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US 8,313,496 B2Granted
System for endoscopic suturing
AssigneeLSI Solutions, Inc.
InventorsJude S. Sauer, Michael W. Fitzsimmons, Mark A. Bovard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for endoscopic suturing is provided having an endoscope, such as a gastroscope, with a distal end locatable in the body of a patient and a flexible shaft extending to the distal end, a flexible accessory tube coupled to the endoscope to flex relative to the endoscope's shaft, and a tip coupled to the shaft of the endoscope having an opening through which one end of the accessory tube is received. Tissue suturing and suture securing instruments are provided each having a sufficiently flexible shaft locatable through the accessory tube.
Claims40
A system for endoscopic suturing of tissue comprising:
- an endoscope locatable in the body of a patient having a flexible shaft;
- an accessory tube having first and second ends, and coupled along the outside of the shaft of said endoscope to flex in accordance with flexures of said shaft of said endoscope;
- and
- at least one suturing instrument having a shaft insertable via said first of said ends of said tube, a distal tissue engaging end coupled to said shaft of the suturing instrument, one or more needles extendible through said shaft of the suturing instrument to said tissue engaging end, in which said shaft of the suturing instrument has a first section and a second section, said second section extends from said first section to said tissue engaging end, and a flexible needle carrying tube for each of said one or more needles, in which said flexible needle carrying tube extends through at least part of said second section and each of said one or more needles is extendible through their respective needle carrying tube, and said second section has sufficient flexibility to be extendible in said tube to said second of said ends of said tube when said tube has one or more flexures in accordance with one or more flexures of said endoscope.
1 more element
A suturing instrument comprising:
- a housing;
- a shaft extending from said housing;
- a tissue engaging end coupled to said shaft at the distal end of the instrument;
- one or more needles which extend through said housing through said shaft to said tissue engaging end;
- a suture tube extending through said housing and said shaft to said tissue engaging end;
- said tissue engaging end having a sew tip with an opening through which said one or more needles are extendable to each capture one end of suture extending through said suture tube to said sew tip;
- said shaft representing an assembly having a first section and a second section coupled to said first section, said first section being rigid and extends from said housing, and said second section being flexible and extends from the first section to the tissue engaging end;
- a flexible needle carrying tube for each of said one or more needles, in which said flexible needle carrying tube extends through at least part of said first and second sections of said shaft;
- and
- means for coupling said flexible needle carrying tube for each of said one or more needles by a cable to said tissue engaging ends;
- and
- a flexible guide member having channels for carrying said one or more needles and cable to said tissue engaging end after each said needle exits their respective said needle carrying tube.
9 more elements
A system for endoscopic suturing of tissue comprising:
- an endoscope locatable in the body of a patient having a flexible shaft;
- an accessory tube having first and second ends, and coupled to said endoscope to flex with flexures of said shaft of said endoscope;
- and
- at least one suturing instrument having a shaft locatable through said first and second ends of said tube, a distal tissue engaging end coupled to said shaft, one or more needles extendible through said shaft to said tissue engaging end, in which each of said one or more needles along a portion of the needle undulates between first diameter regions and second diameter regions larger than said first diameter regions to enhance flexibility of said one or more needles.
1 more element
A suturing instrument which is capable of being used with or without an endoscope comprising:
- a shaft having a first end and a second end, and a first section and a second section between said first end and said second end in which at least part of said shaft is substantially flexible;
- a distal tissue engaging end coupled to said second end of said shaft in which said first section extends from said first end of the shaft, and said second section extends from said first section to said second end of the shaft;
- one or more needles extendible through said shaft to said tissue engaging end;
- and
- a tube for each of said one or more needles, said tube being substantially flexible and extending within at least the flexible part of said shaft, and each of said one or more needles being substantially flexible as each extends through their respective tube.
2 more elements
A suturing instrument which is capable of being used with or without an endoscope comprising:
- a shaft in which is at least part of said shaft is substantially flexible;
- a distal tissue engaging end coupled to said shaft;
- one or more needles extendible through said shaft to said tissue engaging end;
- and
- a flexible tube for each of said one or more needles, said flexible tube extending within at least the flexible part of said shaft, and each of said one or more needles being extendible through their respective flexible tube, wherein at least one portion of each of said one or more needles has a first diameter and a plurality of regions which are less in diameter than said first diameter and alternate with regions of said first diameter to enhance flexibility of said one or more needles along said portion with regions of said first diameter to enhance flexibility of said one or more needles along said portion.
2 more elements
A suturing instrument which is capable of being used with or without an endoscope comprising:
- a shaft at least a part of which is bent or bendable along the length of the shaft;
- a distal tissue engaging end coupled to said shaft;
- one or more needles extendible through said shaft to said tissue engaging end, at least one portion of each of said one or more needles has a first diameter and a plurality of regions which are less in diameter than said first diameter and alternate with regions of said first diameter to enhance flexibility of said one or more needles along said portion with regions of said first diameter to enhance flexibility of said one or more needles along said portion;
- and
- said portion of each of said one or more needles passes through said part of said shaft which is bent or bendable.
2 more elements
A suturing instrument which is capable of being used with or without an endoscope comprising:
- a shaft in which at least part of said shaft is substantially flexible to bend in response to said shaft following along a substantially curved path in the body of a patient when said shaft is inserted in the body of the patient;
- a tissue engaging end coupled to said shaft;
- two separate needles through said shaft are present at the same time at said tissue engaging end when said shaft is inserted in the body of a patient;
- and
- each of said needles has one of a substantially flexible tube or member and extends within said tube or member through at least said part of said shaft which is substantially flexible, wherein each of needles is at least substantially flexible through their respective said tube or member.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.