Needle driving apparatus and methods of suturing tissue

• US 5,665,096 A
• Filed: 03/07/1995
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Original Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Inventors: Yoon, InBae
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEONARDO, MARK
• Application Number:
  US08/399,984
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/144, 606/148, 606/151, 606/223, 606/224
• US Class Current: 606/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0483 Hand-held instruments for holding sutures A61B17/0469 takes precedence; other holders for needles or sutures A61B17/06061; surgical forceps A61B17/28; surgical pincettes A61B17/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/062 Needle manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/047 having at least one proximally pointing needle located at the distal end of the instrument, e.g. for suturing trocar puncture wounds starting from inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06076 helically or spirally coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/061 hollow or tubular

Abstract

An apparatus for suturing anatomical tissue includes a hollow needle guide having a distal end, a needle disposed within the needle guide and movable between a retracted position where at least a portion of the needle is disposed within the needle guide and an extended position where the needle is disposed externally of the needle guide, suture material connected with the needle, and a manually articuable needle receiver for guiding a distal end of the needle as a proximal end of the needle is advanced distally through the needle guide and capturing the needle when the proximal end of the needle emerges from the distal end of the needle guide.

Claims

1. An apparatus for suturing anatomical tissue comprising

a hollow needle guide having a distal end;

a needle movably disposed within said needle guide and having proximal and distal ends;

suture material connected with said needle; and

manually articulable needle receiving means coupled with said needle guide for guiding said distal end of said needle as said proximal end of said needle is advanced distally through said needle guide and capturing said needle when said proximal end of said needle emerges from said distal end of said needle guide.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said needle receiving means includes a forceps having a pair of jaws with concave portions in opposed relation for receiving said needle when said jaws are closed together.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said jaws are biased apart and said forceps further includes a tubular member disposed around said jaws and movable between a retracted position allowing said jaws to open and an extended position drawing said jaws together.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said jaws include opposed grasping surfaces axially spaced from said concave portions.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4 and further comprising a handle coupled with said jaws and said tubular member for creating relative movement between said jaws and said tubular member.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said needle receiving means includes a rod disposed within a tube and having an eyelet formed at a distal end for receiving said needle when said needle is in said extended position.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 6 and further comprising a handle coupled with said rod and said tubular member for creating relative movement between said rod and said tubular member.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said needle receiving means includes a tube having a closed distal end with a side opening and a central member disposed within the tube.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8 and further comprising a handle coupled with said tube and said central member for creating relative movement between said tube and said central member.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said needle receiving means includes a rod with a hollow cylinder mounted transversely at a distal end.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said needle receiving means is manually movable in an axial direction relative to said needle guide.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said needle receiving means has a predetermined shape to assume an appropriate position for receiving said needle when moved axially in a distal direction.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 and further comprising needle driving means disposed proximally of said needle for pushing said needle distally through said needle guide from said retracted position to said extended position.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said needle driving means includes a pusher rod configured to fit within said needle guide.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said pusher rod is a solid cylinder.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said pusher rod is a hollow cylinder.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said pusher rod is slotted.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein a distal end of said pusher rod is notched.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said pusher rod includes a forceps.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 14 and further comprising an outer member mounting said needle guide at a distal end and an inner member disposed within said outer member and mounting said pusher rod.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 20 wherein said inner member defines a central lumen.

22. An apparatus as recited in claim 21 and further comprising a handle coupled with said inner and outer members for creating relative movement between said inner and outer members.

23. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said needle guide is slotted.

24. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said distal end of said needle guide includes a notch for holding said suture material.

25. An apparatus for suturing anatomical tissue comprising

a hollow needle guide having a sharp tissue penetrating distal end;

a needle disposed within said needle guide and having proximal and distal ends, said needle being movable between a retracted position where a distal end of said needle is proximally spaced from said distal end of said needle guide and an extended position where said distal end of said needle protrudes distally from said distal end of said needle guide; and

suture material connected with said needle.

