Suturing apparatus

• US 5,454,823 A
• Filed: 02/07/1994
• Issued: 10/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Margaret P. Richardson, Philip Richardson
• Original Assignee: Margaret P. Richardson, Philip Richardson
• Inventors: Richardson, Philip, Richardson, Margaret P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/192,936
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 606/144-148
• 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 17/06 Needles ; Sutures; Needle-suture combinations; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials puncturing needles A61B17/34; hypodermic needles A61M5/32 ; sewing needles D05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06066 Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations making needles B21G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0625 the needle being specially adapted to interact with the manipulator, e.g. being ridged to snap fit in a hole of the manipulator A61B17/06109 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2804 with two or more pivotal connections A61B17/29 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/282 Jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2939 Details of linkages or pivot points

Abstract

Surgical suturing apparatus comprises upper and lower jaw elements selectively movable relative to one another between open and closed position. Each jaw element is provided with a respective recess arranged to receive a portion of an elongate incision member or length of surgical thread and securing means is provided arranged to selectively secure the surgical incision member or length of surgical thread in a respective recess. The jaw elements are typically provided at an end of an elongate positioning and operating arm making the device particularly useful for use in laparoscopic surgery.

Claims

1. Surgical apparatus comprising:

an elongated tubular portion having a distal portion and a proximal portion;

first and second jaw elements, each of said jaw elements extending from said distal portion of said tubular portion, each of said jaw elements having a recess configured and dimensioned to receive a portion of an elongate surgical incision member;

mechanically actuated securing means for securing the portion of the surgical incision member within said recess, wherein said securing means engages said recess in each said jaw element in a first position and is disengaged from said recess in a second position; and

actuation means for relatively moving said first and second jaw elements, said actuation means positioned at the proximal portion of said tubular portion.

2. Surgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said jaw elements is pivotally movable relative to the other jaw element.

3. Surgical apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an actuation member connected to said first and second jaw elements for moving said elements.

4. Surgical apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an incision member, wherein said incision member is curved in its longitudinal direction, and said recesses in said first and second jaw elements are curved.

5. Surgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said recesses is in the form of a slot extending substantially through the respective jaw element.

6. Surgical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said slot tapers from a mouth portion to an apex portion.

7. Surgical apparatus comprising:

an elongated tubular body portion;

first and second jaw elements extending from said body portion and connected at a pivot point, at least one of said jaw elements being movable, each of said jaw elements having a recess configured and dimensioned to receive a portion of an elongate surgical incision member, wherein each recess is in the form of a slot, each of said jaws further having a mechanically actuated securing member engageable with each said recess for securing the surgical incision member in each said recess and

mechanical means positioned at the proximal portion of the elongated tubular body portion for actuating said at least one movable jaw element and said securing member.

8. Surgical apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the incision member is curved in its longitudinal direction, and said recesses in said first and second jaw elements are curved.

9. Surgical apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said slot tapers from a mouth portion to an apex portion.

10. Surgical apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an elongate positioning arm having a distal end and a proximal end, said first and second jaw elements extending from said distal end and control means positioned at said proximal end for controlling said first and second jaw elements.

11. Surgical apparatus comprising:

an elongated tubular body portion having a longitudinal axis;

first and second jaw elements extending longitudinally from said body portion, at least one of said jaw elements being movable, each of said jaw elements having securing means for securing a portion of a surgical incision member and further having releasing means engageable with said securing means for releasing the portion of the surgical incision member secured by said securing means; and

mechanical means positioned at the proximal portion of the elongated tubular body portion for actuating said at least one movable jaw element and said securing means.

12. Surgical apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said pivot point is asymmetrically disposed between said jaw elements.

13. Surgical apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said securing means separately secures said portion of said surgical incision member in each of said jaw elements.

14. Surgical apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said securing means comprises a U-shaped element.

15. Surgical apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said securing means comprises two arms.

16. Surgical apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a surgical incision member, said surgical incision member including a needle.

17. Surgical apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said needle is curved.

18. Surgical apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a surgical incision member, the surgical incision member including a suture.

19. Surgical apparatus according to claim 11, wherein only said first jaw element is movable relative to said second jaw element.

20. Surgical apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising control means positioned at a proximal end of said body portion for moving said first jaw element.

21. Surgical apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising at least one actuation cable connected between said control means and said jaw elements.

