Surgical suturing apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for suturing body tissue comprising:
- a handle portion;
an elongated body portion extending from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis;
first and second jaws extending from the body portion;
a first securing mechanism cooperating with the first jaw and a second securing mechanism cooperating with the second jaw;
a jaw actuating mechanism operatively associated with at least one of the first and second jaws, wherein the jaw actuating mechanism moves at least one of the jaws longitudinally and parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
a control mechanism operatively connected to the first and second securing mechanisms, the control mechanism moving at least one of the securing mechanisms between a first position to secure a surgical needle within one of the first and second jaws and a second position to release the surgical needle from the respective jaw.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The surgical suturing apparatus is configured to pass a surgical suturing needle having an associated length of suture material attached thereto between opposed pairs of jaws. The surgical suturing apparatus generally includes a housing having an elongated tubular portion extending distally therefrom. A pair of jaws extend distally from the elongated tubular portion and are each individually longitudinally movable with respect to the elongated tubular portion and with respect to each other. Each of the jaw structures includes a jaw and a securing mechanism for tightly holding the surgical needle within the jaw. Parts of the securing mechanism engaging the needle also move longitudinally with respect to the associated jaw and the elongated tubular portion. Various control structures are provided to advance the securing mechanism relative to its associated jaw to secure the surgical needle therein and to move the entire jaw structure longitudinally with respect to the suturing apparatus.
517 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for suturing body tissue comprising:
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a handle portion; an elongated body portion extending from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis; first and second jaws extending from the body portion; a first securing mechanism cooperating with the first jaw and a second securing mechanism cooperating with the second jaw; a jaw actuating mechanism operatively associated with at least one of the first and second jaws, wherein the jaw actuating mechanism moves at least one of the jaws longitudinally and parallel to the longitudinal axis; and a control mechanism operatively connected to the first and second securing mechanisms, the control mechanism moving at least one of the securing mechanisms between a first position to secure a surgical needle within one of the first and second jaws and a second position to release the surgical needle from the respective jaw. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for suturing body tissue comprising:
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a handle portion; an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a first longitudinal axis; first and second jaws extending from the body portion defining a second longitudinal axis; a surgical needle releasably held within at least one of the first and second jaws and positioned perpendicularly to the second longitudinal axis of the first and second jaws; a first securing member slidably positioned with respect to the first jaw member and movable in a longitudinal direction between a needle securing position and a needle releasing position; and a second securing member slidably positioned with respect to the second jaw member and movable in a longitudinal direction between a needle securing position and a needle releasing position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for suturing body tissue comprising:
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a handle portion; an elongated body portion extending from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis; first and second jaw members extending distally from the elongated body portion; a surgical needle positionable in either of the jaw members; means for reciprocal relative movement of the first and second jaw members between a proximal position and a distal position with respect to the body portion; and means for securing the surgical needle in one of the first and second jaw members, the securing means being selectively movable between a retracted and an extended position. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for suturing body tissue comprising:
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a handle portion; an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis; first and second jaws extending from the body portion and movable in a longitudinal direction, wherein at least a portion of each jaw moves within the body portion; a first securing member positioned adjacent the first jaw member and movable between a needle securing position and a needle releasing position; a second securing member positioned adjacent the second jaw member and movable between a needle securing position and a needle releasing position; means for moving the first securing member with respect to the first jaw member between the needle securing and needle releasing positions; and means for moving the second securing member with respect to the second jaw member between the needle securing and the needle releasing positions. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. An apparatus for suturing body tissue comprising:
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a handle portion; an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis; first and second jaws extending from the body portion and moveable in a longitudinal direction with respect to the body portion; a first securing member positioned adjacent the first jaw member and movable between a needle securing position and a needle releasing position; a second securing member positioned adjacent the second jaw member and movable between a needle securing position and a needle releasing position; means for moving the first securing member with respect to the first jaw member between the needle securing and needle releasing positions; means for moving the second securing member with respect to the second jaw member between the needle securing and the needle releasing positions; a control mechanism operatively connected to the first and second jaws, the control mechanism moving the jaws longitudinally relative to one another; and timing means associated with the control mechanism for preventing longitudinal motion of a jaw when the corresponding securing member is in the needle securing position.
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26. A method of endoscopically suturing tissue comprising the steps of:
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(i) providing an endoscopic suturing apparatus having an elongated endoscopic section with first and second longitudinally movable needle holding jaws, the first and second needle holding jaws being movable in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongated endoscopic section, and a surgical needle held in at least one of the jaws with a length of suture material attached to the needle; (ii) endoscopically accessing a surgical site; (iii) positioning the elongated endoscopic section adjacent the site to be sutured with the needle held in the first jaw, the second jaw being longitudinally retracted relative to the first jaw; (iv) inserting the needle through tissue; (v) manipulating the longitudinally movable jaws until both jaws are substantially equally extended; (vi) grasping the needle with the second jaw; (vii) releasing the needle from the first jaw; and (viii) drawing the needle and a length of the suture material through the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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Specification