Automatic needle-passer suturing instrument
First Claim
1. A suturing instrument for use in conjunction with a needle, comprising:
- a) a flexible tubular member having a distal end;
b) an actuation means extending through said tubular member, said actuation means having a handle means and one of a control wire and a push rod, said handle means being coupled to said one of said control wire and said push rod for moving said one of said control wire and said push rod relative to said tubular member;
c) first and second stitching end effectors coupled to said tubular member, at least one of said first end second stitching end effectors adapted to move relative to the other, said first and second stitching end effectors having a releasable needle gripping means for releasably gripping the needle; and
d) an automatic needle switching means coupled to said needle gripping means and activated by said actuation means,wherein said first and second stitching end effectors are adapted to be movable from a first position to a second position to a third position to a fourth position and back to said first position, and in said first position said first and second stitching end effectors are in an open position and said first end effector is adapted to grip the needle, in said second position said first and second stitching end effectors are in a closed position and said first end effector is adapted to automatically release the needle and said second end effector is adapted to automatically grip the needle, in said third position said first and second stitching end effectors are in said open position and said second end effector is adapted to grip the needle, and in said fourth position said first and second stitching end effectors are in said closed position and said first end effector is adapted to automatically grip the needle and said second end effector is adapted to automatically release the needle.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic suturing instrument generally includes a proximal actuation handle assembly, a flexible tubular member, a control wire, and an end effector assembly. The control wire extends through the tubular member and the end effector-assembly is coupled to the distal end of each of the tubular member and the control wire, while the handle is coupled to the proximal end of each of the tubular member and the control wire. Actuation of the handle moves the control wire relative to the tubular member and thereby moves the end effector assembly from an open to a closed position. The end effector assembly generally includes two end effectors, a needle engaged by one of the end effectors (but which can be engaged by either end effector alternately), and a suture material. The end effector assembly further includes a needle passing mechanism that automatically alternates which end effector engages the needle each time the end effectors are moved into a closed position.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A suturing instrument for use in conjunction with a needle, comprising:
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a) a flexible tubular member having a distal end; b) an actuation means extending through said tubular member, said actuation means having a handle means and one of a control wire and a push rod, said handle means being coupled to said one of said control wire and said push rod for moving said one of said control wire and said push rod relative to said tubular member; c) first and second stitching end effectors coupled to said tubular member, at least one of said first end second stitching end effectors adapted to move relative to the other, said first and second stitching end effectors having a releasable needle gripping means for releasably gripping the needle; and d) an automatic needle switching means coupled to said needle gripping means and activated by said actuation means, wherein said first and second stitching end effectors are adapted to be movable from a first position to a second position to a third position to a fourth position and back to said first position, and in said first position said first and second stitching end effectors are in an open position and said first end effector is adapted to grip the needle, in said second position said first and second stitching end effectors are in a closed position and said first end effector is adapted to automatically release the needle and said second end effector is adapted to automatically grip the needle, in said third position said first and second stitching end effectors are in said open position and said second end effector is adapted to grip the needle, and in said fourth position said first and second stitching end effectors are in said closed position and said first end effector is adapted to automatically grip the needle and said second end effector is adapted to automatically release the needle. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A suturing instrument for use in conjunction with a needle, comprising:
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a) a tubular member having a distal end; b) an actuation means extending through said tubular member; c) first and second stitching end effectors coupled to said tubular member, said first end second stitching end effectors adapted to move from an open position to a closed position, said first and second stitching end effectors defining first and second longitudinal channels, respectively, and further defining first and second distal needle receiving means, respectively, for receiving the needle; d) first and second blades received in said first and second channels, respectively, said first and second blades defining first and second needle gripping means for aligning with said first and second needle receiving means and gripping the needle; and e) an automatic needle switching means coupled to said first and second blades and activated by said actuation means, said needle switching means for reciprocally moving said first and second blades axially within said first and second channels, wherein when the needle is gripped in one of said first and second needle gripping means, actuation of said actuation means moves said first and second end effectors into said closed position and further activate said automatic needle switching means to move said first and second blades relative to each other and grip the needle in the other of said first and second needle gripping means. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A suturing instrument, comprising:
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a) a needle having a first and second sharp ends; b) a tubular member having a distal end; c) an actuation means extending through said tubular member, said actuation means having a handle means and one of a control wire and a push rod, said handle means being coupled to said one of said control wire and said push rod for moving said one of said control wire and said push rod relative to said tubular member; d) first and second stitching end effectors coupled to said tubular member, at least one of said first end second stitching end effectors adapted to move relative to the other, said first and second stitching end effectors having a releasable needle gripping means for releasably gripping said needle; and e) an automatic needle switching means coupled to said needle gripping means and activated by said actuation means, wherein said first and second stitching end effectors are adapted to be movable from a first position to a second position to a third position to a fourth position and back to said first position, and in said first position said first and second stitching end effectors are in an open position and said first end effector is adapted to grip said needle, in said second position said first and second stitching end effectors are in a closed position and said first end effector is adapted to automatically release said needle and said second end effector is adapted to automatically grip said needle, in said third position said first and second stitching end effectors are in said open position and said second end effector is adapted to grip said needle, and in said fourth position said first and second stitching end effectors are in said closed position and said first end effector is adapted to automatically grip the needle and said second end effector is adapted to automatically release the needle.
