Endoscopic suture placement tool

• US 5,741,278 A
• Filed: 10/16/1996
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Surgical Instruments
• Original Assignee: Tahoe Surgical Instruments
• Inventors: Stevens, Jon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, THUY D
• Application Number:
  US08/731,601
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/144, 606/148, 606/222-223, 112/169, 112/80.03
• US Class Current: 606/144
• 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 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00349 Needle-like instruments having hook or barb-like gripping means, e.g. for grasping suture or tissue A61B17/06066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• 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 2017/06042 located close to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0608 J-shaped

Abstract

A surgical tool for endoscopic suture placement which permits a surgeon to place controlled and precise internal ligatures. The tool utilizes a drive rod including an articulating or deflecting portion. When forced to an extended position, the deflecting or articulating portion forms a hook or J-shaped needle, the tip of which can be used to accurately position the suture.

Claims

1. A surgical tool including:

a tubular, elongated housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passage defining a rod axis therethrough;

a tissue piercing tip including means for supporting a ligature;

a suture tip drive rod positioned within said passage, and moveable along the length thereof from a drive rod retracted position, wherein the tissue piercing tip is coaxial with the tip drive rod, to a drive rod extended position; and

deflecting means comprising a shape memory portion secured on a first end to a distal portion of said drive rod and on a second end to said tissue piercing tip for deflecting said tissue piercing tip from said axis when said rod is in said extended position.

2. A surgical tool including:

a tubular housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passage defining a rod axis therethrough;

a tissue piercing tip portion including a means for supporting a ligature;

a tip drive rod positioned within said passage, and moveable along a length thereof from a drive rod retracted position, wherein the tissue piercing tip is coaxial with the tip drive rod, to a drive rod extended position; and

deflecting means comprising a shape memory portion secured on a first end to a distal portion of said drive rod and on a second end to said tissue piercing tip for causing said portion, in combination with said tip, to form a J-shaped hook when said drive rod is moved to said extended position.

3. The surgical tool of claim 2 wherein said means for supporting a ligature comprises an eyelet shaped to carry a ligature.

4. A surgical tool including:

a tubular housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passage defining a rod axis therethrough;

a tip portion having a tissue piercing end and a connecting end, and including an opening capable of carrying a ligature;

a tip drive rod positioned within said passage, and moveable along a length thereof from a drive rod retracted position, wherein the tissue piercing end is coaxial with the tip drive rod, to a drive rod extended position; and

a deflecting portion secured on a first end to said drive rod and on a second end to said connecting end of said tip for causing said portion to form an arc of substantially semicircular shape and to cause said tissue piercing end of said tip portion in a direction toward said proximal end of said housing when said drive rod is moved to said extended position.

5. A surgical tool including:

a rigid tubular housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passage defining a rod axis therethrough, wherein said tubular housing is fixed relative to said rod axis;

a tissue piercing tip including means for supporting a ligature;

a suture tip drive rod positioned within said passage, and moveable along the length thereof from a drive rod retracted position, wherein the tissue piercing tip is coaxial with the tip drive rod, to a drive rod extended position; and

deflecting means comprising a shape memory portion secured on a first end to a distal portion of said drive rod and on a second end to said tissue piercing tip for deflecting said tissue piercing tip from said axis when said rod is in said extended position.

6. A surgical tool including:

a tubular housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passage defining a rod axis therethrough;

a tissue piercing tip portion including a means for supporting a ligature;

a tip drive rod positioned within said passage, and moveable along a length thereof from a drive rod retracted position to a drive rod extended position, wherein said tissue piercing tip is substantially contained within said tubular housing when said tip drive rod is in said retracted position; and

deflecting means comprising a shape memory portion secured on a first end to a distal portion of said drive rod and on a second end to said tissue piercing tip for causing said portion, in combination with said tip, to form a J-shaped hook when said drive rod is moved to said extended position.