Surgical suturing instrument and method of use

A structure for supporting suture wire during driving of the suture wire, said structure comprising:

• a first tube for closely surrounding and slidably supporting the suture wire;
• a first pair of diametrically opposed openings formed in said first tube for exposing the suture wire for driving, said first pair of diametrically opposed openings being sized sufficiently small so as to maintain support for the suture wire;
• a second tube disposed about a portion of said first tube;
• and
• a second pair of diametrically opposed openings formed in said second tube, said second pair of diametrically opposed openings being aligned with said first pair of diametrically opposed openings, and said second pair of diametrically opposed openings being sufficiently small so as to maintain support for said first tube.

A method for joining a first portion of material to a second portion of material, said method comprising:

• providing a suturing instrument comprising:
• a handle;
• an end effector mounted on said handle and defining therein:
• a first channel for supporting suture wire, said first channel being curved to impart a looping configuration to portions of the suture wire passed therethrough;
• a second channel adapted to receive the looped suture wire emerged from said first channel;
• and
• a passageway for supporting a cutting bar, said passageway intersecting said first channel so as to create a first island between said first channel and said passageway, and said passageway intersecting said second channel so as to create a second island between said second channel and said passageway;
• a wire advancing actuator mounted on said handle for moving the suture wire through said first channel, through the material first and second portions and back into said second channel;
• a cutting bar movably disposed in said passageway for selectively engaging the suture wire, said cutting bar being adapted to (1) cut the looped suture wire from the remaining portions of the suture wire;
• (2) bend the trailing end and the leading end of the looped suture wire around said first island and said second island;
• and (3) lift the looped suture wire over said first island and said second island;
• and
• a cutting bar actuator mounted on said handle for moving the cutting bar into engagement with the suture wire;
• positioning said end effector against at least one of the portions to be joined;
• moving the suture wire through said first channel, through the material first and second portions and back into said second channel;
• and
• moving the cutting bar in said passageway so as to (1) cut the looped suture wire from the remaining portions of the suture wire;
• (2) bend the trailing end of the looped suture wire around said first island and said second island;
• and (3) lift the looped suture wire over said first island and said second island.

A method for driving wire, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a structure for supporting suture wire during driving of the suture wire, said structure comprising:
• is a first tube for closely surrounding and slidably supporting the suture wire;
• a first pair of diametrically opposed openings formed in said first tube for exposing the suture wire for driving, said first pair of diametrically opposed openings being sized sufficiently small so as to maintain support for the suture wire;
• a second tube disposed about a portion of said first tube;
• and
• a second pair of diametrically opposed openings formed in said second tube, said second pair of diametrically opposed openings being aligned with said first pair of diametrically opposed openings, and said second pair of diametrically opposed openings being sufficiently small so as to maintain support for said first tube;
• and
• engaging the suture wire with a pair of opposing rollers, each of the opposing rollers engaging the suture wire by accessing the suture wire through one of the second pair of diametrically opposed openings and one of the first pair of diametrically opposed openings.