Suturing instrument

For use with a surgical instrument and a suture having a first end portion, a second end portion, and at least one loop formed in advance at an intermediate portion between the first and second end portions so as to have a predetermined size and be suitable for application to a body tissue, a suture ligature instrument for forming a suitable knot in a piece of the suture within a body cavity with the surgical instrument, the suture ligature instrument comprising:

• holding means for holding the at least one loop of the suture so as to substantially maintain a size of the at least one loop, said holding means having fastening means for fastening at least one portion of the sutures;
• fixing means for fixing said holding means at a distal end portion of the surgical instrument so that when the surgical instrument is inserted into a body cavity, the holding means is inserted into the body cavity together with the at least one formed loop held by said holding means;
• and
• guide means for guiding the at least one loop onto a circumferential portion of the surgical instrument so that said distal end portion of the surgical instrument extends through the at least one loop;
• wherein said holding means includes a substantially cylindrical body arranged to surround the circumferential portion of the surgical instrument, said body having a first end portion arranged at a distal end of the surgical instrument, a second end portion arranged at an operating portion of the surgical instrument, an inner circumferential portion, and an outer circumferential portion, and at least one of said inner and outer circumferential portions being capable of holding at least one loop;
• wherein said guide means includes a second body to be inserted into said substantially cylindrical body of said holding means from a side of said first end portion thereof, said second body defining a space together with said cylindrical body for housing the at least one loop, and when the surgical instrument is inserted into said substantially cylindrical body from a side of said second end portion thereof, said second body is pushed out from said cylindrical body, thereby guiding the at least one loop to the circumferential portion of the surgical instrument;
• and
• wherein said second body has a cylindrical outer circumferential surface for temporarily holding the at least one loop, and an axial hole having an end portion which is close to said second end portion of said cylindrical body and which is open outward, and said second body is pushed out from an interior of said cylindrical body by the surgical instrument inserted in the axial hole.

A method of preparing a suture/ligature instrument, for forming a suitable knot in a piece of suture in a body cavity, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a suture and a surgical instrument having a distal end portion with gripping means and an operating portion for operating the distal end portion;
• providing a suture holding member including a substantially cylindrical body having a first end portion and a second end portion;
• forming at least one loop, which is to form the knot, in said suture;
• causing the at least one loop to be held by said suture holding member;
• said steps of forming at least one loop and causing the at least one loop to be held by the suture holding member includes the steps of forming the at least one loop on a core that can be inserted into the cylindrical body through the first end portion thereof, and inserting the core into the body cavity;
• and
• assembling said suture holding member with the surgical instrument such that the distal end portion of the surgical instrument passes through the loop, the step of assembling said suture holding member with the surgical instrument including a step of inserting said core into said body, and pushing out said core with the distal end portion of the surgical instrument which is inserted through said second end portion thereof, while moving the loop from said core to the distal end portion of the surgical instrument.

A method of preparing a suture/ligature instrument for forming a suitable knot in a piece of suture in a body cavity, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a suture and a surgical instrument having a distal end portion with gripping means and an operating portion for operating the distal end portion;
• preparing a suture holding member that includes a suture on which at least one loop to be formed into the knot is formed and holds the loop, said suture holding member including a substantially cylindrical body having a first end portion and a second end portion, with the loop being formed on a core that can be inserted into said cylindrical body through said first end portion thereof;
• and
• assembling said suture holding member with said surgical instrument such that said distal end portion of said surgical instrument passes through the loop, the step of assembling including the step of pushing out said core with the distal end portion of the surgical instrument which is inserted through said second end portion thereof, while moving the loop from said core to the distal end portion of the surgical instrument.