Suturing instrument with spreadable needle holder mounted for arcuate movement
First Claim
1. An instrument for suturing anatomical tissue with a suture needle, said instrument comprisingan elongate tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end with a peripheral edge and extending along a longitudinal axis;
- a handle coupled to said proximal end of said elongate tubular members;
a needle holder arm disposed offset relative to the longitudinal axis and extending from said distal end of said elongate tubular member, said needle holder arm being movable between an undeployed position where said needle holder arm is disposed laterally inward of said peripheral edge of said elongate tubular member and a deployed position where said needle holder arm is disposed laterally outward of said peripheral edge;
said needle holder arm being coupled to said elongate tubular member for arcuate movement about the longitudinal axis of said elongate tubular member such that a distal end of said needle holder arm is caused to move along an arcuate path extending outwardly of said peripheral edge of said elongate tubular member.
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Abstract
An instrument for suturing anatomical tissue with a suture needle includes a housing, an elongate tubular member mounted by the housing, and a needle holder having a distal end movable between an undeployed position disposed laterally inward of a peripheral edge of the elongate tubular member and a deployed position disposed laterally outward of the peripheral edge. The needle holder is coupled with the housing for arcuate movement about a longitudinal axis of the elongate tubular member such that a corresponding distal end of the needle holder is caused to move along an arcuate path extending outwardly of the peripheral edge and having a radius of curvature commensurate with the radius of curvature of the suture needle.
440 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An instrument for suturing anatomical tissue with a suture needle, said instrument comprising
an elongate tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end with a peripheral edge and extending along a longitudinal axis; -
a handle coupled to said proximal end of said elongate tubular members; a needle holder arm disposed offset relative to the longitudinal axis and extending from said distal end of said elongate tubular member, said needle holder arm being movable between an undeployed position where said needle holder arm is disposed laterally inward of said peripheral edge of said elongate tubular member and a deployed position where said needle holder arm is disposed laterally outward of said peripheral edge; said needle holder arm being coupled to said elongate tubular member for arcuate movement about the longitudinal axis of said elongate tubular member such that a distal end of said needle holder arm is caused to move along an arcuate path extending outwardly of said peripheral edge of said elongate tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of suturing anatomical tissue using a length of suture material attached to a suture needle, said method comprising the steps of
grasping the suture needle with a needle holder arm extending outwardly from a distal end of an elongate tubular member at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate tabular member the needle holder arm being disposed offset relative to the longitudinal axis; -
driving the suture needle through the anatomical tissue in a first direction along an arcuate path having a radius of curvature substantially commensurate with the radius of curvature of the suture needle by moving the needle holder in a first direction along an arcuate path having a radius of curvature substantially commensurate with a radius of curvature of the suture needle so that the tip of the needle penetrates the anatomical tissue; releasing the suture needle from the needle holder arm; repositioning the needle holder arm to receive the tip of the suture needle by moving the needle holder arm in a second direction along an arcuate path having a radius of curvature substantially commensurate with the radius of curvature of the suture needle; regrasping the suture needle with the needle holder arm; and pulling the suture needle through the anatomical tissue by moving the needle holder arm in the first direction along an arcuate path having a radius of curvature substantially commensurate with the radius of curvature of the suture needle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification