Circular needle applier with articulating and rotating shaft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9357998-B2
Application number	US-201313832595-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	Dec 13, 2012
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
• Ethicon Endo Surgery Llc

Inventors

• Martin David T
• Haberstich Wells D
• Zeiner Mark S
• Woodard Jr James A

Classifications

• A61B17/06133 Primary

  of parallelepipedal shape, e.g. made of rectangular or slightly oval panels · 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

• A61B17/0469 Primary

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

• A61B2017/00473

  Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence) · CPC title