# US 2019/0167255 A1 · Suturing device having adjustable distal end > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167255 A1 - Document ID: US20190167255A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/832,917 - Filed: 2017-12-06 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-06 - Assignees: Dura Tap LLC - Applicants: Dura Tap LLC - Inventors: David Greg Anderson; Mark F. Kurd; Jay Tapper; Jens Johnson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167255A1 ## 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 17/06061: {Holders for needles or sutures, e.g. racks, stands (hand-held holding instruments A61B17/0483; holders for articles A61B50/20; racks for syringes or for hypodermic or infusion needles A61M5/008)} - A61B 2017/003: {Steerable} - A61B 2017/00323: {Cables or rods} - A61B 2017/00991: {Telescopic means} - A61B 2017/06042: {located close to needle tip} - A61B 2017/06095: {pliable} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A suturing device includes an elongate body, a needle, an actuator, and a needle holder. The actuator interacts with the elongate body and is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The actuator is configured such that movement of the actuator from the first operating position toward the second operating position moves the needle in an advance direction. The needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The needle holder defines a needle passage and a distal opening. The needle is positioned in the needle passage when the actuator is in the first operating position. The needle holder is configured to move with respect to the elongate body to change the location of the distal opening with respect to the elongate body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A suturing device comprising: an elongate body including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; an actuator interacting with the elongate body and operable between a first operating position and a second operating position; and a needle holder extending away from the distal end portion or provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body, the needle holder defining a needle passage and a distal opening, wherein the needle holder is configured to move with respect to the elongate body to change the location of the distal opening with respect to the elongate body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The suturing device of claim 1, further comprising a distal opening positioning mechanism operatively connected with the needle holder, the distal opening positioning mechanism being operable in different operating states to move the distal opening with respect to the elongate body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The suturing device of claim 2, wherein the distal opening positioning mechanism includes a movable element connected with and movable with respect to the elongate body and also connected with the needle holder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The suturing device of claim 3, wherein the movable element is a sleeve positioned adjacent the needle holder or the distal opening when the distal opening positioning mechanism is in a first operating state prior to moving the distal opening with respect to the elongate body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The suturing device of claim 4, wherein the sleeve fully surrounds the elongate body along at least a portion of elongate member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The suturing device of claim 4, wherein the distal opening positioning mechanism includes a manipulatable element provided on the sleeve and configured to be manipulated by a human hand to move the sleeve with respect to the elongate body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The suturing device of claim 6, wherein the manipulatable element is a flange extending outwardly from the sleeve located at or adjacent a proximal end of the sleeve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The suturing device of claim 3, wherein the distal opening positioning mechanism includes a manipulatable element operatively connected with the movable element and configured to be manipulated by a human hand to move the movable element with respect to the elongate body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The suturing device of claim 3, wherein the movable element is a sleeve at least partially surrounding the needle holder having a sleeve distal end positioned adjacent the distal opening when the distal opening positioning mechanism is in a first operating state prior to moving the distal opening with respect to the elongate body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The suturing device of claim 9, wherein the needle holder is made from a shape memory material that returns to a pre-deformed shape after a force has been removed and the sleeve provides the force on the needle holder such that the needle holder takes a deformed shape when the distal opening positioning mechanism is in the first operating state. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The suturing device of claim 3, wherein the movable element is a sleeve at least partially surrounding the elongate body having a sleeve distal end portion positioned adjacent the needle holder when the distal opening positioning mechanism is in a first operating state prior to moving the distal opening with respect to the elongate body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The suturing device of claim 11, wherein the distal opening positioning mechanism includes a linkage mount fixed to a distal end portion of the sleeve for movement therewith; and a linkage pivotally connected with the linkage mount and pivotally connected with the needle holder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The suturing device of claim 12, wherein the linkage fixed to the distal end portion of the sleeve is a first linkage mount, and the distal opening positioning mechanism includes a second linkage mount provided on or connected with the needle holder adjacent a proximal end section of the needle holder. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The suturing device of claim 13, wherein the needle holder is pivotally connected with the elongate body such that changing from the first operating state to a second operating state of the distal opening positioning mechanism results in pivotal movement of the needle holder with respect to the elongate body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The suturing device of claim 14, wherein the linkage fixed to the distal end portion of the sleeve is a first linkage mount, and the distal opening positioning mechanism includes a second linkage mount provided on or connected with the needle holder adjacent the distal end opening of the needle holder. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The suturing device of claim 15, wherein the needle holder includes a distal section having the distal opening and a proximal section adjacent to the elongate body, wherein the distal section is received inside the proximal section when the distal opening positioning mechanism is in the first operating state and the distal section is not received inside the proximal section when the distal opening positioning mechanism is in a second operating state resulting from movement of the sleeve with respect to the elongate body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The suturing device of claim 16, wherein the needle holder includes a medial section positioned between the distal section and the proximal section, wherein the medial section is received inside the proximal section and the distal section is received inside the medial section when the distal opening positioning mechanism is in the first operating state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The suturing device of claim 2, wherein the needle holder is ball-shaped. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The suturing device of claim 18, wherein the distal opening positioning mechanism includes a movable element connected with and movable with respect to the elongate body and contacting the needle holder. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The suturing device of claim 19, wherein the movable element is a sleeve positioned adjacent the needle holder when the distal opening positioning mechanism is in a first operating state prior to moving the distal opening with respect to the elongate body. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The suturing device of claim 20, wherein the sleeve is rotatable around and with respect to the elongate body. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The suturing device of claim 21, wherein the needle holder is rotatable with respect to the elongate body. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The suturing device of claim 22, wherein the needle holder is pivotable with respect to the elongate member about at least two perpendicular axes. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The suturing device of claim 1, wherein the needle holder includes a distal section having the distal opening, a proximal section adjacent the elongate body and a medial section positioned between the distal section and the proximal section, each section including a cam surface cooperating with an adjacent section such that rotation of one of the sections with respect to an adjacent section results in rotation of the adjacent section with respect to the section being rotated. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The suturing device of claim 1, further comprising a needle including a first end, which is pointed, and a second end, which is opposite the first end, and a suture connected with the needle, wherein the actuator is configured such that movement of the actuator from the first operating position toward the second operating position moves the needle in an advance direction, wherein the needle is positioned in the needle passage when the actuator is in the first operating position and the needle passes through the distal opening when moving in the advance direction.