Suturing instrument with multiple rotatably mounted offset needle holders and method of using the same
First Claim
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1. A suturing instrument for causing a needle to pass through anatomical tissue, comprising:
- an elongated barrel extending along a centrally-disposed longitudinal axis and having a distal end and a proximal end;
a handle coupled to said proximal end of said barrel;
a needle driver assembly comprising;
a driver shaft extending longitudinally through at least a portion of said barrel and disposed offset relative to the centrally-disposed longitudinal axis;
a driver connecting member coupled to a driver shaft end of said driver shaft projecting from said barrel, the driver connecting member extending transversely relative to the centrally-disposed longitudinal axis; and
driver needle holding members coupled to and extending longitudinally from said driver connecting member, the driver needle holding members being parallel to the centrally-disposed longitudinal axis when in a closed state, said driver needle holding members having a longitudinal axis that is offset from a longitudinal axis of said driver shaft; and
a needle catcher assembly comprising;
a catcher shaft extending longitudinally through at least a portion of said barrel and disposed offset relative to the centrally-disposed longitudinal axis;
a catcher connecting member coupled to a catcher shaft end of said catcher shaft projecting from said barrel, the catcher connecting member extending transversely relative to the centrally-disposed longitudinal axis; and
a support member coupled to and extending longitudinally from said catcher connecting member;
wherein said driver connecting member is rotatably mounted in said barrel to rotate about an axis parallel to the centrally-located longitudinal axis of said barrel to move said driver connecting member between a first position, in which said driver needle holding members are contained entirely within a diametrical dimension of said barrel, and a second position, in which at least a portion of said driver needle holding members extend beyond the diametrical dimension of said barrel.
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Abstract
An instrument for suturing anatomical tissue with a suture needle includes a barrel having two needle holding apparatus therein which can be manipulated from a proximal end of the barrel. Jaws of each needle holding apparatus are offset from a rotatable shaft by a transverse arm. In an insertion position, the jaws are confined within the diametrical dimension of the barrel at a distal end thereof. After insertion, the jaws can be manipulated to extend beyond the diametrical dimension of the barrel to provide a large working span in which tissue can be sutured.
385 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A suturing instrument for causing a needle to pass through anatomical tissue, comprising:
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an elongated barrel extending along a centrally-disposed longitudinal axis and having a distal end and a proximal end; a handle coupled to said proximal end of said barrel; a needle driver assembly comprising; a driver shaft extending longitudinally through at least a portion of said barrel and disposed offset relative to the centrally-disposed longitudinal axis; a driver connecting member coupled to a driver shaft end of said driver shaft projecting from said barrel, the driver connecting member extending transversely relative to the centrally-disposed longitudinal axis; and driver needle holding members coupled to and extending longitudinally from said driver connecting member, the driver needle holding members being parallel to the centrally-disposed longitudinal axis when in a closed state, said driver needle holding members having a longitudinal axis that is offset from a longitudinal axis of said driver shaft; and a needle catcher assembly comprising; a catcher shaft extending longitudinally through at least a portion of said barrel and disposed offset relative to the centrally-disposed longitudinal axis; a catcher connecting member coupled to a catcher shaft end of said catcher shaft projecting from said barrel, the catcher connecting member extending transversely relative to the centrally-disposed longitudinal axis; and a support member coupled to and extending longitudinally from said catcher connecting member; wherein said driver connecting member is rotatably mounted in said barrel to rotate about an axis parallel to the centrally-located longitudinal axis of said barrel to move said driver connecting member between a first position, in which said driver needle holding members are contained entirely within a diametrical dimension of said barrel, and a second position, in which at least a portion of said driver needle holding members extend beyond the diametrical dimension of said barrel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A suturing instrument for causing a needle to pass through anatomical tissue comprising:
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an elongated barrel extending along a centrally-disposed longitudinal axis and having a distal end and a proximal end; a handle coupled to said proximal end of said barrel; a needle driver assembly comprising; a driver shaft extending longitudinally through at least a portion of said barrel and disposed offset relative to the centrally-disposed longitudinal axis; a driver connecting member coupled to a driver shaft end of said driver shaft projecting from said barrel, the driver connecting member extending transversely relative to the centrally-disposed longitudinal axis; and driver needle holding members extending longitudinally from said driver connecting member, the driver needle holding members being parallel to the centrally-disposed longitudinal axis when in a closed state; and a needle catcher assembly comprising; a catcher shaft extending longitudinally through at least a portion of said barrel and disposed offset relative to the centrally-disposed longitudinal axis; a catcher connecting member coupled to a catcher shaft end of said catcher shaft projecting from said barrel, the catcher connecting member extending transversely relative to the centrally-disposed longitudinal axis; and a support member coupled to and extending longitudinally from said catcher connecting member; wherein said driver connecting member is rotatably mounted in said barrel to rotate about an axis parallel to the centrally-located longitudinal axis of said barrel to move said driver connecting member between a first position, in which said driver needle holding members are contained entirely within a diametrical dimension of said barrel, and a second position, in which at least a portion of said driver needle holding members extend beyond the diametrical dimension of said barrel. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of suturing anatomical tissue using a length of suture material attached to a needle, said method comprising the steps of:
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introducing a distal end of a barrel into an area proximate the anatomical tissue, the barrel extending along a longitudinal axis; grasping the needle with driver needle holding members disposed on a driver connecting member coupled to a distal end of a driver shaft projecting from the barrel and extending transversely to the longitudinal axis the driver needle holding members having a longitudinal axis that is offset from and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel and being operable by a handle coupled to a proximal end of the barrel; and rotating the driver shaft about an axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the barrel in a first direction to cause the needle to move in an arcuate path and to cause a tip of the needle to penetrate the anatomical tissue. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method of suturing anatomical tissue using a length of suture material attached to a needle, said method comprising the steps of:
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introducing an instrument having a barrel extending along a longitudinal axis into an area proximate the anatomical tissue; grasping the needle with a needle driver, said needle driver comprising a driver shaft extending longitudinally and projecting from the barrel, a grasping portion extending longitudinally and a driver connecting member extending transversely to the longitudinal axis and interconnecting said drive shaft and said drive needle grasping portion; positioning the anatomical tissue between a tip of the suture needle and a needle catcher, the needle catcher comprising a catcher shaft extending longitudinally and projecting from the barrel, a catcher needle grasping portion extending longitudinally and a catcher connecting member extending transversely to the longitudinal axis and interconnecting said catcher shaft and said catcher needle grasping portion; and rotating the driver shaft in a first direction to cause the needle to move in an arcuate path and to cause a tip of the needle to penetrate the anatomical tissue. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of suturing anatomical tissue using a length of suture material attached to a needle, said method comprising the steps of:
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introducing an instrument having a barrel extending along a longitudinal axis into an area proximate the anatomical tissue; grasping the needle with a needle drive, said needle driver comprising a drive shaft extending longitudinally and projecting from the barrel, a needle grasping portion extending longitudinally and a driver connecting member extending transversely to the longitudinal axis and interconnecting said drive shaft and said driver needle grasping portion; positioning the anatomical tissue between a tip of the suture needle and a needle catcher, the needle catcher comprising a catcher shaft extending longitudinally and projecting from the barrel, a catcher needle grasping portion extending longitudinally and a catcher connecting member extending transversely to the longitudinal axis and interconnecting said catcher shaft and said catcher needle grasping portion; rotating the drive shaft in a first direction to cause the needle to move in an arcuate path and to cause a tip of the needle to penetrate the anatomical tissue; and rotating the catcher shaft in a second direction to cause a portion of the needle to be received in the catcher needle grasping portion. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
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Specification