Suturing device

• US 8,480,689 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Spivey, James T., Carroll, Kempton K. II, Griffith, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scherbel, Todd J
• Application Number:
  US12/202,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20100057108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,771 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606144-148, 606205-209
• US Class Current: 606/148
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06066 Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations making needles B21G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0625 the needle being specially adapted to interact with the manipulator, e.g. being ridged to snap fit in a hole of the manipulator A61B17/06109 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014

Abstract

A surgical suturing device has a grasper device that is translatable within an outer lumen where a first end of a needle is grasped with the grasper device. The needle may be resilient to a curved resting state. The grasper device translates proximally relative to the outer lumen such that the needle is translated into the outer lumen, wherein the outer lumen tends to straighten the needle from the curved resting state. The grasper device may be translated distally relative to the outer lumen such that a second end of the needle extends distally from the outer lumen and pierces the tissue. The needle may return to the curved resting state as it exits the outer lumen. When a second end of the needle emerges from the tissue, the second end of the needle may be grasped with the grasper device.

Claims

1. A surgical suturing device, comprising:

a grasper device having a distal grasping end, the grasper device comprising;

a collet comprising a plurality of fingers at the distal grasping end of the grasper device, wherein the plurality of fingers collectively define a concave feature wherein the concave feature comprises a groove; and

a collet lumen, wherein the collet is positioned within the collet lumen, wherein the collet and collet lumen are translatable relative to one another from a first state where the plurality of fingers are in an open position to a second state where the plurality of fingers are in a closed position;

an outer lumen coupled to a control mechanism for the surgical suturing device, wherein the grasper device is positioned within the outer lumen, and wherein the grasper device is translatable from a first position wherein the distal grasping end extends distally from the outer lumen to a second position where the distal grasping end is within the outer lumen; and

a curved resilient suturing needle defining a leading end and a back end, wherein the back end defines a needle feature that is shaped to match the concave feature of the grasper device such that the back end of the needle is received by the grasper device and wherein the needle feature comprises a collar sized to be received by the groove.

2. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the needle feature is rounded.

3. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the needle is resilient from a substantially straight position to a curved resting position.

4. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the outer lumen is configured to be translatable relative to a working channel of an endoscope.

5. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the back end of the suturing needle is releaseably received into the collet of the grasper device.