Laparascopic incision closure device

• US 6,488,691 B1
• Filed: 05/03/2000
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brendan J. Carroll, Frederick Gotha, Gregory M. Miles, Jeffrey S. Kadan
• Original Assignee: Brendan J. Carroll, Frederick Gotha, Gregory M. Miles, Jeffrey S. Kadan
• Inventors: Gotha, Frederick, Carroll, Brendan J., Miles, Gregory M., Kadan, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIS, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US09/564,771
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 606/148, 606/144, 606/139, 606/232
• US Class Current: 606/148
• 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 17/2841 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue

Abstract

A laparascopic incision closure device comprised of an ejector housing having a handpiece trigger that is activated by compression and is biased to return to an initial position. The handpiece is so carried by the ejector housing that compression and retraction of the handpiece sequentially advances a flexible wire push-rod to eject a T-bar suture and retracts the flexible wire push-rod to index a ratchet which feeds the T-bar portion of a T-bar suture into the longitudinal bore of a needle carried by the ejector housing. The strand portion of the T-bar suture trails the T-bar portion through the longitudinal bore. Multiple T-bar sutures are axially spaced and detachably carried on a suture spline by spline mount tabs connected to the T-bar portion of the T-bar sutures and are stored in the interior of the ejector housing for quick and easy placement through fascia on opposite sides of a wound. In the preferred embodiment the device is constructed of a disposable plastic material with sutures being formed of an absorbable material.

Claims

1. A laparascopic incision closure device comprising:

a housing;

a needle having a longitudinal axis, a proximal and distal end, and an axially extending longitudinal bore therethrough where said needle has a radial distal opening in said distal end and a radial proximal opening in said proximal end and where said longitudinal bore communicates only with said radial distal opening and said radial proximal opening forming a continuously bounded passageway, and where said needle is attached to said housing at said proximal end;

a plurality of T-bar sutures where each said T-bar suture comprises a T-bar portion and a suture portion integrally connected, and where said suture portion is so adapted and disposed in said housing and said longitudinal bore so as to permit axial passage of said T-bar portion and said suture portion through said longitudinal bore, and where said plurality of T-bar sutures are stored in said housing and said longitudinal bore;

ejection means for sequentially ejecting said T-bar portion and said suture portion through said radial distal opening and through tissue adjacent to an incision;

whereby a Laparascopic incision can be quickly and efficiently closed by sequential placement of a T-bar suture on opposite sides of said incision and then tying said respective suture portions to close the wound.

2. The device according to claim 1 in which said ejection means comprises a plunger mechanism for advancing said T-bar portion and said suture portion axially within said longitudinal bore and for ejecting a single T-bar suture out of said radial distal opening, and trigger means for releasing said plunger mechanism whereby a T-bar portion and suture portion of a T-bar suture is ejected from said longitudinal bore.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein said plunger mechanism comprises a plunger coaxial with said longitudinal bore having an end engaging a T-bar suture loaded in said longitudinal bore, a plunger shaft attached to said plunger and slidably mounted in said housing;

and operating means for moving said plunger shaft and plunger forward or backward in said housing.

4. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

(a) a spline member having an axis of elongation movably carried by said housing where each of said plurality of T-bar portions are axially spaced and detachably carried by said spline member, and;

(b) ratchet means responsive to said ejection means for sequentially advancing said spline member axially so as to feed one of said T-bar portions into said longitudinal bore.

5. The device according to claim 4 in which said ejection means comprises a plunger mechanism for advancing one of said T-bar portions and said suture portions respectively axially within said longitudinal bore and for ejecting said T-bar portion through said radial distal opening, and trigger means for activating said plunger mechanism whereby a T-bar portion and suture portion of a T-bar suture may be ejected from said longitudinal bore.

6. The device according to claim 5 wherein said plunger mechanism comprises a flexible push-rod bi-axially movable in said longitudinal bore having a first and second end and a carriage member responsive to said trigger means where said second end is so adapted to said carriage member to permit said flexible push-rod to move bi-axially in said longitudinal bore.

7. The device according to claim 4 where said T-bar portion is made of an absorbable material.

8. The device according to claim 1 where said T-bar portion is made of an absorbable material.

9. A laparascopic incision closure device comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a needle having a longitudinal axis, a proximal and distal end, and an axially extending longitudinal bore therethrough where said needle, has a radial distal opening and a radial proximal opening and where said longitudinal bore only communicates only with said distal and proximal opening forming a continuously bounded passageway, and where said needle is carried by said housing;

(c) a spline member having an axis of elongation carried by said housing;

(d) a plurality of axially spaced T-bar sutures detachably carried by said spline member where each said T-bar suture comprises a T-bar portion and a suture portion integrally connected, and where each said T-bar suture is so dimensioned and proportioned to permit axial passage of said T-bar portion and said suture portion through said longitudinal bore;

(e) ratchet means for sequentially advancing said spline member axially so as to feed one of said T-bar portions into said longitudinal bore;

(f) ejection means for detaching said T-bar suture from said spline member and for advancing said T-bar portion and said suture portion within said longitudinal bore and ejecting said T-bar portion through said radial distal opening.

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein said ejection means comprises a flexible push-rod and rotatable carriage where said flexible push-rod is so carried by said rotatable carriage that upon sufficient rotation of said rotatable carriage said T-bar portion and said suture portion are axially advanced within said longitudinal bore and said T-bar portion ejected out of said radial distal opening.

11. The device according to claim 10 wherein said ejection means further comprises trigger means comprising a handpiece so carried by said housing to permit bi-directional movement of said handpiece relative to said housing, a spring member in biased relationship with said handpiece, a rack and pinion responsive to bi-directional movement of said handpiece for rotating said rotatable carriage, and a rocker arm responsive to bi-directional movement of said handpiece for activating said ratchet means.

12. The device according to claim 9 where said T-bar portion is made of an absorbable material.