Parallel channel fixation, repair and ligation suture device

A laparoscopic fixation, repair and ligation suture device adapted for fixing an organ to the inside of a body cavity wall comprising:

• an elongated handle having a first length, a distal end, a proximal end, a central suture receiving passageway extending along the entire length of said handle and having a first diameter slightly larger than a diameter of a suture line, a first channel extending along the entire length of said handle on one side of said passageway, generally parallel to said central passageway for slidably receiving a nesting tube therein;
• a suture line extending through the entire length of said passageway and having a length greater than at least twice the length of said handle, a proximal end of said suture line extending beyond the proximal end of said handle and having a suture line pull attached thereto, said suture line pull having a diameter greater than the diameter of said central passageway, a distal end of said suture line extending beyond the distal end of said handle and having a rigid and generally straight suture needle attached thereto, said needle having a diameter;
• and
• a nesting tube slidably received in said first channel and having a length greater than the length of said handle so that said nesting tube is extendable beyond said distal end of said handle, said nesting tube having an internal diameter generally equal to the diameter of said rigid needle, said nesting tube further having an opening at the distal end thereof for frictionally grasping said rigid needle when said needle is inserted therein through said distal end opening, said nesting tube further having a pull on a proximal end thereof so that by pulling in a proximal direction end thereof so that by pulling in a proximal direction on said nesting tube pull when said rigid needle is grasped inside the distal end of said tube, said rigid needle can be drawn through said first channel and out the proximal end of said handle so that a portion of said suture line adjacent to said needle may be grasped outside the body.

A laparoscopic fixation, repair and ligation suture device adapted to ligate vessels and ducts comprising:

• an elongated handle having a first length, a distal end, a proximal end, a central suture receiving passageway extending along the entire length of said handle and having a diameter slightly larger than a diameter of a suture line, a first channel for slidably receiving a ligation assist device, said first channel extending along the entire length of said handle on one side of said passageway, generally parallel to said central passageway, said handle further having a second channel for slidably receiving a carrier device, said second channel extending along the entire length of said handle, generally parallel to said central passageway and spaced oppositely from said first channel;
• a suture line extending entirely through said central passageway and having a length greater than the length of said handle, a proximal end of said suture line extending beyond the proximal end of said handle and having a suture line pull attached thereto, said suture line pull having a diameter greater than the diameter of said central passageway, a distal end of said suture line extending beyond the distal end of said handle and having a suture line tab attached thereto, said suture line tab having a diameter greater than the diameter of said carrier device;
• a loop with a slip knot formed on said suture line at a point distally spaced from the distal end of said handle, said slip know having a diameter larger than the diameter of said central passageway to prevent said loop from entering said passageway, a distal portion of said suture line distally extending beyond said slip knot;
• a ligation assist device slidably received in said first channel, said ligation assist device having a length greater than the length of said handle, a distal end of said ligation assist device extendable beyond the distal end of said handle and having means for grasping said suture line tab;
• and
• a carrier device slidably received in said second channel, said carrier device having a length greater than the length of said handle, a distal end of said carrier device extendable beyond the distal end of said handle, and forming a curved generally U-shaped portion said curved U-shaped portion having a distal end, a curvature diameter equal to the spacing between said first and second channels, and receiving means to receive said distal portion of said suture line such that, when said suture line distal extension portion is held by said receiving means, said suture line tab is axially aligned with said first channel and capable of being directly grasped by said grasping means of said ligation assist device when said ligation assist device is distally extended through said first channel.