Universal laparoscopic suturing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9072480-B2
Application number	US-201313758454-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2013
Priority date	Aug 2, 2010
Publication date	Jul 7, 2015
Grant date	Jul 7, 2015

Abstract

A laparoscopic suturing device includes a handle and a shaft mounted to the handle. A toggle knob is adapted to rotate the shaft about its longitudinal axis. A pair of opposed jaws, each having a hollow structure, open and close relative to one another. A needle carrier and a needle holder are respectively slideably disposed in a lumen of a first and a second jaw. A needle has first and second pointed ends and is adapted to be press fit into the lumen of the first jaw with the first pointed end exposed and alternatively into the lumen of the second jaw with the second pointed end exposed. A spring-loaded pusher advances and retracts the needle carrier when the toggle knob is in a first position and advances and retracts the needle holder when in a second position. The tool assists a surgeon in suturing tissue captured between the jaws.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A laparoscopic suturing device, comprising:
a handle and an elongate shaft mounted to said handle;
a toggle knob secured to said elongate shaft so that said elongate shaft is rotatable conjointly with said toggle knob when said toggle knob is rotated about a longitudinal axis of said elongate shaft;
a pair of opposed jaws that open and close relative to one another;
each of said jaws having a hollow structure;
a needle carrier slideably disposed in a lumen of a first jaw;
a needle holder slideably disposed in a lumen of a second jaw;
a truncate needle having a first pointed end and a second pointed end;
said truncate needle adapted to be press fit into a distal end of the needle carrier when the needle carrier is in a retracted position in the lumen of the first jaw with said first pointed end exposed from the needle carrier and said truncate needle adapted to be press fit into a distal end of the needle holder when the needle holder is in a retracted position in the lumen of the second jaw with said second pointed end exposed from the needle holder;
a spring-loaded pusher cooperatively positioned relative to said handle;
said spring-loaded pusher adapted to advance said distal end of said needle carrier out of the lumen in the first jaw towards the second jaw and retract said distal end of said needle carrier back into the lumen of the first jaw when said toggle knob is in a first position;
said spring-loaded pusher adapted to advance said distal end of said needle holder out of the lumen in the second jaw towards the first jaw and retract said distal end of said needle holder back into the lumen of the second jaw when said toggle knob is in a second position; and
whereby the tool assists a surgeon in suturing tissue captured between said jaws.

2. A laparoscopic suturing device, comprising:
a needle having a first end longitudinally received by a needle carrier when a second end of said needle is not longitudinally received by a needle holder, wherein longitudinally received includes a longitudinal axis of the needle aligned with a longitudinal axis of the needle carrier or the needle holder;
said needle having the second end longitudinally received by said needle holder when said first end is not longitudinally received by said needle carrier, wherein longitudinally received includes a longitudinal axis of the needle aligned with a longitudinal axis of the needle carrier or the needle holder;
said needle holder securing said needle through a press fit when said needle holder is disposed in a lumen;
said needle carrier securing said needle through a press fit when said needle carrier is disposed in a lumen;
said needle carrier and said needle holder adapted to advance out of their respective lumens towards one another; and
said first end of said needle being pointed and said second end of said needle being pointed, a first point being exposed to a suture when said needle is secured by said needle carrier and a second point being exposed to said suture when said needle is secured by said needle holder.

3. The device of claim 2 , further comprising:
a sheath slideably mounted relative to a shaft;
first and second arms being forced toward one another when said sheath is displaced in a first direction;
said first and second arms formed of a flexible and resilient material and returning under an inherent bias to a position of repose when said shaft is displaced in a second direction that is opposite to said first direction.

4. The device of claim 3 , further comprising:
said shaft having a reduced diameter extent formed integrally therewith;
a key formed in said reduced diameter shaft near a distal end thereof;
said key being in a 12:00 position, with respect to a longitudinal axis of said shaft, when a toggle knob is in a first position;
said key being in a 6:00 position, with respect to a longitudinal axis of said shaft, when a toggle knob is in a second position;
a first control plunger having a keyway formed therein;
a second control plunger having a keyway formed therein;
said key engaging the keyway formed in said first control plunger when said toggle knob is in said first position and said key engaging the keyway formed in said second control plunger when said toggle knob is rotated into said second position;
said first control plunger being extended and refracted conjointly with extension and retraction of said shaft when said key is in said first position and said second control plunger being extended and retracted conjointly with extension and retraction of said shaft when said key is in said second position.

5. The device of claim 4 , further comprising:
a first elongate flexible wire secured at a proximal end thereof to a distal end of said first control plunger;
a second elongate flexible wire secured at a proximal end thereof to a distal end of said second control plunger;
a distal end of said first flexible wire being secured to said needle carrier; and
a distal end of said second flexible wire being secured to said needle holder.

6. The device of claim 5 , further comprising:
a spring positioned between an internal end of a pusher and a proximal end of said shaft;
said spring, when compressed, pushing said shaft in a proximal to distal direction, extending said shaft;
said spring, when decompressed, pulling said shaft in a distal to proximal direction, retracting said shaft;
said pushing and pulling of said shaft, when said toggle knob is in said first position, respectively extending and retracting said first control plunger and hence said needle carrier by means of said first elongate flexible wire; and
said pushing and pulling of said shaft, when said toggle knob is in said second position, respectively extending and retracting said second control plunger and hence said needle holder by means of said second elongate flexible wire.

7. The device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a first flexible and resilient sleeve positioned in a lumen of said needle carrier at the distal end of said needle carrier;
a second flexible and resilient sleeve positioned in a lumen of said needle holder at the distal end of said needle holder;
said needle being enlarged mid-length thereof;
said enlarged middle being press fit into the lumen of said sleeve;
said press fit being overcome so that said needle can extend from said needle carrier when said pusher is displaced until said needle reaches the sleeve positioned in the lumen of said needle holder where it is maintained when said needle carrier is retracted; and
said needle being delivered from said needle holder to said needle carrier when said press fit is overcome so that said needle can extend from said needle holder when said pusher is displaced until said needle reaches the sleeve positioned in the lumen of said needle carrier where it is maintained when said needle holder is retracted.

Assignees

• Univ South Florida

Inventors

• Hart Stuart
• Onal Sinan
• Lai-Yuen Susana K

Classifications

• 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

• A61B2017/00367

  Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like · CPC title

• A61B1/00066

  Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles (A61B1/0052 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B1/3132 Primary

  for laparoscopy · CPC title

• A61B17/0469 Primary

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