Combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument
First Claim
1. A combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument comprising a handle portion;
- a jaw portion selectively actuated by operation of said handle portion, said jaw portion including a pair of opposed jaws;
a hollow suture needle mounted on a first of said jaws, said hollow suture needle having a first open end mounted on said first jaw and a second open end adjacent a tissue penetrating point said first and second open ends being connected by a slot formed in said hollow needle; and
a length of suture material extending through said hollow needle;
wherein said slot has a width preventing said length of suture material from falling out of said hollow suture needle in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of said needle while permitting said length of suture material to be removed from said hollow suture needle when urged in a direction transverse to said needle longitudinal axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument includes a pair of opposed jaws selectively actuated by operation of a handle portion, a hollow suture needle mounted on a first of the jaws and provided with a slot, and a length of suture material extending through the hollow needle. A groove is preferably formed on a peripheral side wall of the first jaw so that a portion of the suture material can be disposed within the groove and, when provided, the groove preferably communicates with a first open end of the hollow suture needle. The slot and groove each have a width to prevent the suture material from inadvertently falling out while permitting deliberate removal of the suture material via the slot or groove by application of force so that suturing of anatomical tissue can be performed with tissue held between jaws of the instrument. In a preferred embodiment, an opening is formed in the second jaw in opposed relation to the hollow suture needle such that, when the jaws are closed, the hollow suture needle will protrude from the opening and suture material disposed in the needle can be grasped. In other embodiments, a plurality of solid or hollow suture needles are longitudinally and/or laterally spaced on a jaw to carry plural lengths of suture material through anatomical tissue to be sutured in a single operation. A blade can optionally be advanced along a cutting channel formed in the jaw to cut anatomical tissue between the jaws.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument comprising a handle portion;
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a jaw portion selectively actuated by operation of said handle portion, said jaw portion including a pair of opposed jaws; a hollow suture needle mounted on a first of said jaws, said hollow suture needle having a first open end mounted on said first jaw and a second open end adjacent a tissue penetrating point said first and second open ends being connected by a slot formed in said hollow needle; and a length of suture material extending through said hollow needle; wherein said slot has a width preventing said length of suture material from falling out of said hollow suture needle in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of said needle while permitting said length of suture material to be removed from said hollow suture needle when urged in a direction transverse to said needle longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument comprising
a handle portion; -
a jaw portion selectively actuated by operation of said handle portion, said jaw portion including a pair of opposed jaws; a hollow suture needle mounted on a first of said jaws, said hollow needle having a first open end mounted on said first jaw and a second open end defining a tissue penetrating point, said first and second open ends being connected by a slot formed in said hollow needle; and a length of suture material extending through said hollow needle; wherein a notch is formed adjacent said point of said hollow suture needle and said length of suture material is held within said notch. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument comprising
a handle portion; -
a jaw portion selectively actuated by operation of said handle portion, said jaw portion including a pair of opposed jaws; a suture needle extending from a first of said jaws to a tissue penetrating point; a length of suture material extending along said suture needle and being coupled therewith to be removable therefrom in a transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of said needle; and an elongate slotted opening formed through a second of said jaws opposite said suture needle and communicating with an edge of said second jaw such that, when said jaws are closed, said suture needle will be received within said opening and said length of suture material will be removable from said closed jaws in a direction transverse to said needle longitudinal axis using said opening in said second jaw; wherein said suture needle is proximally spaced from a distal tip of said first jaw and said elongate opening extends laterally from an edge of said second jaw transverse to a longitudinal axis of said second jaw.
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17. A combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument comprising
a handle portion; -
a jaw portion selectively actuated by operation of said handle portion, said jaw portion including a pair of opposed jaws, wherein said jaws define a tissue receiving space therebetween and wherein a longitudinal cutting channel is formed in a first of said jaws; a cutting member movably disposed along said longitudinal cutting channel and including a distal-facing cutting edge extending into said tissue receiving space between said jaws to cut anatomical tissue disposed between said jaws when said cutting member is longitudinally moved; a suture needle extending from said first jaw to a tissue penetrating point; and a length of suture material carried by said suture needle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument comprising
a handle portion: -
a jaw portion selectively actuated by operation of said handle portion, said jaw portion including a pair of opposed jaws, wherein a longitudinal cutting channel is formed in a first of said jaws; a cutting member movably disposed along said longitudinal cutting channel and having a cutting edge extending between said jaws to cut anatomical tissue when said cutting member is moved; a suture needle extending from said first jaw to a tissue penetrating point; and a length of suture material carried by said suture needle; wherein said suture needle is laterally offset from said longitudinal cutting channel.
