Suturing device
First Claim
1. A suturing device comprising:
- a housing comprising a body having opposite ends and a tip member at one end of said body;
at least one needle having a tip, said at least one needle being carried by said body, structure for moving said at least one needle in a reciprocating motion from a first position wherein said at least one needle is substantially within said body to a second position wherein said at least one needle is substantially extended from said body and from said second position to said first position, said at least one needle being capable of traversing along a non-linear path from said first position to said second position and from said second position to said first position; and
a suture adapted to be releasably attached to said tip member, said suture being capable of being captured by said tip of said at least one needle only when said at least one needle is in said second position and said suture being pulled from attachment to said tip member when said at least one needle is returned to said first position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A suturing device includes a housing having an axial lumen therethrough, at least one needle having a tip and being attached to the housing and being capable of traversing along a non-linear path from a first position wherein each such needle is substantially within the housing, to a second position wherein each such needle is substantially extended from the housing, and a suture releasably attached to the housing. The suture can be captured by the tip when each such needle is in the second position and pulled from attachment to the housing when each such needle is moved to the first position. Thereafter, the suture can be released from each such needle and a knot can be formed in the suture to close a wound.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A suturing device comprising:
- a housing comprising a body having opposite ends and a tip member at one end of said body;
at least one needle having a tip, said at least one needle being carried by said body, structure for moving said at least one needle in a reciprocating motion from a first position wherein said at least one needle is substantially within said body to a second position wherein said at least one needle is substantially extended from said body and from said second position to said first position, said at least one needle being capable of traversing along a non-linear path from said first position to said second position and from said second position to said first position; and
a suture adapted to be releasably attached to said tip member, said suture being capable of being captured by said tip of said at least one needle only when said at least one needle is in said second position and said suture being pulled from attachment to said tip member when said at least one needle is returned to said first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- a housing comprising a body having opposite ends and a tip member at one end of said body;
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25. A method of forming a stitch in a vessel or in skin comprising the steps of:
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providing a suturing device comprising a housing including a body having opposite ends and a tip member at one end of said body, at least two needles, each said needle having a tip, said needles being carried by said body, each said needle being capable of traversing along a non-linear path upon moving from a first position wherein said needles are substantially within said body and said tips are spaced apart from each other to a second position wherein said needles are substantially extended from said body and said tips are generally proximate to each other, and a suture having opposite ends, said suture being releasably attached to said tip member, said suture only being captured by said tips when said needles are in said second position and pulled from attachment to said tip member when said needles are returned to said first position; engaging said housing into the vessel or the skin by passing a portion of said housing through a wall of the vessel or the skin; moving said needles from said first position to said second position, said needles passing through the wall of the vessel or the skin as said needles travel along said non-linear path from said first position to said second position; grasping said suture with said tips of said needles when said needles are moved to said second position; moving said needles from said second position to said first position, said needles again passing through the wall of the vessel or the skin as said needles travel along a non-linear path from said second position to said first position; removing said housing from engagement with the vessel or the skin; and securing said ends of said suture together. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A suturing device comprising:
- a housing comprising a body having opposite ends and a tip member at one end of said body;
at least one needle having a tip, said at least one needle being carried by said body, said at least one needle being capable of traversing along a path upon moving from a first position wherein said at least one needle is substantially within said body to a second position wherein said at least one needle is substantially extended from said body, said at least one needle being preformed into a stressed shape such that when in said first position, said at least one needle is straightened and, when said at least one needle is moved from said first position, said at least one needle reassumes a non-linear shape; and
said tip member adapted to carry a suture, said suture being capable of being captured by said tip of said needle when said at least one needle is in said second position and said suture being pulled from attachment to said tip member when said at least one needle is returned to said first position. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
- a housing comprising a body having opposite ends and a tip member at one end of said body;
Specification