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14. A suturing instrument for use in conjunction with a needle, comprising:
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a) a tubular member having a distal end; b) an actuation means extending through said tubular member, said actuation means having a handle means and one of a control wire and a push rod, said handle means being coupled to said one of said control wire and said push rod for moving said one of said control wire and said push rod relative to said tubular member; c) first and second stitching end effectors coupled to said tubular member, at least one of said first end second stitching end effectors adapted to move relative to the other, said first and second stitching end effectors having a releasable needle gripping means for releasably gripping said needle, said needle gripping means having first and second sliding members each defining a keyhole, and said first stitching end effector defining a first channel in which said first sliding member is received and said second end effector defining a second channel in which said second sliding member is received; and d) an automatic needle switching means coupled to said needle gripping means and activated by said actuation means, wherein said first and second stitching end effectors are adapted to be movable from a first position to a second position to a third position to a fourth position and back to said first position, and in said first position said first and second stitching end effectors are in an open position and said first end effector is adapted to grip said needle, in said second position said first and second stitching end effectors are in a closed position and said first end effector is adapted to automatically release said needle and said second end effector is adapted to automatically grip said needle, in said third position said first and second stitching end effectors are in said open position and said second end effector is adapted to grip said needle, and in said fourth position said first and second stitching end effectors are in said closed position and said first end effector is adapted to automatically grip the needle and said second end effector is adapted to automatically release the needle.
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15. A suturing instrument for use in conjunction with a needle, comprising:
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a) a tubular member having a distal end; b) an actuation means extending through said tubular member, said actuation means having a handle means and one of a control wire and a push rod, said handle means being coupled to said one of said control wire and said push rod for moving said one of said control wire and said push rod relative to said tubular member; c) first and second stitching end effectors coupled to said tubular member, at least one of said first end second stitching end effectors adapted to move relative to the other, said first and second stitching end effectors having a releasable needle gripping means for releasably gripping said needle, said needle gripping means having first and second sliding members each defining at least one notch, and said first stitching end effector defining a first channel in which said first sliding member is received and said second end effector defining a second channel in which said second sliding member is received; and d) an automatic needle switching means coupled to said needle gripping means and activated by said actuation means, wherein said first and second stitching end effectors are adapted to be movable from a first position to a second position to a third position to a fourth position and back to said first position, and in said first position said first and second stitching end effectors are in an open position and said first end effector is adapted to grip said needle, in said second position said first and second stitching end effectors are in a closed position and said first end effector is adapted to automatically release said needle and said second end effector is adapted to automatically grip said needle, in said third position said first and second stitching end effectors are in said open position and said second end effector is adapted to grip said needle, and in said fourth position said first and second stitching end effectors are in said closed position and said first end effector is adapted to automatically grip the needle and said second end effector is adapted to automatically release the needle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A suturing instrument for use in conjunction with a needle, comprising:
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a) a tubular member having a distal end; b) an actuation means extending through said tubular member, said actuation means having a handle means and one of a control wire and a push rod, said handle means being coupled to said one of said control wire and said push rod for moving said one of said control wire and said push rod relative to said tubular member; c) first and second stitching end effectors coupled to said tubular member, at least one of said first end second stitching end effectors adapted to move relative to the other, said first and second stitching end effectors having a releasable needle gripping means for releasably gripping said needle, said needle gripping means having first and second resilient sliding members, and said first stitching end effector defining a first channel in which said first sliding member is received and said second end effector defining a second channel in which said second sliding member is received; and d) an automatic needle switching means coupled to said needle gripping means and activated by said actuation means, wherein said first and second stitching end effectors are adapted to be movable from a first position to a second position to a third position to a fourth position and back to said first position, and in said first position said first and second stitching end effectors are in an open position and said first end effector is adapted to grip said needle, in said second position said first and second stitching end effectors are in a closed position and said first end effector is adapted to automatically release said needle and said second end effector is adapted to automatically grip said needle, in said third position said first and second stitching end effectors are in said open position and said second end effector is adapted to grip said needle, and in said fourth position said first and second stitching end effectors are in said closed position and said first end effector is adapted to automatically grip the needle and said second end effector is adapted to automatically release the needle. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A suturing instrument for use in conjunction with a needle, comprising:
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a) a tubular member having a distal end; b) an actuation means extending through said tubular member, said actuation means having a handle means and one of a control wire and a push rod, said handle means being coupled to said one of said control wire and said push rod for moving said one of said control wire and said push rod relative to said tubular member, said one of said control wire and said push rod having a distal end; c) first and second stitching end effectors coupled to said tubular member, at least one of said first end second stitching end effectors adapted to move relative to the other, said first and second stitching end effectors having a releasable needle gripping means for releasably gripping said needle, said needle gripping means having first and second sliding members, and said first stitching end effector defining a first channel in which said first sliding member is received and said second end effector defining a second channel in which said second sliding member is received; and d) an automatic needle switching means coupled to said needle gripping means and activated by said actuation means, said needle switching means including, i) a switch pin coupled to said distal end of said one of said control wire and said push rod, and ii) a lever defining a distally-extending tooth and two arms, said lever pivotally coupled to said distal end of said tubular member and said two arms pivotally coupled to said first and second sliding members, respectively, wherein said first and second stitching end effectors are adapted to be movable from a first position to a second position to a third position to a fourth position and back to said first position, and in said first position said first and second stitching end effectors are in an open position and said first end effector is adapted to grip said needle, in said second position said first and second stitching end effectors are in a closed position and said first end effector is adapted to automatically release said needle and said second end effector is adapted to automatically grip said needle, in said third position said first and second stitching end effectors are in said open position and said second end effector is adapted to grip said needle, and in said fourth position said first and second stitching end effectors are in said closed position and said first end effector is adapted to automatically grip the needle and said second end effector is adapted to automatically release the needle. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification