Surgical suturing apparatus with loading mechanism

• US 5,728,107 A
• Filed: 03/06/1997
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• 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., Granger, Richard N., Zlock, Stephen W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shai, Daphna
• Application Number:
  US08/812,201
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 606/144, 206/63.3, 206/339, 206/346, 206/340, 206/341, 221/191
• US Class Current: 606/139
• 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 17/0625 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 2017/0479 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

The invention contemplates a surgical apparatus for manipulating a surgical incision member and an associated loading mechanism for replacing the surgical incision member. The surgical apparatus comprises an elongated body portion, first and second jaw elements extending from the body portion, securing member for securing the surgical incision member, releasing member cooperating with the securing member for releasing the surgical incision member and locking member cooperating with the securing member for preventing at least one of the jaw elements from moving.

Claims

1. Loading mechanism for use with a surgical apparatus having jaws, comprising

a body portion having a top and bottom surface;

a member on said top surface of said body portion to attach a surgical incision member to said loading mechanism;

a first recess on said top surface of said body portion into which the jaws may be inserted and

a second recess from which the jaws may be removed.

2. The loading mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a surgical incision member comprising an elongated body of substantially uniform diameter having first and second pointed ends and a channel in said elongated body between said pointed ends to receive a surgical suture.

3. The loading mechanism of claim 2, wherein said elongated body is curved.

4. The loading mechanism of claim 2, wherein said elongated body includes at least one recess.

5. The loading mechanism of claim 2, wherein said elongated body includes a first recess between said channel and said first pointed end and a second recess between said channel and said second pointed end.