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US 6,454,778 B2Granted
Endoscopic suture systems
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorJuergen A Kortenbach
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surgical instrument for applying sutures to tissue includes a needle deployment mechanism and a catch mechanism. In some embodiments, the needle deployment mechanism employs a linear path. Alternatively, it can employ a curved needle. The surgical instrument may include a rotatable head, a bend, and/or a malleable elongated body member formable into various shapes.
Claims8
A suturing instrument, comprising:
- an elongated body member including a distal portion and defining a curved channel within the distal portion;
- a curved needle including a series of notches, the curved needle for being received within the curved channel;
- a pusher disposed within the elongated body member and being movable within the elongated body member to contact the notches of the needle and advance the needle out of the curved channel;
- and
- a protruding edge disposed at an opening defined by the elongate body member and leading to the curved channel, the protruding edge for engaging the series of notches of the needle.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.