Suture lock holder

• US 5,895,393 A
• Filed: 09/23/1997
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ancel Surgical R & D, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Anthony C. Pagedas
• Inventors: Pagedas, Anthony C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trinh, Vikki
• Application Number:
  US08/933,740
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/148, 606/151, 606/157, 606/158, 606/145, 606/146, 606/147, 606/205, 606/206, 606/207, 606/208, 606/222, 606/223, 606/225, 606/228, 606/232, 606/233, 24/16, 112/169, 112/80.03, 81/421, 81/418
• US Class Current: 606/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0483 Hand-held instruments for holding sutures A61B17/0469 takes precedence; other holders for needles or sutures A61B17/06061; surgical forceps A61B17/28; surgical pincettes A61B17/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0493 Protective devices for suturing, i.e. for protecting the patient's organs or the operator
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/062 Needle manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures

Abstract

A self locking suture instrument having a body structure and an arm. The body structure comprises a first end, having a pair of forks and a body opening formed therein, and a second end. The arm has a first end and a second end, the second end being coupled to the main body structure, a top side and a bottom side. The arm has a releasable needle lock opening, being cone-shaped with a larger diameter on the top side of the arm and a corresponding smaller diameter on the bottom side of the arm. The arm has an open channel formed therein positioned on the top side of the arm and extending from the first end of the arm to the releasable needle lock opening. The arm has a recess formed therein, positioned on the top side of the arm and extending from the needle lock opening forward the second end of the arm.

Claims

1. A self locking suture instrument to be used with surgical suture thread and a suture needle, said self locking suture instrument comprising:

a body structure having a first end and a second end;

said first end of said body structure having a body opening formed therein;

an arm, said arm having a first end and a second end, and having a top side and a bottom side;

said second end of said arm being coupled to said body structure;

said arm having a releasable needle lock opening;

said releasable needle lock opening being generally conical having a diameter on said top side of said arm larger than a diameter on said bottom side of said arm;

said arm having an open channel formed therein, said open channel extending from said first end of said arm to said releasable needle lock opening;

said arm having a recess formed therein, said recess positioned on said top side of said arm and extending from said releasable needle lock opening toward said second end of said arm.

2. The self locking suture instrument of claim 1, wherein said body opening of said first end of said body structure houses a self locking suture lock having a suture thread opening and a stitch lock opening.

3. The self locking suture instrument of claim 1 wherein said top side of said arm is a flat surface having ripples oriented at a substantially right angle with said open channel and said recess.

4. The self locking suture instrument of claim 1, wherein said needle lock opening on said bottom side of said arm has a slightly larger diameter than said suture needle.

5. The self locking suture instrument of claim 1, wherein said needle lock opening on said arm aligns with said stitch lock opening of said self locking suture lock.

6. The self locking suture instrument of claim 1, wherein said arm is pivotally coupled to said body structure'"'"'s midsection.

7. A method for laparoscopic surgical suturing, using suture thread, a suture needle, and a self locking suture instrument having a body structure and an arm, comprising:

attaching suture thread to one end of a suture needle;

positioning said suture needle inside a recess formed in said arm;

rotating said arm to become adjacent to said body structure;

introducing said suture instrument through a laparoscopic tube;

moving said arm away from said body structure, thereby releasing said suture needle;

applying a tension to said suture thread, said tension thereby deflecting said suture needle into a releasable needle lock opening;

passing said suture needle through the tissue to be sutured.

8. The method recited in claim 7, having a first step comprising:

placing a self locking suture lock within said body structure of said self locking suture instrument.

9. The method recited in claim 7, having a final step comprising:

passing said suture needle through said self locking suture lock;

removing said suture needle from said needle lock opening;

removing said suture lock from said body structure of said self locking suture instrument.

10. A self-locking suture instrument to be used with surgical suture thread and a suture needle having a predetermined diameter, said self-locking suture instrument comprising:

a body structure having a first end and a second end;

said first end including a first arm and a second arm hingedly coupled to each other at a hinge mechanism and mechanically separable from each other;

said first arm including a suture lock mechanism;

said second arm including a releasable suture needle lock having a generally conical opening including a diameter spatially oriented closest to said suture lock larger than a diameter spatially oriented farthest from said suture lock;

said second arm having an open channel formed therein and extending from said generally conical opening; and

said second arm having a recess formed therein, said recess extending a predetermined distance from said generally conical opening toward said hinge mechanism.