Flexible endoscopic knot tying apparatus

An endoscope apparatus comprising:

• a flexible tube having a narrow elongate length with opposite proximal and distal ends;
• a flexible suture holder having a narrow elongate length with opposite proximal and distal ends, the suture holder being mounted inside the tube for flexing movement of the suture holder with flexing movement of the tube, and for movement of the suture holder along the tube length between first and second positions of the suture holder relative to the tube where in the first position of the suture holder the suture holder distal end is adjacent the tube distal end and in the second position of the suture holder the suture holder distal end is extended a distance out from the tube distal end;
• and,
• a flexible grasper having a narrow elongate length with opposite proximal and distal ends, the grasper being mounted inside the tube for flexing movement of the grasper with flexing movement of the tube, and for movement of the grasper along the tube length between first and second positions of the grasper relative to the tube where in the first position of the grasper the grasper distal end is positioned adjacent the tube distal end and in the second position of the grasper the grasper distal end is extended a distance out from the tube distal end.

An endoscope apparatus comprising:

• a flexible tube having a length with opposite proximal and distal ends;
• a first interior bore extending through the length of the tube;
• a second interior bore extending through the length of the tube, the second interior bore being separated from the first interior bore;
• a third interior bore extending through the length of the tube, the third interior bore being separated from the first and second interior bores;
• a flexible suture holder having a length with opposite proximal and distal ends, the length of the suture holder being mounted in the tube second interior bore for flexing movement of the suture holder with flexing movement of the tube and for reciprocating movement of the suture holder through the tube second interior bore between first and second positions of the suture holder relative to the tube where in the first position the suture holder distal end is positioned adjacent the tube distal end and in the second position the suture holder distal end is positioned at a spaced distance from the tube distal end;
• a length of suture having opposite proximal and distal ends, the suture distal end being removably held by the suture holder distal end;
• and,
• a flexible grasper having a length with opposite proximal and distal ends, the length of the grasper being mounted in the tube third interior bore for flexing movement of the grasper with flexing movement of the tube and for reciprocating movement of the grasper through the tube third interior bore between first and second positions of the grasper relative to the tube where in the first position the grasper distal end is positioned adjacent the tube distal end and in the second position the grasper distal end is positioned at a spaced distance from the tube distal end;
• a distal end portion of the suture holder having a bent configuration that bends into a curve as the suture holder is moved from the first position to the second position of the suture holder relative to the tube, the bent configuration of the suture holder distal end portion positioning the suture holder distal end in alignment with the grasper distal end with the grasper in the second position, whereby the grasper distal end in the second position of the grasper is operative to grasp the suture held by the suture holder distal end in the second position of the suture holder and remove the suture from the suture holder.