Suturing instrument with thread management
AssigneeSuturTek Incorporated
InventorsJohn C. Meade, Gerald I. Brecher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A suturing instrument for suturing tissue comprises an elongated housing having opposite ends. A curved suturing needle having a pointed end and a second end to which a suture is attached and supported at one end of the housing for rotational motion about an axis. A driver mechanism in the housing rotates said needle about said axis through successive revolutions, and a suture tensioner in the housing applies tension to the suture to draw the suture toward the other end of said housing following each revolution of said needle. In its operation, the instrument thus emulates the actions of a surgeon suturing manually.
Claims29
A suturing instrument comprising
- a needle/suture cartridge, said cartridge including
- support means having opposite ends and an axis extending between them;
- a curved suturing needle having a pointed end and a second end;
- a suture having one end attached to said needle second end;
- track means at one end of said support means for supporting said needle for rotational motion about said axis, and
- actuator means for releasably holding the other end of said support means, said actuator means including rotary means releasably engaging and rotary said needle through successive revolutions about said axis in a direction to advance the pointed end of said needle.
A suturing instrument for suturing tissue comprising
- an elongated housing having opposite ends;
- a curved suturing needle having a pointed end and a second end;
- a suture having one end attached to said needle second end;
- support means at one end of the housing for supporting said needle for rotational motion about an axis;
- means in said housing for rotating said needle about said axis through successive revolutions, and
- tensioning means in said housing for engaging and drawing said suture toward the other end of said housing following each revolution of said needle.
A suturing instrument comprising a needle/suture cartridge, said cartridge including
- support means having opposite ends and an axis extending between them;
- a curved suturing needle having a pointed end and a second end;
- a suture having one end attached to said needle second end, and
- track means at one end of said support means for supporting said needle for rotational motion about said axis through successive revolutions.
A suturing instrument for suturing tissue comprising
- an elongated housing having opposite ends;
- a curved suturing needle having a pointed end and a second end;
- a suture having one end attached to the needle second end;
- means defining a circular track at one end of the housing for supporting said needle for rotational motion about the track axis, and
- means in said housing for advancing said needle along said track through at least one revolution about said axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.