Surgical apparatus and method for suturing body tissue
First Claim
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1. A method of suturing an incision at a suture site from within a body opening the method comprising:
- a. positioning a surgical suture instrument at the suture site outside a body opening, the surgical suture instrument comprising a casing having a pocket for housing a suture needle, a needle having a puncture end, a suture opening and a manipulation end, the needle being pivotally positioned within the pocket about a pivot point being generally longitudinally fixed relative to said casing, such that the puncture end is alternately exposed or retracted within the casing, and means associated with the manipulation end of the suture needle and operable from a proximal end of the instrument casing for manipulating the needle within the casing;
b. retracting the needle such that the puncture end is within the casing;
c. advancing the casing of the surgical instrument into the body opening;
d. exposing the puncture end of the needle;
e. piercing the tissue surrounding an interior portion of the body opening with the needle at a defined site;
f. retracting the surgical instrument from the body opening to enable the puncture end of the needle to penetrate the body tissue such that the needle exits the body opening and exposes the suture opening;
g. passing a suture thread through the suture opening;
h. reinserting the surgical instrument;
i. rotating the surgical instrument approximately 180°
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j. exposing the needle;
k. withdrawing the surgical instrument from the body opening to enable the puncture end of the needle to penetrate the body tissue such that the needle exits the body opening and exposes the suture opening which suture opening includes the previously threaded suture;
l. fixing the suture thread outside the body opening;
m. releasing the needle from the tissue;
n. removing the surgical instrument from the body opening.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a surgical suture instrument specifically designed for suturing body tissues in enclosed surgical operations. The instrument includes a casing with a slot for housing a suture needle. The needle includes a first puncture end and a second manipulation end. The needle is pivotally positioned on an axis within the casing, such that the puncture end may be exposed or retracted as needed. The casing also includes equipment to manipulate the needle within the casing.
707 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of suturing an incision at a suture site from within a body opening the method comprising:
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a. positioning a surgical suture instrument at the suture site outside a body opening, the surgical suture instrument comprising a casing having a pocket for housing a suture needle, a needle having a puncture end, a suture opening and a manipulation end, the needle being pivotally positioned within the pocket about a pivot point being generally longitudinally fixed relative to said casing, such that the puncture end is alternately exposed or retracted within the casing, and means associated with the manipulation end of the suture needle and operable from a proximal end of the instrument casing for manipulating the needle within the casing; b. retracting the needle such that the puncture end is within the casing; c. advancing the casing of the surgical instrument into the body opening; d. exposing the puncture end of the needle; e. piercing the tissue surrounding an interior portion of the body opening with the needle at a defined site; f. retracting the surgical instrument from the body opening to enable the puncture end of the needle to penetrate the body tissue such that the needle exits the body opening and exposes the suture opening; g. passing a suture thread through the suture opening; h. reinserting the surgical instrument; i. rotating the surgical instrument approximately 180°
;j. exposing the needle; k. withdrawing the surgical instrument from the body opening to enable the puncture end of the needle to penetrate the body tissue such that the needle exits the body opening and exposes the suture opening which suture opening includes the previously threaded suture; l. fixing the suture thread outside the body opening; m. releasing the needle from the tissue; n. removing the surgical instrument from the body opening.
