Surgical stitching apparatus
First Claim
1. A surgical stitching apparatus for endoscopically forming surgical stitches in tissues or vessels by means of a stitching needle, said apparatus comprising a drive mechanism including concentric tubes, a stitching head mounted on a distal end of said concentric tubes, an operating handle structure mounted on a proximal end of said drive mechanism and having means connected to said concentric tubes for movement thereof for operation of the stitching head at the distal end of said drive mechanism, said stitching head having a stationary and a movable mouthpiece arranged so as to be movable relative to one another along a predetermined path, each having a clamping structure, the clamping structure on the movable mouthpiece including a spring mechanism for biasing the clamping structure thereon into a closed position and the clamping structure on said stationary mouthpiece being operable by said operating handle structure via one of said concentric tubes, said stitching needle having at each end a tip with a bulge and a reduced shank portion and said clamping structures having cavities formed therebetween for receiving the needle tips in a form- and force-locking manner, said needle being formed such that its longitudinal axis coincides with the path of relative movement of said clamping structures, said movable mouthpiece being operatively connected via another of said concentric tubes to a handle on said operating handle structure for hand control of the relative movement of said mouthpieces, and the clamping structure on said stationary mouthpiece being operable by means of a pedal switch operated drive mechanism disposed on said operating handle structure and connected to said one concentric tube, said drive mechanism comprising a miniature pneumatic cylinder mounted on said operating handle structure and operatively connected to said one concentric tube for operation of the clamping structure on said stationary mouthpiece.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a surgical stitching apparatus for endoscopically performing sutures of tissue or vessels having a drive mechanism including concentric tubes with an operating handle structure at one end and a stitching head mounted at the distal end thereof, the stitching head includes a stationary and a movable mouthpiece each with clamping structures for engaging the tips of a needle each comprising movable and stationary halves with the movable half on the stationary mouthpiece being operatively connected to one of the concentric tubes and the movable mouthpiece being connected to another of the concentric tubes which is hand-operable by a movable handle on the operating handle structure, and the one concentric tube is operable by a pedal switch-controlled mechanism mounted on the operating handle structure for foot operation of the clamping structure on the stationary mouthpiece.
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Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A surgical stitching apparatus for endoscopically forming surgical stitches in tissues or vessels by means of a stitching needle, said apparatus comprising a drive mechanism including concentric tubes, a stitching head mounted on a distal end of said concentric tubes, an operating handle structure mounted on a proximal end of said drive mechanism and having means connected to said concentric tubes for movement thereof for operation of the stitching head at the distal end of said drive mechanism, said stitching head having a stationary and a movable mouthpiece arranged so as to be movable relative to one another along a predetermined path, each having a clamping structure, the clamping structure on the movable mouthpiece including a spring mechanism for biasing the clamping structure thereon into a closed position and the clamping structure on said stationary mouthpiece being operable by said operating handle structure via one of said concentric tubes, said stitching needle having at each end a tip with a bulge and a reduced shank portion and said clamping structures having cavities formed therebetween for receiving the needle tips in a form- and force-locking manner, said needle being formed such that its longitudinal axis coincides with the path of relative movement of said clamping structures, said movable mouthpiece being operatively connected via another of said concentric tubes to a handle on said operating handle structure for hand control of the relative movement of said mouthpieces, and the clamping structure on said stationary mouthpiece being operable by means of a pedal switch operated drive mechanism disposed on said operating handle structure and connected to said one concentric tube, said drive mechanism comprising a miniature pneumatic cylinder mounted on said operating handle structure and operatively connected to said one concentric tube for operation of the clamping structure on said stationary mouthpiece.
Specification