Wound closure apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A wound closure apparatus for suturing a wound in a body wall, comprising:
- a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end;
a handle disposed at the proximal end of the cannula;
a catheter coupled to the distal end of the cannula, the catheter being sized and configured to extend through the wound in the body wall;
a pair of needles movable from a proximal position in proximity to the cannula to a distal position in proximity to the catheter, each of the needles having a proximal end and a distal end;
a suture having a first end, a second end, and a suture loop disposed between the first and second ends;
a suture manipulator in the catheter for containing the suture ends and moving the suture ends relative to the needles;
an actuator mounted for reciprocation in cannula, the actuator includingfirst means for cooperating with the needles to move the needles from the proximal position to the distal position, andsecond means for cooperating with the suture manipulator to move the suture ends into threading engagement with the needles.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for suturing a wound in a body cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end. A handle is disposed at the proximal end and a pair of needles disposed at the distal end, the needles being movable between a proximal position and a distal position. A suture manipulator carried by the cannula is insertable through the wound and operable to manipulate the suture into an engaging relationship with the needles on the far side of the body wall. In one embodiment of the invention, a finger ring is movable on the handle in a single distal direction through multiple stages. In a first stage the needles are deployed; in a second stage, the suture manipulator is activated to thread the needles; and in a third stage the suture is released from a tensioning mechanism. In another embodiment, the finger ring is movable in a distal direction to deploy and thread the needles, and movable in a proximal direction to tension the suture and withdraw the needles. In an associated method the needles are threaded on the far side of the body wall and withdrawn from the wound providing access to the suture ends on the near side of the body wall. Tying the suture ends closes the wound.
219 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A wound closure apparatus for suturing a wound in a body wall, comprising:
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a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end; a handle disposed at the proximal end of the cannula; a catheter coupled to the distal end of the cannula, the catheter being sized and configured to extend through the wound in the body wall; a pair of needles movable from a proximal position in proximity to the cannula to a distal position in proximity to the catheter, each of the needles having a proximal end and a distal end; a suture having a first end, a second end, and a suture loop disposed between the first and second ends; a suture manipulator in the catheter for containing the suture ends and moving the suture ends relative to the needles; an actuator mounted for reciprocation in cannula, the actuator including first means for cooperating with the needles to move the needles from the proximal position to the distal position, and second means for cooperating with the suture manipulator to move the suture ends into threading engagement with the needles. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A wound closure apparatus for suturing a wound in body wall, comprising:
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a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end; a handle disposed at the proximal end of the cannula; a catheter coupled to the distal of the cannula, the catheter being sized and configured to extend through the wound in the body wall; a pair of needles mounted for reciprocation within the cannula; a needle deployment mechanism in the cannula for controlling movement of the needles between a proximal position in the cannula and a distal position in proximity to the catheter, each of the needles having a proximal end and a distal end; a suture having a first end, a second end, and a suture loop disposed between the first and second ends; a suture manipulator in the catheter for containing the suture ends and moving the suture ends relative to the needles, a suture tensioning mechanism for releasably supporting the suture loop and preventing slackening of the suture; and an actuation means mounted in the cannula and cooperating with the suture manipulator, the needle deployment mechanism and the suture tensioning mechanism to control deployment, threading, and,retraction of the needle, and to maintain sufficient tension on the suture as the needles are being deployed, threaded, and withdrawn. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification