Ligature carrier for endoscopic use

• US 5,433,722 A
• Filed: 07/19/1993
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sharpe Endosurgical Corp.
• Inventors: Peterson, Francis C., Sharpe, Leslie A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHMIDT, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US08/093,451
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/144, 606/145, 606/147, 606/148, 606/181, 606/182, 606/184, 606/185, 606/187, 606/222, 606/223, 606/225, 604/192, 604/194, 604/196
• US Class Current: 606/148
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06019 by means of a suture-receiving lateral eyelet machined in the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06042 located close to needle tip

Abstract

A surgical instrument having a surgeon operable control handle for advancing a needle to pierce tissue and to carry a ligature through the pierced tissue.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a control handle having a foregrip and a rear grip, said foregrip slidably mounted to said rear grip and thereby adapted to be compressed together;

an elongate substantially straight sheath coupled to said control handle, said sheath having a lumen, said sheath being terminated with a blunt nose piece having a central bore in communication with said lumen and a terminal end, said bore defining a ligature reception area recessed from the terminal end of said blunt nose piece;

a control rod located in said lumen and connected to said handle;

a needle assembly coupled to said control rod, said needle assembly including a needle, said needle having a tip and having reception aperture for a ligature formed in said needle proximate said tip, to accommodate a ligature when it is placed in said reception aperture, such that the ligature passes completely through said reception aperture to a point beyond said needle;

said needle assembly having a needle carrier for locating and supporting said needle for motion along the axis of said lumen;

whereby said needle may be extended out of said bore of said blunt nose piece by operation of said control handle, defining a first extended position;

and whereby said needle may be retracted into said bore of said nose piece by operation of said control handle defining a second retracted position;

a retraction spring located proximate said control handle and in contact with said foregrip and in contact with said rear grip, so that when the ligature abuts within the bore of said nose piece, said retraction spring is slightly compressed, for biasing said needle into said second retracted position;

whereby the ligature in said reception aperture abuts within the bore of said nose piece to retain the ligature in said instrument when said spring biases said needle into said second position.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said sheath is a straight tube.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said needle is straight.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said needle carrier has a diameter which is substantially the same as the interior diameter of said lumen.