Circular needle applier with articulating and rotating shaft

• US 9,357,998 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Martin, David T., Haberstich, Wells D., Zeiner, Mark S., Woodard, James A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miles, Jonathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ulsh, George J
• Application Number:
  US13/832,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20140171970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 606/144
• 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 has an elongate shaft has a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis between the proximal and distal ends. An actuator is connected to the proximal end of the elongate shaft. A circular needle applier is on the distal end of the elongate shaft. The circular needle applier has an arced needle and a needle driver operatively connected to the actuator to rotate the arced needle in a circular path. A joint is positioned between the proximal and distal ends of the elongate shaft. The joint is operatively connected to the actuator to selectively articulate the shaft. A bearing is on the shaft positioned distally of the joint. The bearing is operatively connected to the actuator to selectively rotate the circular needle applier about the longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A surgical suturing device, comprising:

an elongate shaft comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis between the proximal and distal ends;

an actuator connected to the proximal end of the elongate shaft;

a circular needle applier on the distal end of the elongate shaft, the circular needle applier comprising an arced needle and a needle driver operative to rotate the arced needle in a circular path;

a joint positioned between the proximal and distal ends of the elongate shaft, the joint being operative to selectively articulate the elongate shaft; and

a bearing on the elongate shaft positioned distally of the joint, the bearing being operative to selectively rotate the circular needle applier about the longitudinal axis;

wherin the actuator comprises a manual handle, wherein the handle comprises a first input to selectively actuate the needle driver, wherein the handle further comprising a second input to selectively articulate the elongate shaft, wherein the handle further comprising a third input to selectively rotate the circular needle applier about the bearing, further comprising an elongate torsion member extending along the elongate shaft and through the joint, the elongate torsion member being operably connected to the third input such that actuation of the third input rotates the torsion member thereby rotating the circular needle applier at the bearing about the longitudinal axis.

2. The surgical suturing device of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft articulates about the joint.

3. The surgical suturing device of claim 1, wherein the circular needle applier rotates about the bearing.

4. The surgical suturing device of claim 1, wherein the elongate torsion member comprises an outer sheath and an inner cable.

5. The surgical suturing device of claim 4, wherein the outer sheath is operably connected to the third input such that actuation of the third input rotates the outer sheath thereby rotating the circular needle applier at the bearing about the longitudinal axis.

6. The surgical suturing device of claim 4, wherein the inner cable is operably connected to the first input such that actuation of the first input provides axial loads on the inner cable thereby actuating the needle driver.

7. A surgical suturing device, comprising:

an elongate shaft comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis between the proximal and distal ends;

an actuator connected to the proximal end of the elongate shaft;

a circular needle applier connected to the distal end of the elongate shaft;

a means to articulate the elongate shaft; and

a means to rotate the circular needle applier about the longitudinal axis, the means to rotate being positioned on the elongate shaft distally relative to the means to articulate;

wherein the actuator comprises a manual handle, wherein the handle comprises a first input to selectively actuate the needle driver, wherein the handle further comprising a second input to selectively articulate the elongate shaft, wherein the handle further comprising a third input to selectively rotate the circular needle applier about the bearing, further comprising an elongate torsion member extending along the elongate shaft and through the joint, the elongate torsion member being operably connected to the third input such that actuation of the third input rotates the torsion member thereby rotating the circular needle applier at the bearing about the longitudinal axis.

8. The surgical suturing device of claim 7, further comprising a means to actuate the circular needle applier.