Radiused tip surgical needles and surgical incision members

• US 6,056,771 A
• Filed: 04/15/1997
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Proto, George R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, THUY D
• Application Number:
  US08/835,783
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 606/222-226, 606/144-145, 606/147, 606/148, 606/139, 223/102-104, 163/2, 163/5, 604/272, 289/16, 112/222
• US Class Current: 606/222
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0491 Sewing machines for surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0625 the needle being specially adapted to interact with the manipulator, e.g. being ridged to snap fit in a hole of the manipulator A61B17/06109 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06009 having additional means for releasably clamping the suture to the needle, e.g. actuating rod slideable within the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06019 by means of a suture-receiving lateral eyelet machined in the needle lateral opening for attaching suture to suture anchor A61B2017/0414
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06047 located at the middle of the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06085 having a blunt tip blunt dissectors A61B2017/320044
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0609 having sharp tips at both ends, e.g. shuttle needle alternately retained and released by first and second facing jaws of a suturing instrument MIS suturing instruments A61B17/0469; jaws of MIS forceps A61B2017/2926

Abstract

A surgical needle or surgical incision member is provided including a body portion defining first and second longitudinal ends, a radiused tissue penetrating portion adjacent at least one longitudinal end of the body portion having a radius of approximately 0.005 to 0.015 inches, suture attachment structure formed in the body portion and a suture attached to the suture attachment structure. A method of suturing is also provided wherein the surgical needle may be passed through tissue while minimizing trauma to adjacent bony structures or the like.

Claims

1. A method of suturing tissue with minimal trauma to bony structure comprising the steps of:

a) providing a surgical needle having a body portion, a relatively blunt tissue penetrating portion on at least one end of the body portion having a radius of approximately 0.005 to 0.015 inches, and a length of suture affixed to the body portion;

b) penetrating a first tissue section with the surgical needle;

c) moving the relatively blunt tissue penetrating portion along the surface of bony structure without penetration thereof;

d) penetrating a second tissue section with the surgical needle; and

e) drawing the surgical needle through the first and second tissue sections to draw the length of suture through the first and second tissue sections.

2. A method of endoscopically suturing tissue with minimal trauma to bony structure comprising the steps of:

a) mounting a surgical needle to an endoscopic suturing apparatus, the surgical needle having a body portion, a relatively blunt tissue penetrating portion on at least one end of the body portion having a radius of approximately 0.005 to 0.015 inches, and a length of suture affixed to the body portion;

b) inserting the endoscopic suturing apparatus into a body cavity through a tubular cannula;

c) penetrating a first tissue section with the surgical needle;

d) moving the relatively blunt tissue penetrating portion along the surface of bony structure without causing permanent deformation of the body portion of the surgical needle;

e) penetrating a second tissue section with the surgical needle; and

f) drawing the surgical needle through the first and second tissue sections to draw the length of suture through the first and second tissue sections.