Device and method for suturing tissue adjacent to a blood vessel

• US 5,820,631 A
• Filed: 08/01/1996
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scarab Technology Services, LLC
• Original Assignee: Nr Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Nobles, Anthony A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOLDBERG, JONATHAN D
• Application Number:
  US08/686,201
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 600/6213, 600/216, 600/224, 600/139, 600/144, 600/148, 112/169, 112/470.11
• US Class Current: 606/213
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/04 for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials suture materials A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/083 Clips, e.g. resilient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06042 located close to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06076 helically or spirally coiled

Abstract

A suturing device comprises a rod with a spring needle attached to an insertion end thereof. The spring needle is housed inside of an outer guide tube for insertion into an opening in biological tissue to be sutured. After the spring needle is deployed from the outer guide tube, the rod and hence the coiled spring are then rotated to thread the spring needle up through the biological tissue to the surface. The suturing device is then removed leaving a suture in place. The method of using the device comprises introducing the compressed spring needle with a suture attached thereto into the opening in the biological tissue. An operator then rotates the spring needle to thread the spring needle to the surface of the biological tissue. After removing the spring needle the suture is tied.

Claims

1. A suturing device comprising:

an elongated member having an insertion end and a handle end;

a spring needle having a sharp end and at least one coil circling an axis of the elongated member in proximity to the insertion end and having an attached end removably connected to the insertion end of the elongated member;

means for holding a suture, the holding means being provided on the spring of the needle in proximity to the sharp end; and

an outer guide tube having a means for connection to the sharp end of the spring needle and deployably housing the elongated member for insertion into an opening in biological tissue to be closed, and the outer tube being rotatable to remove the spring needle when the sharp end of the spring needle is connected to the outer guide tube via the connection means.

2. A suturing device comprising:

an elongated member having an insertion end and a handle end;

a spring needle having a sharp end and at least one coil circling an axis of the elongated member in proximity to the insertion end and having an attached end connected to the insertion end of the elongated member;

means for holding a suture, the holding means being provided on the spring of the needle in proximity to the sharp end; and

an outer guide tube having an aperture therethrough and wherein the elongated member extends through the aperture and wherein the outer guide tube comprises a deployment opening therethrough proximate to the insertion end of the elongated member, and the spring needle extends through the deployment opening so that the sharp end is outside the outer guide tube.

3. A suturing device comprising:

an elongated member having an insertion end and a handle end;

a spring needle having a sharp end and at least one coil circling an axis of the elongated member in proximity to the insertion end and having an attached end connected to the insertion end of the elongated member;

means for holding a suture, the holding means being provided on the spring of the needle in proximity to the sharp end; and

an outer guide tube having an aperture therethrough and wherein the elongated member extends through the aperture and wherein the outer guide tube comprises a retraction opening therethrough proximate to the insertion end of the elongated member, and the spring needle extends through the deployment opening so that the sharp end is inside the outer guide tube in a retracted position.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein the retraction opening comprises a teardrop shape.

5. A suturing device for aiding in establishing a thrombus patch, the device comprising:

a hollow member having a distal end and a proximal end;

a rod extending through the hollow member and having an insertion end and a handle end;

a spring needle having at least one coil, an attached end connected to the insertion end of the rod, and a sharp end; and

wherein the spring needle is removably attached to the insertion end of the rod and the hollow member comprises a retractable guide cannula for holding the spring needle in a retracted position and deploying the spring needle from the retracted position when the guide cannula is retracted, and the guide cannula comprises a means for connection to the sharp end of the spring needle which is protruding from biological tissue to be sutured, and the guide cannula being rotatable to thread the spring needle out of the biological tissue.