Suture cartridge

• US 3,901,244 A
• Filed: 06/14/1974
• Issued: 08/26/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward E. Schweizer
• Original Assignee: Edward E. Schweizer
• Inventors: Schweizer, Edward E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/479,587
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 128/326,334R,339,340 206/63.3,389,409 242/137.1,171
• US Class Current: 606/145
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/04 for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials suture materials A61L17/00

Abstract

A cartridge for a suturing clamp in which the flesh is clamped by a pair of jaws and further movement of the clamp actuator handle drives a needle, carrying a length of suture with it, through the flesh. A cartridge, which rotatably carries a bobbin with suture, is releasably gripped on one of the jaws, and a narrow slot at the forward end grips a length of suture to hold it across the path of the needle. When the cartridge is in place on the clamp, a roughened undersurface forms one of the flesh gripping surfaces, and a cover on the cartridge is held against a surface of the clamp jaw so that it cannot fall from the cartridge.

Claims

1. A suture cartridge for use in a surgical suture applicator which includes:

a pair of lever members pivoted together and having jaw elements thereon;

a needle slidably carried on one of said jaw elements for movement between a retracted position within saiD one jaw element and an extended position protruding therefrom;

means on the end of said needle for grasping a length of suture extended across the path of said movement; and

means on one of said lever members for driving said needle from said retracted position to said extended position in response to closing movement of said lever member;

said suture supply cartridge comprising;

a casing;

a bobbin adapted to carry a length of suture wound thereon;

mounting means in said casing rotatably receiving said bobbin;

a forward extension on said casing forming a passageway for a length of suture unwound from said bobbin;

a forward extension on said casing forming a passageway for a length of suture unwound from said bobbin;

a transverse opening through said forward extension adapted for registry with said path of needle movement;

suture gripping means on said forward extension outboard of said transverse opening;

means on said casing for releasable securing said casing to said one jaw element of the suture applicator; and

a flesh-gripping surface on said forward extension around said transverse opening.

2. The suture supply cartridge defined by claim 1 wherein:

said suture gripping means comprising a narrow slot in the outer end of said forward extension.

3. The suture supply cartridge defined by claim 1 including:

a cover for said casing removably snap-fitted thereon to form a complete enclosure;

said cover, when said casing is in place on said one jaw element, being in face to face engagement with a surface thereof.

4. The suture supply cartridge defined by claim 1 wherein:

said flesh-gripping surface is roughened.

5. The suture supply cartridge defined by claim 1 including:

a plurality of short stubs protruding from said flesh-gripping surface.

6. A suture supply cartridge for use in a surgical suture applicator which includes a pair of lever members pivoted together and having jaw elements thereon;

a needle slidably carried on one of said jaw elements for movement from a retracted position within said one jaw element and an extended position into the other of said jaw elements carrying a length of suture therewith; and

means on one of said lever members for driving said needle from said retracted position to said extended position in response to closing movement of said lever member;

said suture supply cartridge comprising;

a casing;

a bobbin adapted to carry a length of suture wound thereon;

mounting means in said casing rotatably receiving said bobbin;

a forward extension on said casing forming a passageway for suture unwound from said bobbin;

a transverse opening through said forward extension adapted for registry with said path of needle movement;

a cover for said casing removably snap-fitted thereon to form a complete enclosure; and

means on said casing for releasably securing said casing to said one jaw element of the suture applicator.

7. The suture supply cartridge defined by claim 6 including:

a flesh-gripping surface on said forward extension around said transverse opening.

8. The suture supply cartridge defined by claim 7 including:

a plurality of short stubs protruding from said flesh-gripping surface.