Vascular suturing apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for suturing tissue comprising:
- a) a first arm having a first needle engaging member mounted for movement with respect to the first arm;
b) a second arm movably mounted to the first arm and moveable between an open position spaced from the first arm to a closed position in close cooperative alignment with tile first arm;
c) a reciprocating mechanism connected to the first needle engaging member and mounted for movement with respect to at least one of the arms, the reciprocating mechanism movable between a first position moving the first needle engaging member into engagement with a surgical needle and a second position disengaging the first needle engaging member from the surgical needle; and
d) a cam actuating lever movably mounted to one of the first and second arms and engagable with the reciprocating mechanism such that the cam actuating lever cams the reciprocating mechanism between the first and second positions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed an apparatus for suturing vascular tissue sections which includes first and second arms pivotally connected together and each having a needle receiving recess and a needle engaging member mounted for movement within the arms. The apparatus also includes a toggle wheel reciprocating mechanism connected to the first and second needle engaging members and movable for alternately moving the first and second needle engaging members into and out of the first and second needle receiving recesses. The reciprocating mechanism is movable between a first position advancing the first needle engaging member with respect to the first arm and a second position advancing the second needle engaging member with respect to the second arm to alternately secure a surgical needle within the arms. A cam actuating lever is provided on one of the arms to automatically cam the reciprocating mechanism between the first and second positions upon closure of the first arm against the second arm. There is also disclosed a method of suturing a pair of vascular tissue sections utilizing the disclosed apparatus.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for suturing tissue comprising:
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a) a first arm having a first needle engaging member mounted for movement with respect to the first arm; b) a second arm movably mounted to the first arm and moveable between an open position spaced from the first arm to a closed position in close cooperative alignment with tile first arm; c) a reciprocating mechanism connected to the first needle engaging member and mounted for movement with respect to at least one of the arms, the reciprocating mechanism movable between a first position moving the first needle engaging member into engagement with a surgical needle and a second position disengaging the first needle engaging member from the surgical needle; and d) a cam actuating lever movably mounted to one of the first and second arms and engagable with the reciprocating mechanism such that the cam actuating lever cams the reciprocating mechanism between the first and second positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for suturing vascular tissue sections comprising:
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a) a pair of needle holding tweezer like arms movably interconnected at a proximal end for movement between open and closed positions; and b) a securing mechanism movably mounted with respect to the pair of arms distally of the interconnection and engagable with a surgical needle to secure the surgical needle alternately within each arm of the pair of arms in response to closure of the arms. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method of suturing a pair of vascular tissue sections comprising:
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a) providing a suturing apparatus having first and second needle holding members; b) holding a surgical needle within the first needle holding member of the suturing apparatus; c) preparing a pair of vascular tissue sections by everting ends of the vascular tissue sections to form a pair of everted edges; d) aligning the everted ends of the vascular tissue sections and bringing the everted edges together in abutting relationship; e) positioning the first and second needle holding members about the everted edges; f) closing the first and second needle holding members to pierce the everted edges with the surgical needle; g) passing the surgical needle from the first needle holding member to the second needle holding member of the suturing apparatus; h) opening the first and second needle holding members; and i) drawing a length of suture material affixed to the surgical needle through the everted edges. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of threading a suture through a vascular tissue section comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an apparatus having a first tweezer like arm having a first needle receiving recess and a second tweezer like arm having a second needle receiving recess, the first and second arms pivotably connected at proximal end portions and relatively movable toward and away from each other; b) holding a surgical needle within the first needle receiving recess; c) positioning the first and second arms about a pair of vascular tissue sections; d) directly compressing the first and second arms to initially move the second arm toward the first arm such that the surgical needle pierces the vascular tissue sections and enters the first needle receiving recess and subsequently releases the surgical needle from the first needle receiving recess and holds the surgical needle within the second needle receiving recess; and e) moving the first arm away from the second arm to draw a suture affixed to the surgical needle at least partially through the vascular tissue sections. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification