Surgical suturing apparatus
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorsMichael J. Stokes, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Mark S. Ortiz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surgical suturing apparatus includes a suture housing, a needle mounted within the suture housing for movement about an arcuate path, and a drive assembly operably associated with the needle for controlling movement of the needle with a suture secured thereto about the arcuate path in a manner facilitating application of the suture to tissue. The drive assembly includes a friction camming member that moves along the suture housing under the control of the drive mechanism, wherein actuation of the drive mechanism causes the friction camming member to selectively engage and disengage the needle causing the needle to move about the arcuate path.
Claims20
A surgical suturing apparatus, comprising:
- a suture housing;
- a needle mounted within the suture housing for movement about an arcuate path;
- and
- a drive assembly operably associated with the needle for controlling movement of the needle with a suture secured thereto about the arcuate path in a manner facilitating application of the suture to tissue;
- the drive assembly includes a friction camming member that moves along the suture housing under the control of a drive mechanism, wherein actuation of the drive mechanism causes the friction camming member to selectively engage and disengage the needle causing the needle to move about the arcuate path, the friction camming member includes an engagement member translating towards and away from the needle and a camming member acting upon the engagement member to move the engagement member into and out of engagement with the needle.
A surgical suturing apparatus shaped and dimensioned for insertion through a natural orifice of a patient, comprising:
- a suture housing;
- a needle mounted within the suture housing for movement about an arcuate path;
- and
- a drive assembly operably associated with the needle for controlling movement of the needle with a suture secured thereto about the arcuate path in a manner facilitating application of the suture to tissue;
- the drive assembly includes a friction camming member that moves along the suture housing under the control of a drive mechanism, wherein actuation of the drive mechanism causes the friction camming member to selectively engage and disengage the needle causing the needle to move about the arcuate path, the friction camming member includes an engagement member translating towards and away from the needle and a camming member acting upon the engagement member to move the engagement member into and out of engagement with the needle.
A surgical suturing apparatus shaped and dimensioned for laparoscopic insertion through a trocar, comprising:
- a suture housing;
- a needle mounted within the suture housing for movement about an arcuate path;
- and
- a drive assembly operably associated with the needle for controlling movement of the needle with a suture secured thereto about the arcuate path in a manner facilitating application of the suture to tissue;
- the drive assembly includes a friction camming member that moves along the suture housing under the control of a drive mechanism, wherein actuation of the drive mechanism causes the friction camming member to selectively engage and disengage the needle causing the needle to move about the arcuate path, the friction camming member includes an engagement member translating towards and away from the needle and a camming member acting upon the engagement member to move the engagement member into and out of engagement with the needle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.