a surgical operation by laparoscopy comprising the steps of inserting at least first and second trocars through the body of a patient at spaced locations, inserting a first instrument comprising the above described combined laparoscopic needle and forceps through said first trocar, inserting a second instrument comprising the above described laparoscopic forceps, suture guide and cutter through said second trocar, manipulating said first and second instruments in cooperating relationship with each other in a predetermined area to bring the central portion of a suture in position, withdrawing one of said instruments to bring the end of the suture outside of the patient'"'"''"'"'s body, tying a knot in the suture outside of the body, and bringing the knot into the desired position by means of said laparoscopic ligator.

Claims

1. A laparoscopic forcep- needle comprising elongated linkage having first and second ends, a needle, means for mounting said needle on said first end of said linkage for movement between a first position in substantial alignment with said linkage and a second position transverse to said linkage, said linkage with said needle in said first position being sized as to be insertable into a trocar, and manually operated means on said second end of said linkage for actuating said linkage to effect said movement of said needle.

2. A laparoscopic forcep- needle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said linkage includes first and second elongated links located in side-by-side relationship, and said needle mounting means includes first and second pivots on said first and second links, respectively, on said first end of said linkage, a cross link coupled to said first and second pivots and means supporting said needle on said cross link.

3. A laparoscopic forcep- needle as set forth in claim 2 wherein said manually operated means includes third and fourth pivots on said first and second elongated links, respectively, at said second end, a second cross-link coupled to said third and fourth pivots and a pair of handles one of which is connected to said second cross-link and the other of which is connected to one of said elongated links to cause said first and second elongated links to move longitudinally relative to each other.

4. A laparoscopic forcep needle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said needle includes a crotch portion for wedgingly receiving a suture.