Endoscopic stitching devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021169468-A1
Application number	US-202117177563-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 17, 2021
Priority date	Jun 13, 2008
Publication date	Jun 10, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to devices, systems and methods for endoscopic suturing or stitching through an access tube or the like. An endoscopic stitching device is provided and includes a handle assembly; an elongate shaft supported by and extending from the handle assembly; and an end effector supported on a distal end of the elongate shaft. The end effector includes a neck assembly configured and adapted for articulation in one direction between a substantially linear configuration and an off-axis configuration, and a pair of juxtaposed jaws pivotally associated with one another. Each jaw defines a suture needle receiving recess formed in a tissue contacting surface thereof.

First claim

1 . (canceled)

2 . An end effector for use with an endoscopic stitching device comprising:
a pair of jaws, each jaw of the pair of jaws defining a suture needle receiving recess formed in a tissue contacting surface thereof; and a neck assembly configured for articulation in one direction between a substantially linear configuration and an off-axis configuration, the neck assembly including:
a plurality of links in pivotable contact with one another, each link of the plurality of links including:
a knuckle formed on a first side thereof; and
a clevis formed on a second side thereof, the knuckle of a link of the plurality of links being operatively connected to the clevis of an adjacent link; and

at least one stiffener plate extending through at least a pair of operatively connected links of the plurality of links, the at least one stiffener plate including proximal and distal ends, wherein of the proximal and distal ends of the at least one stiffener plate only the distal end is axially fixed.

3 . The end effector according to claim 2 , wherein the end effector is articulatable in a direction out of a plane defined by the at least one stiffener plate.

4 . The end effector according to claim 2 , wherein the knuckles and devises are configured to enable articulation of the neck assembly in a single plane.

5 . The end effector according to claim 2 , wherein the knuckles and devises are configured to at least partially overlap one another when the neck assembly is in one of the substantially linear configuration or the off-axis configuration.

6 . An end effector for use with an endoscopic stitching device comprising:
a pair of jaws pivotally associated with one another; a neck assembly configured for articulation in one direction between a substantially linear configuration and an off-axis configuration; and a stiffener plate disposed in the neck assembly and axially extending therein, the stiffener plate including a proximal end and a distal end, wherein of the proximal and distal ends of the stiffener plate only the distal end of the stiffener plate is axially fixed, wherein the stiffener plate inhibits canting of the end effector in a direction orthogonal to the one direction of articulation of the end effector.

7 . The end effector according to claim 6 , wherein the stiffener plate defines a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the direction of articulation of the end effector.

8 . The end effector according to claim 7 , wherein the stiffener plate is substantially flat and is bendable in a first direction.

9 . The end effector according to claim 7 , wherein the end effector is articulatable in a direction out of the plane defined by the stiffener plate.

10 . The end effector according to claim 7 , wherein the stiffener plate restricts articulation of the end effector in the plane defined by the stiffener plate.

11 . The end effector according to claim 7 , wherein the distal end of the stiffener plate includes at least a pair of spaced apart tines secured to the neck assembly.

12 . The end effector according to claim 7 , wherein the neck assembly further includes a plurality of links in pivotable contact with one another, wherein each link defines a stiffener plate receiving slot for receiving the stiffener plate therethrough.

13 . The end effector according to claim 12 , wherein the stiffener plate extends through the stiffener plate receiving slot of at least one link of the plurality of links.

14 . The end effector according to claim 12 , wherein the stiffener plate extends through the stiffener plate receiving slots of the entire plurality of links.

15 . The end effector according to claim 7 , wherein the stiffener plate is made of resilient material.

16 . An end effector of an endoscopic stitching device comprising:
a tool assembly; a neck assembly coupled to the tool assembly and configured for articulation in one direction between a substantially linear configuration and an off-axis configuration; and a pair of spaced apart stiffener plates axially extending in the neck assembly, wherein each stiffener plate of the pair of spaced apart stiffener plates defines a plane and includes a proximal end and a distal end, wherein of the proximal and distal ends of the respective spaced apart stiffener plates only the distal ends of the respective spaced apart stiffener plates are axially fixed.

17 . The end effector according to claim 16 , wherein the plane defined by each stiffener plate of the pair of spaced apart stiffener plates is substantially orthogonal to the one direction of articulation.

18 . The end effector according to claim 17 , wherein each stiffener plate of the pair of spaced apart stiffener plates is substantially flat and is bendable in one direction.

19 . The end effector according to claim 16 , wherein the end effector is articulatable in a direction out of the plane defined by a respective one of the pair of spaced apart stiffener plates.

20 . The end effector according to claim 16 , wherein the tool assembly defines suture needle receiving recess formed in a tissue contacting surface.

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Cabrera Ramiro
• Wingardner Thomas
• Fowler David N
• Creston Brian J
• Menn Dmitri
• Richard Paul D
• Stellon Gene

Classifications

• A61B1/00087

  Tools (A61B17/00234 takes precedence) · 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

• A61B2017/2905

  flexible · CPC title

• A61B17/0491

  Sewing machines for surgery · CPC title

• A61B2017/0609

  having sharp tips at both ends, e.g. shuttle needle alternately retained and released by first and second facing jaws of a suturing instrument · CPC title