Placing multiple sutures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9549728-B2
Application number	US-201414248999-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2014
Priority date	Oct 13, 2006
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

A suturing instrument for placing multiple sutures include an elongate body engaged to a handle. A suturing head extends from a distal end of the elongate body, and the suturing head is articulable relative to the elongate body. Both a first needle carrier and a second needle carrier are movable into and out of the suturing head. A first actuator allows controlled movement of the first needle carrier, and this first actuator extends from a proximal end of the handle. A second actuator allows controlled movement of the second needle carrier, and this second actuator also extends from the proximal end of the handle. The suturing head can be articulated within a range of about 0 degrees to about 30 degrees, as measured from a longitudinal axis running along the length of the elongate body, and this variable articulation angle of the head allows deployment of the first needle carrier and the second needle carrier at various orientations with respect to the longitudinal axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A suturing instrument, comprising:
an elongate body member including a handle at a proximal portion, the elongate body member having a longitudinal axis;
a cartridge slidably coupled to the elongate body member, the cartridge including a needle carrier, at least one needle slot, and a needle catch defining at least one slot;
a needle selection mechanism that aligns the needle carrier and the needle slot by rotating the elongate body member about the longitudinal axis relative to the cartridge; and
an actuator for coupling the needle carrier to a needle to transport the needle to the needle catch.

2. The suturing instrument of claim 1 wherein the needle selection mechanism comprises a plurality of detents disposed around the elongate body member, the plurality of detents engaging the cartridge.

3. The suturing instrument of claim 1 further comprising three detents around the elongate body member, each detent aligning the needle carrier and one of a plurality of needles.

4. The suturing instrument of claim 1 wherein the elongate body member rotates clockwise or counter-clockwise about the longitudinal axis within the cartridge.

5. The suturing instrument of claim 1 wherein the needle catch is disposed proximally from the at least one needle slot, and the needle carrier engages the needle in the needle slot to transport the needle from the needle slot to the needle catch.

6. The suturing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body member includes an elongated body hole, and the actuator defines a slot, wherein a pin or screw is disposed in the elongated body hole and the slot of the actuator to limit a stroke length of the actuator.

7. A suturing instrument, comprising:
an elongate body member including a handle at a proximal portion, the elongate body member having a longitudinal axis, the elongate body member defining a plurality of detents around a surface of the elongate body member;
a cartridge slidably coupled to the elongate body member, the cartridge including a needle carrier, a plurality of needle slots, and a needle catch defining a plurality of slots, the elongate body member having a portion that is disposed within the cartridge, the portion of the elongate body cartridge being configured to rotate within the cartridge about the longitudinal axis of the elongate body member,
wherein each detent of the plurality of detents is configured to engage with the cartridge such that each detent aligns the needle carrier to a different needle slot of the plurality of needle slots; and
an actuator for coupling the needle carrier to a needle to transport the needle to the needle catch.

8. The suturing instrument of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of needle slots includes a first needle slot, a second needle slot, and a third needle slot, and the plurality of detents includes a first detent, a second detent, and a third detent, wherein the elongate body member is configured to be rotated such that the cartridge engages with the first detent causing the needle carrier to be aligned with the first needle slot.

9. The suturing instrument of claim 8 , wherein the elongate body member is configured to be rotated such that the cartridge engages with the second detent causing the needle carrier to be aligned with the second needle slot.

10. The suturing instrument of claim 9 , wherein the elongate body member is configured to rotated such that the cartridge engages with the third detent causing the needle carrier to be aligned with the third needle slot.

11. The suturing instrument of claim 7 , wherein the elongate body member rotates clockwise or counter-clockwise about the longitudinal axis within the cartridge.

12. The suturing instrument of claim 7 , wherein the needle catch is disposed proximally from the plurality of needle slots.

Assignees

• Boston Scient Scimed Inc

Inventors

• Chu Michael S H

Classifications

• A61B2017/0472

  Multiple-needled, e.g. double-needled, instruments · CPC title

• A61B17/0482

  Needle or suture guides (guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; guides for puncturing needles A61B17/3403) · CPC title

• A61B2017/2927

  the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft · 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

• A61B17/0469 Primary

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