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21. A combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument comprising
a handle portion; -
a jaw portion selectively actuated by operation of said handle portion, said jaw portion including a pair of opposed jaws; a plurality of suture needles spaced longitudinally along a first of said jaws, each of said needles extending from said first jaw to a tissue penetrating point; plural lengths of suture material, each of said lengths extending along a respective suture needle and coupled therewith to be removable therefrom in a transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of said suture needle; and opening means extending inwardly from an edge of a second of said jaws for receiving at least one of said suture needles when said jaws are closed and for permitting removal of a corresponding length of suture material from said at least one suture needle in a transverse direction relative to said needle longitudinal axis when said jaws are closed so that said length of suture material can be removed from said closed jaws and tied while simultaneously opening said jaws. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument comprising
a handle portion: -
a jaw portion selectively actuated by operation of said handle portion, said jaw portion including a pair of opposed jaws; a plurality of suture needles spaced longitudinally along a first of said jaws, each of said needles extending from said first jaw to a tissue penetrating point; plural lengths of suture material, each of said lengths extending along a respective suture needle and being removable therefrom in a transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of said suture needle; and an opening extending inwardly from an edge of a second of said jaws to receive at least one of said suture needles when said jaws are closed and to permit removal of a corresponding length of suture material from said at least one suture needle in a transverse direction relative to said needle longitudinal axis when said jaws are closed so that said length of suture material can be removed from said closed jaws and tied while simultaneously opening said jaws; wherein each of said suture needles is hollow and axially opposed ends of each hollow suture needle are open and connected by a slot formed in said hollow suture needle, each length of suture material extending through one of said hollow suture needles; wherein each of said slots has a width preventing said length of suture material from falling out of said hollow suture needle in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of said needle while permitting said length of suture material to be removed from said hollow suture needle when urged in a direction transverse to said needle longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument comprising
a handle portion; -
a jaw portion selectively actuated by operation of said handle portion, said jaw portion including a pair of opposed jaws; a plurality of suture needles spaced laterally across a first of said jaws, each of said needles extending from said first jaw to a tissue penetrating point; plural lengths of suture material, each of said lengths extending along a respective suture needle and coupled therewith to be removable therefrom in a lateral direction relative to a longitudinal axis of said suture needle; and opening means extending inwardly from an edge of a second of said jaws for receiving at least one of said suture needles when said jaws are closed and for permitting removal of a corresponding length of suture material from said at least one suture needle in a transverse direction relative to said needle longitudinal axis when said jaws are closed so that said length of suture material can be removed from said closed jaws and tied while simultaneously opening said jaws. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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26. A combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument comprising
a handle portion: -
a jaw portion selectively actuated by operation of said handle portion, said jaw portion including a pair of opposed jaws; a plurality of suture needles spaced laterally across a first of said jaws, each of said needles extending from said first jaw to a tissue penetrating point; plural lengths of suture material, each of said lengths extending along a respective suture needle and being removable therefrom in a lateral direction relative to a longitudinal axis of said suture needle; and an opening extending inwardly from an edge of a second of said jaws to receive at least one of said suture needles when said jaws are closed and to permit removal of a corresponding length of suture material from said at least one suture needle in a transverse direction relative to said needle longitudinal axis when said jaws are closed so that said length of suture material can be removed from said closed jaws and tied while simultaneously opening said jaws; wherein each of said suture needles is hollow and axially opposed ends of each hollow suture needle are open and connected by a slot formed in said hollow suture needle, each length of suture material extending through one of said hollow suture needles; wherein each of said slots has a width preventing said length of suture material from falling out of said hollow suture needle in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of said needle while permitting said length of suture material to be removed from said hollow suture needle when urged in a direction transverse to said needle longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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29. A combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument comprising
a handle portion; -
a jaw portion selectively actuated by operation of said handle portion, said jaw portion including a pair of opposed jaws; a plurality of suture needles spaced laterally across a first of said jaws, each of said needles extending from said first jaw to a tissue penetrating point; and plural lengths of suture material, each of said lengths being carried by one of said suture needles; wherein a longitudinal cutting channel is formed in said first jaw parallel with a longitudinal axis of said first jaw between a pair of laterally spaced suture needles and further comprising a cutting member movably disposed along said cutting channel and having a cutting edge extending between said jaws to cut anatomical tissue disposed between said jaws.
