Needle driver and pawl mechanism for circular needle applier

• US 9,173,655 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Martin, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANG, PHONG SON H
• Application Number:
  US13/832,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20140171978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0483 Hand-held instruments for holding sutures A61B17/0469 takes precedence; other holders for needles or sutures A61B17/06061; surgical forceps A61B17/28; surgical pincettes A61B17/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0491 Sewing machines for surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06114 Packages or dispensers for needles or sutures packages for sharps A61B50/3001; for dental floss A61C15/043; packages for needles in general B65D85/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06123 Flat cylinders, e.g. including an inner reel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06133 of parallelepipedal shape, e.g. made of rectangular or slightly oval panels
• 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 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06028 by means of a cylindrical longitudinal blind bore machined at the suture-receiving end of the needle, e.g. opposite to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0608 J-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/0421 Controlled or regulated

Abstract

A surgical suturing device comprises a needle having a leading end, a trailing end, an arced body between the leading and trailing ends, and two steps located at antipodal positions on the body. A length of suture is connected to the needle. A needle driver reciprocates at least 180 degrees between a driven position and a returned position. The needle driver is adapted to engage the needle steps to rotate the needle in a circular path in first rotational direction. A pawl is positioned adjacent the driven position of the needle driver. The pawl is adapted to engage the needle steps to prevent the needle from rotating in a second rotational direction opposite of the first rotational direction.

Claims

1. A surgical suturing device, comprising:

a needle comprising a leading end, a trailing end, an arced body between the leading and trailing ends, and two steps located at antipodal positions on the body;

a length of suture connected to the needle;

a needle driver that reciprocates at least 180 degrees between a driven position and a returned position, the needle driver adapted to engage the needle steps to rotate the needle in a circular path in first rotational direction; and

a pawl positioned adjacent the driven position of the needle driver, the pawl adapted to engage the needle steps to prevent the needle from rotating in a second rotational direction opposite of the first rotational direction, wherein in the driven position the needle driver is interposed between the pawl and the needle.

2. The surgical device of claim 1, further comprising a spring biasing the pawl in the needle path.

3. The surgical device of claim 2, wherein the pawl further comprises a ramp adapted to be engaged by the needle and the needle driver to deflect the pawl out of the needle path and allow the needle and needle driver to pass the pawl.

4. The surgical device of claim 3, wherein the pawl deflects in a plane defined by the circular needle path.

5. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the pawl has a first end about which the pawl pivots, a second end having an edge that engages the needle steps, and a spring biasing the second end into the needle path.

6. The surgical device of claim 1, further comprising a second a pawl positioned adjacent the returned position of the needle driver, the second pawl adapted to engage the needle steps to prevent the needle from rotating in a second rotational direction opposite of the first rotational direction.

7. A surgical suturing device, comprising:

a needle comprising a leading end, a trailing end, an arced body between the leading and trailing ends, and two steps located at antipodal positions on the body;

a length of suture connected to the needle;

a needle driver that reciprocates at least 180 degrees between a driven position and a returned position, the needle driver adapted to engage the needle steps to rotate the needle in a circular path in first rotational direction; and

a pawl positioned adjacent the returned position of the needle driver, the pawl adapted to engage the needle steps to prevent the needle from rotating in a second rotational direction opposite of the first rotational direction, the pawl comprising a spring biasing the pawl in the needle path and a proximal ramp adapted to be engaged by the needle and the needle driver to deflect the pawl out of the needle path and allow the needle and needle driver to pass the pawl.

8. The surgical device of claim 7, wherein the pawl further comprises a distal ramp adapted to be engaged by the needle driver to deflect the pawl out of the needle path and allow the needle driver to pass the pawl.

9. The surgical device of claim 8, wherein the distal ramp is positioned below the needle path.

10. The surgical device of claim 7, wherein the pawl deflects in a plane defined by the circular needle path.

11. A surgical suturing device, comprising:

a needle comprising a leading end, a trailing end, an arced body between the leading and trailing ends, and two steps located at antipodal positions on the body;

a length of suture connected to the needle;

a needle driver that reciprocates at least 180 degrees between a driven position and a returned position, the needle driver adapted to engage the needle steps to rotate the needle in a circular path in first rotational direction; and

a pawl positioned adjacent the driven position of the needle driver, the pawl adapted to engage the needle steps to prevent the needle from rotating in a second rotational direction opposite of the first rotational direction, wherein the pawl further comprises a ramp adapted to be engaged by the needle driver to deflect the pawl out of the needle path.