Suturing method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A suturing device for applying a suture, comprising:
- an elongated body;
at least one arm having a suture mounting portion to releasably hold a portion of said suture, said arm being mounted to cause an end portion of said arm to move (i) away from said elongated body from a first position to a second position and (ii) towards said elongated body from the second position to the first position, said end portion of said arm being adapted to penetrate tissue as the arm moves away from said elongated body to said second portion while holding said portion of the suture during such movement; and
at least one needle having a distal end, said needle mounted to move relative to said elongated body, said distal end of said needle movable from a first position adjacent to said elongated body to a second position adjacent said suture mounting portion of said arm when said arm is in said second position;
wherein said distal end of said needle is adapted to capture said portion of the suture from the suture mounting portion of the arm and draws said portion of said suture toward said elongated body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A suturing apparatus comprises an elongated body, at least one arms movable relative to the elongated body and at least one needle movable relative to the elongated body. The arm releasably holds an end portion of a length of suture. The arm has a sharp end portion adapted to pierce an inner surface of a wall of a biological structure and pass an end portion of the suture through the inner surface. The needle is adapted to pierce the inner surface of such biological structure at a location proximal to the location where the end portion of the suture was inserted. The needle captures an end portion of the suture from the arm and draws the end portion of the suture back through the inner surface. The end of the suture is then drawn out of the biological structure by removing the elongated body.
249 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A suturing device for applying a suture, comprising:
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an elongated body;
at least one arm having a suture mounting portion to releasably hold a portion of said suture, said arm being mounted to cause an end portion of said arm to move (i) away from said elongated body from a first position to a second position and (ii) towards said elongated body from the second position to the first position, said end portion of said arm being adapted to penetrate tissue as the arm moves away from said elongated body to said second portion while holding said portion of the suture during such movement; and
at least one needle having a distal end, said needle mounted to move relative to said elongated body, said distal end of said needle movable from a first position adjacent to said elongated body to a second position adjacent said suture mounting portion of said arm when said arm is in said second position;
wherein said distal end of said needle is adapted to capture said portion of the suture from the suture mounting portion of the arm and draws said portion of said suture toward said elongated body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A suturing device for applying a suture, comprising:
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an elongated body;
at least one arm connected to said elongated body having a suture mounting portion and an end portion, said suture mounting portion being formed to releasably hold an end portion of said suture, said end portion of said arm being adapted to penetrate tissue; and
at least one needle having a distal end, said needle being extendable and retractable relative to said elongated body, said distal end of said needle being adapted for cooperation with said suture mounting portion of said arm;
whereby said needle can be extended such that said distal end of said needle captures said end portion of said suture from said suture mounting portion of said arm and said needle can be retracted to draw said end portion of said suture back toward said elongated body. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A suturing device for applying a suture, comprising:
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an elongated body;
two arms located on opposite sides of said elongated body, each of said arms having a suture mounting portion and an end portion, said suture mounting portions being formed to releasably hold an end portion of said suture, said arms being extendable and retractable relative to said elongated body, said arms having sharp end portions adapted to penetrate tissue when said arms are extended; and
two needles located on opposite sides of said elongated body, each needle having a distal end, said needles being extendable and retractable relative to said elongated body, said distal ends of said needles being adapted for cooperation with said suture mounting portions of said arms when said needles and said arms are extended;
whereby said arms are advanced outward from said elongated body, said needles are advanced distally from said elongated body such that said distal ends of said needles engage and capture said end portions of said sutures from said suture mounting portions of said arms, and said needles are retracted to draw said end portions of said sutures back toward said elongated body.
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Specification