Suturing instrument with rotatably mounted offset needle holder and method of using the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A suturing instrument for causing a needle to pass through anatomical tissue comprising:
- an elongated barrel having a distal end and a proximal end;
a handle coupled to said proximal end of said barrel;
a connecting member coupled to a distal end of said barrel;
and needle holding members extending from said connecting member, said needle holding members having a longitudinal axis that is offset from a longitudinal axis of said shaft and being operable by said handle to grasp the needle;
wherein said connecting member is rotatably coupled to said barrel to move said connecting member between a first position, in which said 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 needle holding members extend beyond the diametrical dimension of said barrel.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An instrument for suturing anatomical tissue with a suture needle includes a barrel having at least one needle holding apparatus therein which can be manipulated from a proximal end of the barrel. Jaws of the needle holding apparatus are offset from a rotatable shaft by a connecting member. In an insertion position, the needle 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.
-
Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A suturing instrument for causing a needle to pass through anatomical tissue comprising:
-
an elongated barrel having a distal end and a proximal end; a handle coupled to said proximal end of said barrel; a connecting member coupled to a distal end of said barrel; and needle holding members extending from said connecting member, said needle holding members having a longitudinal axis that is offset from a longitudinal axis of said shaft and being operable by said handle to grasp the needle; wherein said connecting member is rotatably coupled to said barrel to move said connecting member between a first position, in which said 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 needle holding members extend beyond the diametrical dimension of said barrel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of suturing anatomical tissue using a length of suture material attached to a needle, said method comprising the steps of:
-
introducing an instrument having a barrel into an area proximate the anatomical tissue; grasping the needle with a needle grasping device, the needle grasping device comprising a connecting member coupled to a distal end of said barrel and extending transversely from said distal end of said barrel, and needle holding members disposed on a free end of said connecting member and being operable from a proximal end of said barrel to grasp the needle; rotating the connecting member in a first direction about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel to cause the needle to move in an arcuate path and to cause a tip of the needle to penetrate the anatomical tissue; and releasing the needle from the needle holding members. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A suturing instrument for causing a needle to pass through anatomical tissue comprising:
-
an elongated barrel having a distal end and a proximal end; a handle coupled to said proximal end of said barrel; a connecting member coupled to the distal end of the barrel and extending perpendicularly from the distal end of said barrel; and needle holding members disposed on said connecting member and operable by said handle to grasp the needle; wherein said connecting member is moveably coupled to said barrel to move said connecting member between a first position, in which said needle holding members are contained within a diametrical dimension of said barrel, and a second position, in which at least a portion of said needle holding members extend beyond the diametrical dimension of said barrel. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A suturing instrument for causing a needle to pass through anatomical tissue comprising:
-
an elongated barrel having a distal end and a proximal end; a handle coupled to said proximal end of said barrel;
a shaft extending from said distal end of said barrel, and rotatably mounted within said barrel;a needle grasping device coupled to a distal end of said barrel and having a longitudinal axis that is offset from a longitudinal axis of said shaft and substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said shaft, said needle grasping device being operable with said handle; and
a connecting member coupled to and between a distal end of said shaft and said needle grasping device. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
-
-
28. A method of suturing anatomical tissue using a length of suture material attached to a needle, said method comprising the steps of:
-
introducing an instrument having a barrel into an area proximate the anatomical tissue; grasping the needle with a needle grasping device coupled to a distal end of the barrel by a connecting member the needle grasping device having a longitudinal axis that is offset from a longitudinal axis of said barrel and being operable from a proximal end of the barrel; rotating the connecting member to cause the needle to move in an arcuate path and to cause a tip of the needle to penetrate the anatomical tissue; and releasing the needle from the needle grasping device. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
-
Specification