Endoscopic suturing instrument
First Claim
1. An endoscopic suturing instrument comprising:
- a needle provided at a distal end of the suturing instrument for puncturing living tissue;
an engaging section provided at least at a distal end of the needle for engaging thread while allowing the thread to move freely;
a needle-driving mechanism to drive the needle;
a loop-creating mechanism which creates a first loop in the thread by loosening the thread connected to the engaging section;
a catching member to be inserted through said first loop to catch said thread disposed at the distal end of said suturing instrument body;
wherein the thread caught by said catching member is freely movable, and the needle-driving mechanism and the catching member are mechanically coupled;
wherein the loop-creating mechanism is also used to create a second loop with the thread by loosening the thread between the living tissue and the catching member, and a locus of movement of the needle passes through the second loop;
wherein the loop-creating mechanism comprises a cam mechanism which is operable such that the thread is released from the catching member when at least a part of the needle passes through the second loop, after which the catching member is inserted through the first loop created by the loop-creating mechanism so as to catch the thread; and
wherein the cam mechanism includes a cam and at least one spring member to direct the cam in a single direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic suturing instrument is equipped with a needle mounted at the distal end of the suturing instrument for the purpose of living-tissue punctures. An engaging mechanism is provided at least at the distal end of the needle for the purpose of connecting the thread while allowing it to move freely, and the suturing instrument includes a needle-driving mechanism to drive the needle. A loop-creating mechanism is used to create a first loop in the thread, by loosening the thread connected to the engaging mechanism. A catching mechanism is provided at the distal end of the suturing instrument to be inserted through the first loop to catch the thread. The thread caught by the catching mechanism can be moved freely. The needle-driving mechanism and the catching mechanism are mechanically coupled.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An endoscopic suturing instrument comprising:
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a needle provided at a distal end of the suturing instrument for puncturing living tissue; an engaging section provided at least at a distal end of the needle for engaging thread while allowing the thread to move freely; a needle-driving mechanism to drive the needle; a loop-creating mechanism which creates a first loop in the thread by loosening the thread connected to the engaging section; a catching member to be inserted through said first loop to catch said thread disposed at the distal end of said suturing instrument body; wherein the thread caught by said catching member is freely movable, and the needle-driving mechanism and the catching member are mechanically coupled; wherein the loop-creating mechanism is also used to create a second loop with the thread by loosening the thread between the living tissue and the catching member, and a locus of movement of the needle passes through the second loop; wherein the loop-creating mechanism comprises a cam mechanism which is operable such that the thread is released from the catching member when at least a part of the needle passes through the second loop, after which the catching member is inserted through the first loop created by the loop-creating mechanism so as to catch the thread; and wherein the cam mechanism includes a cam and at least one spring member to direct the cam in a single direction. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An endoscopic suturing instrument comprising:
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a needle provided at a distal end of the suturing instrument for puncturing living tissue; an engaging section provided at least at a distal end of the needle for engaging thread while allowing the thread to move freely; a needle-driving mechanism to drive the needle; a loop-creating mechanism which creates a first loop in the thread by loosening the thread connected to the engaging section; a catching member to be inserted through said first loop to catch said thread disposed at the distal end of said suturing instrument body; wherein the thread caught by said catching member is freely movable, and the needle-driving mechanism and the catching member are mechanically coupled; and wherein the needle comprises a curved needle. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. An endoscopic suturing instrument comprising:
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a needle movably provided at a distal end of the suturing instrument for puncturing living tissue; an engaging section provided at least at an end of the needle for movably engaging thread; an elongated needle driving member which extends to a proximal end of the suturing instrument, and which is operable to move the needle to puncture tissue to be sutured; a thread catcher which is provided at the distal end of the suturing instrument, and which catches the thread to form a loop of the thread at a position where the thread is passed through the tissue with the needle; and a thread catcher driver which is mechanically interlocked with the elongated needle driving member, and which is adapted to move the thread catcher to catch the thread; wherein both the needle and the thread catcher driver are driven by movement of the elongated needle driving member. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A suturing method allowing continuous stitches in a body cavity using an endoscopic suturing instrument, wherein the endoscopic suturing instrument comprises:
- a needle movably provided at a distal end of the suturing instrument for puncturing living tissue, an engaging section provided at least at a sharp end of the needle for movably engaging thread, an elongated needle driving member which extends to a proximal end of the suturing instrument and which is operable to move the needle to puncture tissue to be sutured, a thread catcher which is provided at the distal end of the suturing instrument and which catches the thread to form a loop of the thread at a position where the thread is passed through the tissue with the needle, and a thread catcher driver which is mechanically interlocked with the elongated needle driving member and which is adapted to move the thread catcher to catch the thread, wherein both the needle and the thread catcher driver are driven by movement of the elongated needle driving member, said method comprising;
a. connecting the thread to the engaging section; b. moving the suturing instrument to a first suture site of the living tissue; c. moving the needle to a first position at which puncturing is not performed on the living tissue; d. moving the needle with the thread to a second position at which the needle thrusts out through the living tissue so that the thread comes out from the living tissue; e. moving the needle further along a direction of puncturing to a third position; f. returning the needle to the second position to create a first loop in the thread; g. catching the first loop with the thread catcher; h. moving the needle to the first position with the first loop caught by the thread catcher; i. moving the suturing instrument to a second suture site of the living tissue; j. creating a second loop between the living tissue and the thread catcher; k. moving the needle to the second position again; l. passing the needle through the second loop; m. removing the thread catcher from the thread forming the second loop when a part of the needle passes through the second loop; n. moving the needle further along the direction of puncturing to the third position; o. returning the needle to the second position to create the first loop in the thread; p. catching the first loop with the thread catcher again; q. repeating steps h through p at least once; r. removing the suturing instrument from the body cavity with the thread caught by the thread catcher; and s. stopping both ends of the thread that extend from the living tissue to prevent the thread from loosening.
- a needle movably provided at a distal end of the suturing instrument for puncturing living tissue, an engaging section provided at least at a sharp end of the needle for movably engaging thread, an elongated needle driving member which extends to a proximal end of the suturing instrument and which is operable to move the needle to puncture tissue to be sutured, a thread catcher which is provided at the distal end of the suturing instrument and which catches the thread to form a loop of the thread at a position where the thread is passed through the tissue with the needle, and a thread catcher driver which is mechanically interlocked with the elongated needle driving member and which is adapted to move the thread catcher to catch the thread, wherein both the needle and the thread catcher driver are driven by movement of the elongated needle driving member, said method comprising;
Specification