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2. A surgical suture instrument, comprising:
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a. a casing comprising a pocket for housing a suture needle; b. a suture needle having a puncture end and a manipulation end, the suture needle being pivotally positioned within the pocket about a pivot point being generally longitudinally fixed relative to said casing, such that the puncture end is alternately exposed to permit penetration of tissue or retracted within the casing to prevent penetration of tissue; and c. means associated with the manipulation end of the suture needle and operable from a proximal end portion of the instrument casing for manipulating the suture needle between a retracted position and an exposed position whereby the needle is pivoted outwardly away from the casing. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A surgical instrument, for closing a trocar incision, which comprises:
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an elongated housing having at least one longitudinal pocket having an opening spaced from a distal end of said elongated housing thereof, said elongated housing having an outer surface of substantially uniform cross-sectional diameter along the length thereof which is adjacent said longitudinal pocket opening; a needle deployably attached to said elongated housing; and movable means associated with said housing, engageable with said needle, for openably deploying said needle between a first position substantially within said pocket and a second position outwardly spaced from said elongated housing such that said needle is moved outwardly away from said elongated housing. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A surgical instrument, for closing a body cavity incision, which comprises:
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an elongated housing having a proximal end and a distal end; a needle having a puncture end; means associated with said elongated housing for deployably attaching said needle to said elongated housing, such that upon deployment of said needle, said puncture end is directed toward said proximal end of said elongated housing; and means disposed within said housing for operably deploying said needle from a first position to a second position spaced from said housing. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. Apparatus, for closing a trocar incision, which comprises:
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an elongated housing having at least one longitudinal pocket which defines an opening; a needle having a puncture portion and a manipulation portion, said needle being deployably mounted within said pocket of said elongated housing portion such that said manipulation portion generally extends along a plane extending generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said apparatus; and an actuator operatively associated with said needle, said actuator operably deploying said needle such that said needle is moved outwardly away from said elongated housing and said manipulation portion of said needle remains substantially within said plane. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A surgical instrument, for closing a trocar incision, which comprises:
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an elongated housing having a distal end; a needle deployably mounted on said elongated housing, said needle having a puncture end portion such that said needle is oriented with said puncture end portion directed toward a proximal end of said elongated housing; and an actuator disposed at least partially within said housing, said actuator distally movable to operably deploy said needle between a first position and a second position outwardly spaced from said elongated housing such that said needle is moved outwardly away from said elongated housing upon distal movement of said actuator. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A laparoscopic surgical instrument, for closing a trocar incision, which comprises:
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an elongated housing having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; a needle deployably mounted adjacent said distal end; and an actuator associated with said elongated housing, said actuator moveable between a first position spaced from said needle and a second position in engagement with said needle, to operably deploy said needle alternately between a first position to prevent penetration of tissue and a second position outwardly spaced from said elongated housing such that said needle is moved outwardly away from said elongated housing to permit penetration of tissue. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for closing a trocar incision, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a suturing instrument having; an elongated housing, a needle operatively associated with said housing; means for deployably mounting said needle such that at least a portion of said needle remains longitudinally fixed relative to said elongated housing during deployment; and means disposed at least partially within said housing, for operably deploying said needle between an initial position and a deployed position away from said housing; b) inserting said suturing instrument into an exterior opening of a trocar incision formed in a patient'"'"'s body; (c) deploying, at a predetermined position, said needle from said initial position to said deployed position; and (d) moving said deployed needle toward said exterior opening of said incision, from within said incision.
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36. A laparoscopic surgical instrument comprising:
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an elongated housing having a proximal end and a distal end; a needle having a puncture portion; means for mounting said needle adjacent said distal end of said elongated housing for movement between a first position wherein said puncture portion is disposed within said elongated housing and a second position wherein said puncture portion is spaced from said elongated housing to permit penetration of tissue; and means for moving said needle alternately between said first and second positions, said moving means movable from a disengaged position to an engaged position with said needle to move said needle to said second position.
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37. A surgical suture instrument, comprising:
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a. an elongated housing having a pocket; b. a suture needle having a puncture end and a manipulation end, the puncture end being positionable within the pocket, said needle being pivotally positioned about a pivot fixed longitudinally relative to said elongated housing such that the puncture end is pivotable between an exposed position to permit penetration of tissue and a retracted position within said elongated housing to prevent penetration of tissue; and c. means spaced from the puncture end of the suture needle and operable from a proximal end portion of said elongated housing for deploying said puncture end of the suture needle between said retracted position and said exposed position whereby the needle is pivoted outwardly away from the pocket.
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38. A surgical suture instrument, comprising:
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a. an elongated housing having a pocket; b. a suture needle having a puncture end and a manipulation end, being mounted to said elongated housing, such that the puncture end is pivotally movable between an exposed position to permit penetration of tissue and a tethered position within the elongated housing to prevent penetration of tissue; and c. a deployment member operatively associated with said suture needle such that distal movement of said deployment member pivots said suture needle to said exposed position.
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39. A surgical suture instrument, comprising:
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a. an elongated housing having a pocket; b. a suture needle consisting of a C-shaped structure and having a puncture end and a manipulation end, said needle being deployable between first and second positions; and c. means operable from a proximal end of the elongated housing for manipulating the suture needle between said first position and said second position whereby the suture needle is pivoted outwardly away from said elongated housing. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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Specification