Suturing device
First Claim
1. A suturing device comprising:
- (a) a body having an opening therein and a pair of arcuate guides separated by a narrow slit, said guides subtending an angle greater than about 200 degrees in said opening;
(b) a first guide roller near a first end of said guides;
(c) a second guide roller near a second end of said guides;
(d) a drive pulley;
(e) a belt passing around said first and second rollers and positively engaged with said drive pulley, said belt having an outer surface in pressing engagement with rear faces of said guides;
(f) an arcuate suturing needle having a common arc with said guides, said suturing needle received between said belt and said guides and having an outer surface frictionally engaged with said outer surface of said belt; and
,(g) means for circulating said belt to circulate said suturing needle around a path.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A suturing device is disclosed. The suturing device has particular application in surgery and is readily adaptable for use in laparoscopic surgery. The suturing device has an arcuate needle which is circulated around a circular path. The needle is driven by a drive belt which bears against the rear faces of a pair of closely spaced guides. Idler rollers behind the belt pinch the needle against the guides and slightly deform the drive belt. The needle is firmly gripped between the belt and the guides. The guides and the needle each subtend an angle of about 240°. The motion of the needle is reversible. A surgeon can regulate the motion of the needle by turning a wheel with a fingertip. A pair of tissue gripping jaws are provided to hold tissues in place during suturing. The suturing device may be used to form a knot after a suture has been placed.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A suturing device comprising:
-
(a) a body having an opening therein and a pair of arcuate guides separated by a narrow slit, said guides subtending an angle greater than about 200 degrees in said opening; (b) a first guide roller near a first end of said guides; (c) a second guide roller near a second end of said guides; (d) a drive pulley; (e) a belt passing around said first and second rollers and positively engaged with said drive pulley, said belt having an outer surface in pressing engagement with rear faces of said guides; (f) an arcuate suturing needle having a common arc with said guides, said suturing needle received between said belt and said guides and having an outer surface frictionally engaged with said outer surface of said belt; and
,(g) means for circulating said belt to circulate said suturing needle around a path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A method for making and knotting a suture, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a suturing device comprising; (i) a pair of arcuate guides separated by a narrow slit; (ii) a belt having an outer surface in pressing engagement with rear faces of said guides; and
,(iii) an arcuate suturing needle having a common arc with said guides, said suturing needle received between said belt and said guides and having an outer surface frictionally engaged with said outer surface of said belt; (b) providing a length of suture material affixed to said needle; (c) circulating said belt to cause an end of said suturing needle to pierce and pass from a first side to a second side through a thing to be sutured; (d) continuing to circulate said belt to cause said needle to draw said suture material along said slit between said guides until said suture material exits said slit and passes through said thing to be sutured; and
,(e) forming a loop around a portion of said suturing material on said first side of said thing to be sutured by continuing to circulate said belt to cause said needle to advance around said portion of said suturing material and to draw said suture material along said slit between said guides until said suture material exits said slit and passes around said portion of suture material.
-
Specification