# US 2017/0319196 A1 · Apparatus and method for minimally invasive suturing

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- Number: US 2017/0319196 A1
- Document ID: US20170319196A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/640,452
- Filed: 2017-06-30
- Published: 2017-11-09
- Earliest claimed: 2004-09-20
- Assignees: EndoEvolution, LLC
- Applicants: Endoevolution, LLC
- Inventors: John C. Meade; Jerry R. Griffiths; Francis J. DiFrancesco; Richard Clark
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170319196A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/0469: {Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery}
- A61B 17/0482: {Needle or suture guides (guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; guides for puncturing needles A61B17/3403)}
- A61B 17/0491: {Sewing machines for surgery}
- A61B 17/06066: {Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations}
- A61B 17/0625: {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)}
- A61B 17/29: Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
- A61B 17/34: Trocars; Puncturing needles
- A61B 34/30: Surgical robots
- A61B 34/71: {Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms}
- A61B 2017/0023: {disposable}
- A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids}
- A61B 2017/00407: {Ratchet means}
- A61B 2017/00473: {Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/047: {having at least one proximally pointing needle located at the distal end of the instrument, e.g. for suturing trocar puncture wounds starting from inside the body}
- A61B 2017/0474: {Knot pushers}
- A61B 2017/06028: {by means of a cylindrical longitudinal blind bore machined at the suture-receiving end of the needle, e.g. opposite to needle tip}
- A61B 2017/0608: {J-shaped}
- A61B 2017/06085: {having a blunt tip}
- A61B 2017/2923: {Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion}
- A61B 2017/2927: {the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft}
- A61B 2017/2943: {Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion}
- A61B 2217/007: with irrigation system
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An apparatus and method for minimally invasive suturing is disclosed. A suturing device for minimally invasive suturing includes proximal section having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween; a suture head assembly extending from the distal end of the proximal section; a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end, the suturing needle capable of rotating about an axis approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the proximal section, wherein the pointed end of the suturing needle is positioned within the suture head assembly prior to and after rotation of the suturing needle; and an actuator extending from the proximal end of the proximal section to actuate a drive mechanism having a needle driver for engaging and rotating the suturing needle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A suturing device comprising a proximal end, an intermediate region and a distal end including:
a) an arced suturing needle;
b) a suturing head disposed proximate the distal end of the device, the suturing head being configured to support the arced suturing needle disposed therein, the suturing needle having a curved body, the curved body covering an arc greater than about 180°, wherein the suturing needle is disposed in and adapted and configured to be advanced along a curved needle track about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by the suturing device, the curved needle track being circular in shape and being defined by a first needle track end and a second needle track end separated by a tissue accommodation gap, wherein the tissue accommodation gap includes a center of the area within the circular arc of the needle that is substantially unobstructed to facilitate accommodating tissue to be sutured within the tissue capture gap; and
c) a reciprocating needle advancement drive spanning from the suturing head to the proximal end of the device and past the intermediate region of the device, the reciprocating needle advancement drive being substantially disposed at a location outside an inner radius of the body of the needle to permit tissue to be sutured to be accommodated within the tissue accommodation gap, wherein a carrier including a pawl for engaging the needle of the reciprocating needle advancement drive: i) engages a first portion of the needle in a first location in the suturing head at the beginning of a first drive stroke, ii) moves the first portion of the needle along the needle track to a second location in the suturing head while crossing an axial centerline of the device, iii) disengages the first portion of the needle at the second location, and iv) returns to the first location, wherein the carrier and pawl cross the axial centerline of the device a second time during step (iv).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The suturing device of claim 1, wherein the needle advancement drive is adapted to advance the needle through a 360° rotation about the axis of rotation in two 180° drive strokes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The suturing device of claim 1, wherein the suturing head is configured to be introduced through a cannula.