26. An apparatus for suturing anatomical tissue, comprising;

a hollow needle guide having a sharp tissue penetrating distal end;

a needle disposed within said needle guide and having proximal and distal ends, said needle being movable between a retracted position where a distal end of said needle is proximally spaced from said distal end of said needle guide and an extended position where said distal end of said needle protrudes distally from said distal end of said needle guide;

suture material connected with said needle;

wherein said needle guide is slotted.

27. An apparatus for suturing anatomical tissue, comprising:

a hollow needle guide having a sharp tissue penetrating distal end;

a needle disposed within said needle guide and having proximal and distal ends, said needle being movable between a retracted position where a distal end of said needle is proximally spaced from said distal end of said needle guide and an extended position where said distal end of said needle protrudes distally from said distal end of said needle guide;

suture material connected with said needle;

wherein said distal end of said needle guide is notched to hold said suture material.

28. An apparatus for suturing anatomical tissue, comprising;

a hollow needle guide having a sharp tissue penetrating distal end;

a needle disposed within said needle guide and having proximal and distal ends, said needle being movable between a retracted position where a distal end of said needle is proximally spaced from said distal end of said needle guide and an extended position where said distal end of said needle protrudes distally from said distal end of said needle guide;

suture material connected with said needle; and

an outer member having proximal and distal ends, wherein said needle guide is mounted on said distal end of said outer member.

29. An apparatus as recited in claim 28 and further comprising an inner member telescopically fitted within said outer member and having a pusher rod at a distal end for being advanced through said needle guide.

30. An apparatus as recited in claim 29 wherein said inner member defines a central lumen.

31. An apparatus as recited in claim 30 and further comprising a handle coupled with said inner and outer members for creating relative movement between said inner and outer members.

32. An apparatus for suturing anatomical tissue comprising

a forceps having opposed jaws defining a hollow needle guide with a distal end;

a needle disposed within said needle guide and having proximal and distal ends, said needle being movable between a retracted position where said proximal end of said needle is disposed within said needle guide and an extended position where said proximal end of said needle is disposed externally of said needle guide; and

suture material connected with said needle.

33. An apparatus as recited in claim 32 wherein said distal end of said hollow needle guide forms a sharp tissue penetrating tip.

34. A method of suturing anatomical tissue comprising the steps of

penetrating through the anatomical tissue with a distal end of a hollow needle guide;

and

extending a needle carrying suture material from the distal end of the hollow needle guide.

35. A method of suturing anatomical tissue as recited in claim 34 wherein said extending step includes guiding a distal end of the needle as a proximal end of the needle is advanced distally through the hollow needle guide.

36. A method of suturing anatomical tissue as recited in claim 35 and further comprising the step of capturing the needle when the proximal end of the needle emerges from the distal end of the hollow needle guide.

37. A method of suturing anatomical tissue comprising the steps of

positioning a distal end of a hollow needle guide proximate the anatomical tissue to be sutured;

extending a needle carrying suture material from the distal end of the hollow needle guide;

penetrating through the anatomical tissue with the needle;

guiding a distal end of the needle as a proximal end of the needle is advanced distally through the hollow needle guide; and

capturing the needle when the proximal end of the needle emerges from the distal end of the hollow needle guide.

38. A method of suturing anatomical tissue comprising the steps of

penetrating partway through the anatomical tissue with a distal end of a hollow needle guide;

and

extending a needle carrying suture material from the distal end of the hollow needle guide to complete penetration of the anatomical tissue.

39. A method of suturing anatomical tissue as recited in claim 38 wherein said extending step includes guiding a distal end of the needle as a proximal end of the needle is advanced distally through the hollow needle guide.

40. A method of suturing anatomical tissue as recited in claim 39 and further comprising the step of capturing the needle when the proximal end of the needle emerges from the distal end of the hollow needle guide.