Laparoscopic suturing instrument with dual-action needle graspers
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a shaft, wherein the shaft has a distal end;
(b) an end effector located at the distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises;
(i) a first needle grasping member, and(ii) a second needle grasping member, wherein the first and second needle grasping members are operable to cooperatingly grasp and release a suture needle; and
(c) a grasping actuation assembly, wherein the grasping actuation assembly comprises a drive shaft rotatably disposed within the shaft, wherein the first needle grasping member and the second needle grasping member are disposed about a distal portion of the drive shaft such that an interior surface of the first needle grasping member and an interior surface of the second needle grasping member mechanically engage an exterior surface of the drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is operable to rotate to thereby simultaneously drive the first needle grasping member distally relative to the shaft and the second needle grasping member proximally relative to the shaft to grasp a suture needle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A suture needle driving instrument comprises a shaft, an end effector, and a grasping actuation assembly. The end effector is located at the distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of grasping arms. Each grasping arm comprises a respective pair of jaws. Each pair of jaws is operable to cooperate to grasp and release a suture needle. The grasping actuation assembly is operable to drive one jaw of each pair in one direction while simultaneously driving the other jaw of the pair in an opposite direction, to selectively grasp or release the suture needle. The actuation assembly may include a drive shaft having separate threaded regions with opposing pitch. The end effector is further operable to pass the needle from one arm to the other arm during a suturing procedure. The instrument may be used through a trocar during minimally invasive surgery.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a shaft, wherein the shaft has a distal end; (b) an end effector located at the distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises; (i) a first needle grasping member, and (ii) a second needle grasping member, wherein the first and second needle grasping members are operable to cooperatingly grasp and release a suture needle; and (c) a grasping actuation assembly, wherein the grasping actuation assembly comprises a drive shaft rotatably disposed within the shaft, wherein the first needle grasping member and the second needle grasping member are disposed about a distal portion of the drive shaft such that an interior surface of the first needle grasping member and an interior surface of the second needle grasping member mechanically engage an exterior surface of the drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is operable to rotate to thereby simultaneously drive the first needle grasping member distally relative to the shaft and the second needle grasping member proximally relative to the shaft to grasp a suture needle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a shaft, wherein the shaft has a distal end; (b) an end effector located at the distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises; (i) a first needle grasping jaw, and (ii) a second needle grasping jaw, wherein the first and second needle grasping jaws are operable to cooperatingly grasp and release a suture needle; and (c) a rotary member, wherein the rotary member extends through the shaft, wherein at least a portion of the rotary member is disposed between the first needle grasping jaw and the second needle grasping jaw, wherein the rotary member is operable to simultaneously drive the first needle grasping jaw distally relative to the shaft and the second needle grasping jaw proximally relative to the shaft to grasp a suture needle, wherein the rotary member is operable to convert rotary motion in a single direction into simultaneous linear motion of the grasping jaws in opposing directions. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification