Surgical suturing apparatus with loading mechanism

• US 5,591,181 A
• Filed: 12/11/1995
• Issued: 01/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Stone, Corbett W., Nicholas, David A., Zlock, Stephen W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/570,150
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 606/144, 606/139, 206/63.3, 206/339, 206/340, 206/341, 221/191
• US Class Current: 606/144
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0491 Sewing machines for surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06114 Packages or dispensers for needles or sutures packages for sharps A61B50/3001; for dental floss A61C15/043; packages for needles in general B65D85/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06123 Flat cylinders, e.g. including an inner reel
• 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 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0053 Loading magazines or sutures into applying tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0479 Packages or dispensers for MIS suturing instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06019 by means of a suture-receiving lateral eyelet machined in the needle lateral opening for attaching suture to suture anchor A61B2017/0414
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06033 using adhesives glue applicators A61B17/00491; for connecting prosthetic parts A61F2002/30448
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06047 located at the middle of the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06085 having a blunt tip blunt dissectors A61B2017/320044
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0609 having sharp tips at both ends, e.g. shuttle needle alternately retained and released by first and second facing jaws of a suturing instrument MIS suturing instruments A61B17/0469; jaws of MIS forceps A61B2017/2926
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2919 details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 Pins in guiding slots

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.

Claims

1. A loading unit for loading a needle into at least one of a pair of jaws of a surgical suturing apparatus comprising:

a body portion;

a needle releasably supported in the body portion;

wherein the body portion includes jaw receiving structure to receive at least one of the jaws of the suturing apparatus for loading the needle into at least one of the jaws.

2. The loading unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the jaw receiving structure includes at least one cavity for receiving a pair of jaws of the apparatus.

3. The loading unit as recited in claim 2, further comprising a mounting member for releasably holding the surgical needle transverse to the longitudinal axis of the loading unit.

4. The loading unit as recited in claim 3, further comprising alignment structure to align a tubular portion of the apparatus.

5. A loading unit for loading a suture into at least one of first and second jaws of a surgical suturing apparatus comprising:

a body portion, the body potion including needle mounting structure configured to releasably mount a needle in the body portion and a cavity for receiving at least the first jaw such that movement of at least the first jaw within the cavity to a closed position enables the needle to be secured to the first jaw.

6. A loading unit as recited in claim 5, further comprising a surgical needle mounted within the mounting structure.

7. A loading unit as recited in claim 6, wherein the needle is mounted transverse to a longitudinal axis of the loading unit.

8. A loading unit as recited in claim 7, further comprising a suture connected to the surgical needle and releasably retained in the body portion.