Surgical suturing apparatus with loading mechanism
First Claim
1. A loading unit for use with a surgical suturing apparatus comprising:
- a) a body portion defining an inner cavity;
b) a mounting member positioned on the body portion and configured to releasably hold a surgical needle; and
c) apparatus receiving structure formed in the body portion wherein the apparatus receiving structure is configured to receive at least a distal end portion of the surgical suturing apparatus in operative alignment with the mounting member to facilitate mounting of the surgical needle in the surgical suturing apparatus.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical apparatus is provided for manipulating a surgical needle and an associated loading mechanism is provided for replacing the surgical needle. The surgical apparatus comprises an elongated body portion, first and second jaw elements extending from the body portion, securing means for securing the surgical needle, releasing means cooperating with the securing means for releasing the surgical needle and locking means cooperating with the securing means for preventing at least one of the jaw elements from moving. A loading mechanism is also provided and includes structure for supporting a surgical needle and a storage member for retaining at least a portion of a length of suture material attached to the surgical needle.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A loading unit for use with a surgical suturing apparatus comprising:
-
a) a body portion defining an inner cavity; b) a mounting member positioned on the body portion and configured to releasably hold a surgical needle; and c) apparatus receiving structure formed in the body portion wherein the apparatus receiving structure is configured to receive at least a distal end portion of the surgical suturing apparatus in operative alignment with the mounting member to facilitate mounting of the surgical needle in the surgical suturing apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A loading unit for use with a surgical suturing apparatus having an elongate member and a pair of needle grasping jaws thereon comprising:
-
a) a body portion; b) a mounting member positioned on the body portion and configured to releasably hold a surgical needle transversely with respect thereto, the mounting member supporting the surgical needle above the body portion, by a central portion thereof so as to define a recess adjacent either side of the mounting member;
, andc) a suture reel movably mounted within the body portion, the suture reel releasably retaining at least a portion of a suture attached to the surgical needle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method of loading a surgical needle having a length of suture attached thereto into a surgical suturing apparatus comprising:
-
a) providing a loading unit having a body portion, the body portion including apparatus receiving structure; b) releasably supporting a surgical needle above the body portion of the loading unit; c) positioning a pair of open grasping jaws within the apparatus receiving structure and about the surgical needle; d) closing the jaws about the surgical needle to grasp the surgical needle between the jaws; and e) removing the surgical needle from the loading unit. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
-
Specification