Endoscopic ligating device

• US 5,144,961 A
• Filed: 07/11/1991
• Issued: 09/08/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Spengler, Ralph, Chen, Chao
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US07/728,443
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/144, 606/148, 606/203, 606/1, 128/898
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0474 Knot pushers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0477 with pre-tied sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter

Abstract

Endoscopic ligating device having a surgical needle; a tube; and a filamentary strand attached at its distal end to the surgical needle, and slidably engaged at its proximal end about the tube with a partially tightened knot.

Claims

1. A method of ligating a vessel endoscopically, comprising the steps of:

a) providing an endoscopic ligating device, said device having a surgical needle, a tube, and a filamentary strand attached at its distal end to the surgical needle, and slideably engaged at its proximal end about said tube with a partially tightened knot;

b) passing said surgical needle down through a trocar into a body cavity wherein the desired ligation is to occur;

c) looping said needle around said vessel;

d) passing said surgical needle up through said trocar until said needle exits said trocar;

e) removing said needle from said filimentary strand;

f) inserting said strand into the distal end of said tube and passing said strand up through said tube until a portion of said strand protrudes from the proximal end of said tube;

g) sliding said partially tightened knot distally on the tube until said partially tightened knot disengages from said tube and is engaged about said filamentary strand;

h) tightening said partially tightened knot about said strand so as to form a fully tightened knot; and

i) sliding said fully tightened knot distally on said strand until said fully tightened knot firmly engages and ligates said vessel.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the tube is an elongate cylinder having a continuous opening extending axially therethrough.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the cross-sectional diameter of the continuous opening is greater than the cross-sectional diameter of the surgical needle and the filamentary strand so as to allow passage of the needle and the strand through the tube.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the partially tightened knot is engaged about the tube with five loops disposed around the circumference of the tube.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the partially tightened knot terminates with a pulling end of the filamentary strand, wherein the knot can be fully tightened by pulling said pulling end.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the knot, when fully tightened, is configured to allow sliding movement in one direction and to prevent sliding movement in the opposite direction.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the fully tightened knot is adapted to ligate a bodily vessel.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein continuous opening of the the elongate cylinder has a substantially constant cross-sectional diameter.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the elongate cylinder has a tapered distal portion.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the elongate cylinder is composed of a flexible plastic.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the filamentary strand is composed of a surgical suture material.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the suture material is bioabsorbable.