Continuous suturing device
First Claim
1. A suturing apparatus for continuous suturing of incised or ruptured tissue comprising:
- (a) a curved, elongate, axially hollow sleeve having first and second ends and defining an elongate slot;
(b) a curved suturing needle with a point, said suturing needle having a common arc and radii of curvature with said hollow sleeve and being movable relative to said sleeve between a retracted position where said needle is substantially positioned within said hollow sleeve and an extended position where said needle extends from within said first end of said sleeve into said second end of said sleeve;
(c) a needle appendage extending from adjacent the unpointed end of said needle and through said elongate slot and defining a needle manipulating lever means located externally of said elongate sleeve;
(d) a thread bearing cap for said point of said suturing needle adapted to connect to a suture thread; and
(e) means for selectively separating said cap from said suturing needle point.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved suturing apparatus for continuous suturing of incised or ruptured tissues is disclosed, the preferred form including a curved or arcuate suturing needle and an appendage at the nonpointed end protruding from the needle in a direction opposite the needle tip. A slotted, arcuate sleeve with flanged ends partially encases the needle while permitting internal sliding arcuate movement, the extent of which is dictated by the length of the slot through which the needle appendage slides. A pointed needle cap having suturing thread attached thereto is placed on the tip of the suturing needle. During suturing, the needle cap with attached suturing thread is pushed through the tissues moving in an arcuate path. A grasping device in the needle sleeve retains the needle cap after the needle passes through the tissue and as the suturing needle is withdrawn from the tissue. The suturing needle extends beyond the suture into the needle sleeve end holding the needle cap and engages the needle cap, whereupon the grasping device releases the needle cap, and the suturing needle is retracted, preparing the apparatus for the next suture.
560 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A suturing apparatus for continuous suturing of incised or ruptured tissue comprising:
-
(a) a curved, elongate, axially hollow sleeve having first and second ends and defining an elongate slot; (b) a curved suturing needle with a point, said suturing needle having a common arc and radii of curvature with said hollow sleeve and being movable relative to said sleeve between a retracted position where said needle is substantially positioned within said hollow sleeve and an extended position where said needle extends from within said first end of said sleeve into said second end of said sleeve; (c) a needle appendage extending from adjacent the unpointed end of said needle and through said elongate slot and defining a needle manipulating lever means located externally of said elongate sleeve; (d) a thread bearing cap for said point of said suturing needle adapted to connect to a suture thread; and (e) means for selectively separating said cap from said suturing needle point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A suturing apparatus for continuous suturing of incised or ruptured tissue comprising:
-
(a) a suturing needle including (1) an elongate, arcuately curved needle; (2) a pointed end and an opposite end on said needle; (3) a protruding handle means attached to said needle near the opposite end of said needle; (b) a needle cap fitting over the pointed end of said suturing needle;
said cap being joined to a suturing thread, said cap being readily capable of puncturing said tissue when driven via said needle by said protruding handle means; and(c) a needle sleeve including (1) an elongate, arcuately curved encompassing sleeve; (2) an elongate, arcuate passage in said sleeve for receiving said needle in sliding movement; (3) a lengthwise slot in communication with said passage to enable said handle means to protrude for manipulation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of continuously suturing tissue comprising the steps of:
-
(a) manually engaging a needle cap having suture thread connected thereto with the pointed end of a curred suture needle which is substantially positioned within a hollow curved sleeve; (b) manually positioning said cap engaged curved suture needle adjacent to tissue at a selected point of entry; (c) moving the needle, needle cap and suture thread along a desired path through the tissue between the point of entry and a desired exit point of the tissue; (d) momentarily holding the needle cap and suture thread connected thereto in a needle grasping device located within the hollow curved sleeve; (e) manually disengaging the needle from the needle cap and retracting the needle from the tissue along the same path between the exit point and the point of entry; and (f) subsequently engaging the needle cap with the pointed end of the needle in preparation for the next suture. - View Dependent Claims (15)
-
Specification