22. Surgical apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said control means comprises a pistol grip.

23. Surgical apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said body portion is rotatably attached to said control means.

24. Surgical suturing apparatus comprising:

an elongated tubular body portion having a longitudinal axis;

first and second jaw elements extending longitudinally from a distal portion of said body portion, and having receiving means for receiving a portion of a surgical incision member and securing means for securing a portion of the surgical incision member in each said jaw element;

means engageable with said jaw elements for moving the surgical incision member between said first and second jaw elements; and

mechanically actuated control means positioned at a proximal portion of said elongated tubular body portion for controlling said moving means.

25. Surgical apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said receiving means comprises a recess in each said jaw element.

26. Surgical apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said surgical incision member is curved.

27. Surgical apparatus according to claim 24, wherein only said first jaw element is movable relative to said second jaw element.

28. Surgical apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said first and second jaw elements are positioned relative to each other around a pivot point which is asymmetrically disposed between said jaw elements.

29. Surgical apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said securing means comprises a U-shaped element.

30. Surgical apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said securing means comprises two arms.

31. Surgical apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising a handle assembly having a pivotable handle, wherein full closure of said pivotable handle automatically moves the surgical incision member between said first and second jaw elements.

32. Surgical apparatus comprising:

a handle portion having two pivotably connected members;

an elongated tubular portion having a longitudinal axis and extending from said handle portion;

first and second jaws extending longitudinally from said tubular portion and operatively connected to the handle portion, at least one of said jaws being movable with respect to said other jaw upon actuation of the handle portion; and

a surgical incision member transferable between said first and second jaws upon movement of said handle portion, wherein said surgical incision member is movable from a first position where it is retained by said first jaw and released by said second jaw and a second position wherein said surgical incision member is retained by said second jaw and released by said first jaw.

33. Surgical apparatus according to claim 32, further including a mechanically actuated retaining member engageable with the surgical incision member for retaining said surgical incision member in its respective jaw.

34. Surgical apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said surgical incision member includes a needle attached to a suture.

35. Surgical apparatus according to claim 34, wherein at least a portion of said suture is housed inside said elongated tubular portion.

36. Surgical apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said needle is curved.

37. Surgical apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said jaws extend from a pivot point inside said tubular portion.

38. Surgical apparatus according to claim 32, wherein each jaw has a recess configured to receive said surgical incision member.

39. Surgical apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said retaining member is U-shaped.

40. Surgical apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising a longitudinally sliding mechanism positioned in the tubular portion, said sliding mechanism operatively connected to the handle portion for moving said first and second jaws.

41. Surgical apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said jaws are pivotably mounted at a proximal end to each other.

42. Surgical apparatus comprising:

a handle portion;

an elongated tubular portion having a longitudinal axis and extending from said handle portion;

first and second jaws extending longitudinally from said tubular portion and operatively connected to the handle portion, at least one of said jaws being movable with respect to said other jaw upon actuation of said handle portion;

a surgical incision member transferable between said first and second jaws; and

a mechanically actuable mechanism for retaining said incision member in one of the jaws when released from the other of said jaws.

43. Surgical apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said handle portion comprises at least one pivotal handle member.

44. Surgical apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said first and second jaws are pivotally mounted by a pivot pin.

45. Surgical apparatus according to claim 42, further comprising a suture connected to said surgical incision member, said suture extending through at least a portion of said elongated tubular portion.

46. Surgical apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said tubular portion has a longitudinal axis and said jaws extend from said tubular portion along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular portion.

47. Surgical apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said surgical incision member is retained in said first and second jaws in a position perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of each said respective jaw.

48. Surgical apparatus according to claim 42, further comprising a longitudinally sliding mechanism positioned in the tubular portion, said sliding mechanism operatively connected to the handle portion for moving said first and second jaws.

49. Surgical apparatus comprising:

a handle portion having two pivotably connected members;

an elongated tubular portion extending from said handle portion;

first and second jaws extending distally longitudinally from said tubular portion and operatively connected to the handle portion, at least one of said jaws being movable with respect to said other jaw upon actuation of the handle portion; and

a surgical incision member transferable between said first and second jaws, wherein said surgical incision member is movable from a first position where it is retained by said first jaw and released by said second jaw and a second position wherein said surgical incision member is retained by said second jaw and released by said first jaw.