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30. A method of suturing anatomical tissue using a combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument having a hollow, slotted suture needle mounted on one of a pair of opposed jaws, said method comprising the steps of positioning a length of suture material within the suture needle;
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positioning the jaws around anatomical tissue to be sutured; closing the jaws to clamp the anatomical tissue between tissue clamping surfaces of the jaws; receiving the point of the suture needle within an opening extending inwardly from an edge of the opposed jaw; removing the length of suture material from the closed jaws in a direction transverse to the needle longitudinal axis using the slot in the hollow suture needle and the opening in the opposed jaw; and forming a suture using the length of suture material while simultaneously opening the jaws to reduce clamping pressure on the anatomical tissue. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of suturing anatomical tissue using a combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument having a suture needle mounted on one of a pair of opposed jaws, said method comprising the steps of
attaching the length of suture material to the suture needle near a tissue penetrating point of the suture needle; -
positioning the jaws around anatomical tissue to be sutured; closing the jaws to clamp the anatomical tissue between tissue clamping surfaces of the jaws; receiving the point of the suture needle within an opening extending inwardly from an edge of the opposed jaw; advancing a blade with a cutting edge extending between the jaws along a channel formed in at least one of the jaws to cut the anatomical tissue clamped between the jaws; removing the length of suture material from the suture needle and the closed jaws using the opening; and forming a suture using the length of suture material while simultaneously opening the jaws to reduce clamping pressure on the anatomical tissue.
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38. A method of suturing anatomical tissue using a combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument having a pair of laterally spaced suture needles mounted on one of a pair of opposed jaws, said method comprising the steps of attaching lengths of suture material to the pair of laterally spaced suture needles;
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positioning the jaws around anatomical tissue to be sutured; closing the jaws to clamp the anatomical tissue between tissue clamping surfaces of the jaws; penetrating through the anatomical tissue using the pair of laterally spaced suture needles; receiving points of the suture needles within at least one opening extending inwardly from an edge of the opposed jaw; removing the lengths of suture material from the suture needles and closed jaws using the at least one opening; and forming a suture using the length of suture material while simultaneously opening the jaws to reduce clamping pressure on the anatomical tissue. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A method of suturing anatomical tissue using a combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument having a plurality of longitudinally spaced suture needles mounted on one of a pair of opposed jaws, said method comprising the steps of
attaching lengths of suture material to the longitudinally spaced suture needles; -
positioning the jaws around anatomical tissue to be sutured; closing the jaws to clamp the anatomical tissue between tissue clamping surfaces of the jaws; penetrating through the anatomical tissue using the longitudinally spaced suture needles; receiving points of the suture needles within at least one opening extending inwardly from an edge of the opposed jaw; removing the lengths of suture material from the suture needles and the closed jaws using the at least one opening; and forming sutures using the lengths of suture material while simultaneously opening the jaws to reduce clamping pressure on the anatomical tissue.
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41. A combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument comprising
a handle portion; -
a jaw portion selectively actuated by operation of said handle portion, said jaw portion including a pair of opposed jaws; a hollow suture needle mounted on a first of said jaws, said hollow needle having a first open end mounted on said first jaw and a second open end with a peripheral edge defining a tissue penetrating point, said first and second open ends being connected by a slot formed in said hollow needle; and a length of suture material extending through said hollow needle, said length of suture material being of a size to be removable from said hollow suture needle in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of said needle using said slot.
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42. A combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument comprising
a handle portion; -
a jaw portion selectively actuated by operation of said handle portion, said jaw portion including a pair of opposed jaws; a substantially straight, hollow suture needle mounted on a first of said jaws, said hollow needle having a first open end mounted on said first jaw and a second open end adjacent a tissue penetrating point, said first and second open ends being connected by a slot formed in said hollow needle; and a length of suture material extending through said hollow needle, said length of suture material being of a size to be removable from said hollow suture needle in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of said needle using said slot.
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43. A combined tissue clamping and suturing instrument comprising
a handle portion; -
a jaw portion selectively actuated by operation of said handle portion, said jaw portion including a pair of opposed jaws; a suture needle extending from a first of said jaws toward a second of said jaws and terminating at a tissue penetrating point; a groove formed on an outer surface of said first jaw; and a length of suture material extending through said groove and along said suture needle to be disposed adjacent said tissue penetrating point, said groove decreasing in width toward said outer surface of said first jaw to define a slot having a width preventing said length of suture material from falling out of said groove. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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Specification