Devices and methods for minimally invasive suturing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9962151-B2
Application number	US-201715610277-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2017
Priority date	Oct 1, 2010
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

Devices and methods for minimally invasive suturing are disclosed. One suturing device for minimally invasive suturing includes a proximal section a distal end, and an intermediate region therebetween. The device includes a suture head assembly having a suturing needle with a pointed end and a second end. The suturing needle is capable of rotating about an axis approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the device, wherein the pointed end of the suturing needle is positioned within the suture head assembly prior to deployment of guides that are adapted and configured to guide the needle around a circular path when advanced by a drive mechanism having a needle driver for engaging and rotating the suturing needle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A needle loader for loading a surgical suturing device, comprising:
(a) a body defining a first channel extending along a first longitudinal axis, the first channel being configured to receive and at least partially surround a suturing head portion of a surgical suturing device along the first longitudinal axis, the surgical suturing device defining an arcuate needle track in the suturing head portion;
(b) an arcuate suturing needle releasably secured within the body; and
(c) an actuator that is mechanically separate and distinct from a needle drive of the surgical suturing device, the needle drive being a component of the surgical suturing device that advances said arcuate suturing needle after said arcuate suturing needle is loaded into said suturing head portion of said suturing device, said actuator of said needle loader movably disposed at least partially within a second channel defined in the body, the actuator being configured to move along a direction of travel from a first position to a second position, wherein movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position moves the arcuate suturing needle from the body of the needle loader into the arcuate needle track of the suturing head portion of the surgical suturing device.

2. The needle loader of claim 1 , wherein the arcuate suturing needle includes suturing material attached to a trailing end thereof.

3. The needle loader of claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a handle attached to an advancement arm, wherein the advancement arm contacts a trailing end of the arcuate suturing needle to push the trailing end of the suturing needle into the arcuate needle track of the suturing head portion of the surgical suturing device.

4. The needle loader of claim 3 , wherein the advancement arm rotates about an axis when pushing the trailing end of the suturing needle into the arcuate needle track of the suturing head portion of the surgical suturing device.

5. The needle loader of claim 1 , wherein the body defines a needle track therein for supporting the arcuate suturing needle.

6. The needle loader of claim 1 , wherein the body is configured and arranged to surround a distal end of the surgical suturing device.

Assignees

• Endoevolution Llc

Inventors

• Brecher Gerald I
• Meade John C
• Aho John
• Baske Roger
• Bleck James H
• Carlson John F
• Eagan Thomas
• Helander Michael J
• Murray James W
• Perkins Ashley
• Shakal Wayne A
• Towle Jonathan

Classifications

• 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

• A61B17/06066

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

• A61B2017/00407

  Ratchet means · CPC title

• A61B17/0482 Primary

  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