Suturing instrument with thread management
First Claim
1. A suturing instrument comprisinga needle/suture cartridge, said cartridge includingsupport means having opposite ends and an axis extending between them;
- a curved suturing needle having a pointed end and a second end;
a suture having one end attached to said needle second end;
track means at one end of said support means for supporting said needle for rotational motion about said axis, andactuator means for releasably holding the other end of said support means, said actuator means including rotary means releasably engaging and rotary said needle through successive revolutions about said axis in a direction to advance the pointed end of said needle.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A suturing instrument for suturing tissue comprises an elongated housing having opposite ends. A curved suturing needle having a pointed end and a second end to which a suture is attached and supported at one end of the housing for rotational motion about an axis. A driver mechanism in the housing rotates said needle about said axis through successive revolutions, and a suture tensioner in the housing applies tension to the suture to draw the suture toward the other end of said housing following each revolution of said needle. In its operation, the instrument thus emulates the actions of a surgeon suturing manually.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A suturing instrument comprising
a needle/suture cartridge, said cartridge including support means having opposite ends and an axis extending between them; -
a curved suturing needle having a pointed end and a second end; a suture having one end attached to said needle second end; track means at one end of said support means for supporting said needle for rotational motion about said axis, and actuator means for releasably holding the other end of said support means, said actuator means including rotary means releasably engaging and rotary said needle through successive revolutions about said axis in a direction to advance the pointed end of said needle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A suturing instrument for suturing tissue comprising
an elongated housing having opposite ends; -
a curved suturing needle having a pointed end and a second end; a suture having one end attached to said needle second end; support means at one end of the housing for supporting said needle for rotational motion about an axis; means in said housing for rotating said needle about said axis through successive revolutions, and tensioning means in said housing for engaging and drawing said suture toward the other end of said housing following each revolution of said needle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A suturing instrument comprising a needle/suture cartridge, said cartridge including
support means having opposite ends and an axis extending between them; -
a curved suturing needle having a pointed end and a second end; a suture having one end attached to said needle second end, and track means at one end of said support means for supporting said needle for rotational motion about said axis through successive revolutions. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A suturing instrument for suturing tissue comprising
an elongated housing having opposite ends; -
a curved suturing needle having a pointed end and a second end; a suture having one end attached to the needle second end; means defining a circular track at one end of the housing for supporting said needle for rotational motion about the track axis, and means in said housing for advancing said needle along said track through at least one revolution about said axis. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification