Suture element delivery device and method
First Claim
1. A suture element delivery device comprising:
- an elongated arm assembly including a housing assembly having proximal and distal ends;
a series of successive suture elements carried by said arm assembly;
suture delivery structure mounted to said housing assembly for movement between a retracted position disposed within said housing assembly and an extended position extending distally from said housing assembly, said suture delivery structure being constructed and arranged to engage and displace a forwardmost suture element;
receptacle delivery structure mounted to a distal end of said housing assembly and movable between receptacle loading and unloading positions, said receptacle delivery structure being constructed and arranged to engage and displace a forwardmost receptacle element;
actuating structure carried by said arm assembly constructed and arranged to move said suture delivery structure between its retracted and extended positions and said receptacle delivery structure between its loading and unloading positions; and
handle structure coupled to said proximal end of said arm assembly and operatively coupled to said actuating structure, said handle structure being movable between first and second positions such that movement of said handle structure from said first position to said second position thereof during a suturing operation moves said actuating structure between first and second positions, thereby moving said suture delivery structure from its retracted position to its extended position and moving said receptacle delivery structure with a forwardmost receptacle element therein from its loading position to its unloading position such that a forwardmost suture element and the associated forwardmost receptacle element are displaced from the distal end of said housing assembly and into engagement, andmovement of said handle structure from said second position to said first position thereof returns said actuating structure to its first position thereby moving said suture delivery structure from said extended position to said retracted position and moving said receptacle delivery structure from said unloading position to said loading position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic, suture element delivery device is provided including an elongated arm assembly having proximal and distal ends. A series of successive suture elements and a series of successive receptacle elements are carried by the arm assembly. A suture delivery structure is mounted with respect to the housing assembly for movement between a retracted position disposed within the housing assembly and an extended position extending from the housing assembly. The suture delivery structure is constructed and arranged to engage a forwardmost suture element. A receptacle delivery structure is mounted to a distal end of the housing assembly and is movable between receptacle loading and unloading positions. The receptacle delivery structure is constructed and arranged to engage a forwardmost receptacle element. An actuating structure is carried by the arm assembly and is constructed and arranged to move the suture delivery structure between its retracted and extended positions and the receptacle delivery structure between its loading and unloading positions. A handle structure is coupled to the proximal end of the arm assembly and is operatively coupled to the actuating structure for moving the actuating structure.
482 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A suture element delivery device comprising:
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an elongated arm assembly including a housing assembly having proximal and distal ends; a series of successive suture elements carried by said arm assembly; suture delivery structure mounted to said housing assembly for movement between a retracted position disposed within said housing assembly and an extended position extending distally from said housing assembly, said suture delivery structure being constructed and arranged to engage and displace a forwardmost suture element; receptacle delivery structure mounted to a distal end of said housing assembly and movable between receptacle loading and unloading positions, said receptacle delivery structure being constructed and arranged to engage and displace a forwardmost receptacle element; actuating structure carried by said arm assembly constructed and arranged to move said suture delivery structure between its retracted and extended positions and said receptacle delivery structure between its loading and unloading positions; and handle structure coupled to said proximal end of said arm assembly and operatively coupled to said actuating structure, said handle structure being movable between first and second positions such that movement of said handle structure from said first position to said second position thereof during a suturing operation moves said actuating structure between first and second positions, thereby moving said suture delivery structure from its retracted position to its extended position and moving said receptacle delivery structure with a forwardmost receptacle element therein from its loading position to its unloading position such that a forwardmost suture element and the associated forwardmost receptacle element are displaced from the distal end of said housing assembly and into engagement, and movement of said handle structure from said second position to said first position thereof returns said actuating structure to its first position thereby moving said suture delivery structure from said extended position to said retracted position and moving said receptacle delivery structure from said unloading position to said loading position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of delivering a suture element endoscopically with a suture element delivery device, the device including an elongated arm assembly including a housing assembly having proximal and distal ends, a series of successive suture elements carried by the arm assembly, a series of successive receptacle elements carried by the arm assembly, suture delivery structure mounted to the housing assembly for movement between a retracted position disposed within said housing assembly and an extended position extending distally from the housing assembly, the suture delivery structure being constructed and arranged to engage and displace a forwardmost suture element, receptacle delivery structure mounted to a distal end of the housing assembly and movable between receptacle loading and unloading positions, the receptacle delivery structure being constructed and arranged to engage and displace a forwardmost receptacle element, actuating structure carried by the arm assembly constructed and arranged to move the suture delivery structure between its retracted and extended positions and the receptacle delivery structure between its loading and unloading positions, and handle structure coupled to the proximal end of the arm assembly and operatively coupled to the actuating structure, the handle structure being movable between first and second positions, the method including:
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(a) moving the device such that the arm assembly thereof is disposed at a suture delivery location, (b) moving said handle structure from said first position to said second position thereof during a suturing operation thereby moving said actuating structure between first and second positions so as to move said suture delivery structure from its retracted position to its extended position and move said receptacle delivery structure from its loading position to its unloading position such that a forwardmost suture element and an associated forwardmost receptacle element are displaced from the distal end of said housing assembly into tissue with said suture element engaging said receptacle element, and (c) releasing said handle structure from its second position so as to return said actuating structure to its first position thereby moving said suture delivery structure from its extended position to its retracted position and moving said receptacle delivery structure from its unloading position to its loading position. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A suture element delivery device comprising:
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an elongated arm assembly including a housing assembly having proximal and distal ends; a series of successive suture elements carried by said arm assembly; a series of successive receptacle elements carried by said arm assembly; suture delivery structure mounted to said housing assembly for movement between a retracted position disposed within said housing assembly and an extended position extending from said housing assembly, said suture delivery structure being constructed and arranged to engage and displace a forwardmost suture element; receptacle delivery structure mounted to a distal end of said housing assembly and movable between receptacle loading and unloading positions, said receptacle delivery structure being constructed and arranged to engage and displace a forwardmost receptacle element; actuating structure carried by said arm assembly constructed and arranged to move said suture delivery structure between its retracted and extended positions and said receptacle delivery structure between its loading and unloading positions; and handle structure coupled to said proximal end of said arm assembly and operatively coupled to said actuating structure, said handle structure being movable between first and second positions such that movement of said handle structure from said first position to said second position thereof during a suturing operation moves said actuating structure between first and second positions, thereby moving said suture delivery structure from its retracted position to its extended position and moving said receptacle delivery structure from its loading position to its unloading position such that a forwardmost suture element and an associated forwardmost receptacle element are displaced from the distal end of said housing assembly and into engagement, and movement of said handle structure from said second position to said first position thereof returns said actuating structure to its first position thereby moving said suture delivery structure from said extended position to said retracted position and moving said receptacle delivery structure from said unloading position to said loading position, wherein each suture element of said series of suture elements is bioabsorbable and has first and second spaced leg members coupled together at an end thereof by a cross bar member, each leg member being of arcuate shape and having a plurality of indentations in a surface thereof.
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Specification