Needle grasping apparatus
First Claim
1. In apparatus for facilitating endoscopic therapy having first and second axially, relatively displaceable coaxial members having proximal and distal ends and adjacent proximal and distal end portions wherein relative motion of the coaxial members defines first and second limit positions and, in response to interference between said end portions, an intermediate position, a handle means supporting the proximal portions of the first and second coaxial members for producing the motion between the first and second limit positions and to the intermediate position, said handle means comprising:
- A. a housing attached to a proximal end portion of the first coaxial member;
B. camming means supported in said housing for movement between first and second positions; and
C. lost motion transfer means mounted coaxially with the coaxial members and concentrically with the coaxial members, abutting said housing, said camming means and the second coaxial member being responsive to motion of said camming means for producing motion to the first limit position when said camming means is at the first position and, when the camming means is at the second position, notion to one of the second limit position and intermediate depending upon the presence of interference between the distal end portions of said coaxial members.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for needle grasping and performing a second modality comprising a sheath axially extending between distal and proximal ends thereof. The device includes an inner hollow tube with a slot formed therein for receiving a needle at the distal end. Retraction and extension of the inner tubular member relative to the sheath enable the grasping and releasing of a suture needle received in the slot. A handle is provided at the proximal end of the apparatus for selectively extending and retracting the inner tube relative to the sheath and for retaining the inner tube in its extended and retracted positions. A second switch can be provided in the handle to actuate a catheter slidably inserted through the inner tube to perform a second therapeutic modality. The catheter preferably includes a distal bight that forms a loop when extended from the distal end of the sheath for facilitating intracorporeal knot tying thereat. The catheter includes a lumen therethrough for receiving suture thread for use at the distal end of the sheath.
-
Citations
36 Claims
-
1. In apparatus for facilitating endoscopic therapy having first and second axially, relatively displaceable coaxial members having proximal and distal ends and adjacent proximal and distal end portions wherein relative motion of the coaxial members defines first and second limit positions and, in response to interference between said end portions, an intermediate position, a handle means supporting the proximal portions of the first and second coaxial members for producing the motion between the first and second limit positions and to the intermediate position, said handle means comprising:
-
A. a housing attached to a proximal end portion of the first coaxial member; B. camming means supported in said housing for movement between first and second positions; and C. lost motion transfer means mounted coaxially with the coaxial members and concentrically with the coaxial members, abutting said housing, said camming means and the second coaxial member being responsive to motion of said camming means for producing motion to the first limit position when said camming means is at the first position and, when the camming means is at the second position, notion to one of the second limit position and intermediate depending upon the presence of interference between the distal end portions of said coaxial members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A needle grasping apparatus having proximal and distal ends for facilitating intercorporeal knot tying in suture material in an endoscopic procedure comprising:
-
A) first and second gripping means proximate the distal end of the apparatus with one of said first and second gripping means having a proximally extending actuating member for selectively gripping and releasing a suture needle; B) catheter means extending between the proximal and distal ends of the apparatus for selectively extending and retracting relative to said gripping means for facilitating intercorporeal knot tying, said catheter means having a distal end portion defining a bight in the extended position and adapted for receiving suture material therethrough; and C) operating means for controlling said catheter means and first and second gripping means including; i) a housing attached to a proximal end portion of the first gripping means; ii) camming means supported in said housing for movement between first and second limit positions; iii) cam follower means axially displaced from said camming means in said housing and mounted concentrically with the proximal end portions of the gripping means; iv) first biasing means in said housing between said cam follower means and said housing for biasing said cam follower means toward the first limit position of said camming means; and v) second biasing means in said housing means between said cam follower means and the proximal end of the one of said first and second gripping means for biasing the proximal end of the one of said first and second gripping means away from said cam follower means wherein said first biasing means compresses in response to motion of said camming means and said second biasing means compresses in response to motion of said camming means when an interference exists between said first and second gripping means. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. In apparatus having a proximal end and a distal end for selectively gripping a suture needle, said apparatus being characterized by introducer means that extend axially from the distal end of the apparatus, first and second gripper means proximate the distal end of the introducer means and supported for relative displacement between an open position to release a suture needle, an intermediate position to grasp a suture needle, and a closed position, an actuating member connected to and proximally extending from one of the gripper means, and handle means for supporting the introducer means proximally of said gripper means and for selectively displacing the actuating member to urge relative displacement of the first and second gripper means, wherein said handle means comprises:
-
A) a housing with an inner cavity; B) camming means supported in said cavity for selective positioning by a user in an open position and a closed position; C) first biasing means positioned in said cavity for urging the actuating member into engagement with said camming means; and D) second biasing means supported in said cavity disposed in said cavity between a proximal end of the actuating member and said camming means for urging the proximal end of the actuating member away from said camming means such that said first and second biasing means maintain connection between said camming means and the actuating member upon positioning of the camming means whereby movement of said camming means in the open position urges the gripping means to the open position and positioning said camming means in the closed position urges the gripping members to one of the intermediate and closed positions depending upon the presence of a suture needle between the gripper means. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
Specification