Suturing apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10973511-B2
Application number	US-201816035400-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2018
Priority date	Oct 1, 2001
Publication date	Apr 13, 2021
Grant date	Apr 13, 2021

Abstract

A suturing apparatus comprises a pair of jaws. A bendable needle housed in one of the jaws is adapted to carry a suture. A suture receiver is disposed adjacent to, or integral with, the opposite jaw to help disengage the suture carried by the bendable needle. A transition block curves the needle and directs it in a direction generally unparallel to an axis of the carrying jaw. The jaw housing the needle may include a lateral opening through which the suture may be inserted. The needle may also include a lateral notch which may be aligned with lateral opening to receive the suture. An actuator coupled to the needle enables the user to move the needle proximally to align the notch with the lateral slot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A suturing apparatus, comprising:
a first jaw defining an ingress;
a second jaw movable with respect to the first jaw;
a bendable needle carried by the first jaw and movable between a proximal position and a distal position, the needle defining a needle slot that aligns with the ingress to enable loading of a suture through the ingress into the needle slot; and
wherein the second jaw further comprises an integral suture receiver, the suture receiver comprising a flap in the second jaw, wherein the flap is removable from the second jaw.

2. A suturing apparatus, comprising:
a first jaw and a second jaw movable with respect to each other;
a bendable needle carried by the first jaw and adapted to carry a suture, the needle being movable between a first position wherein the needle is substantially housed within the first jaw and a second position wherein a distal portion of the needle protrudes from the first jaw;
means for securing the suture in place prior to being carried by the bendable needle; and
a suture receiver disposed adjacent to the second jaw and configured to disengage the suture carried by the bendable needle, the suture receiver comprising a flap in the second jaw, wherein the flap is removable from the second jaw.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the suture receiver comprises a flap elastically deformable by the needle as it moves to the second position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the flap disengages the suture carried by the bendable needle by returning to its non-deformed state as the needle is moved back to its first position.

5. A suturing apparatus, comprising:
a first jaw defining an ingress;
a second jaw movable with respect to the first jaw;
a bendable needle carried by the first jaw and movable between a proximal position and a distal position, the needle defining a needle slot that aligns with the ingress to enable loading of a suture through the ingress into the needle slot; and
a suture receiver disposed adjacent to the second jaw, the suture receiver comprising a flap, wherein the flap is removable.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the flap is elastic.

Assignees

• Medos Int Sarl

Inventors

• Topper Brad
• Weisel Thomas
• Benson J Terry
• Bannerman Brett

Classifications

• A61B17/0469 Primary

  Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery · CPC title

• A61B17/06066 Primary

  Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations · CPC title

• A61B17/0483

  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 title

• A61B2017/06042

  located close to needle tip · CPC title

• A61B17/0625

  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 title