Medical devices and methods for suturing tissue
AssigneeCook Medical Technologies LLC
InventorsTyler Evans McLawhorn, Richard W. Ducharme
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Medical devices and methods are disclosed for suturing tissue, that may be employed endoscopically and/or laparoscopically, and that offer simple, reliable and controllable placement of suture around a perforation for complete closure thereof. One embodiment of the medical system generally includes an endcap having first and second arms, a needle, a suture, and first and second control members. The first and second control members are used to pass the needle back-and-forth between the first and second arms.
Claims19
A medical device for suturing tissue, the medical device comprising:
- a tubular body defining an interior space, a first arm projecting from the tubular body to a first free end, and a second arm projecting from the tubular body to a second free end;
- the first arm defining a first passageway having a first port at the first free end, the second arm defining a second passageway having a second port at the second free end the first and second arms immoveably attached to the tubular body such that the first and second ports are spaced apart a fixed distance;
- a needle having first and second ends shaped to pierce tissue, the needle sized to be slidably received within the first and second passageways of the first and second arms;
- the needle extending over a length between the first and second ends, the length of the needle being greater than the fixed distance between the first and second ports;
- a suture attached to the needle between the first and second ends of the needle;
- a first control member slidably received within the first passageway of the first arm and positioned to engage the first end of the needle, distal movement of the first control member moving the needle distally through the first passageway, the first control member elongated such that it projects proximally out from the tubular body;
- and
- a second control member slidably received within the second passageway of the second arm and positioned to engage the second end of the needle, distal movement of the second control member moving the needle distally through the second passageway, the second control member elongated such that it projects proximally from the tubular body.
A medical device for use with an elongate medical instrument for suturing tissue, the medical device comprising:
- an endcap sized to be attached to a distal end of the elongate medical instrument, the endcap having a tubular body defining an interior space, a first arm projecting from the tubular body to a first free end, and a second arm projecting from the tubular body to a second free end;
- the first arm defining a first passageway having a first port at the first free end, the second arm defining a second passageway having a second port at the second free end the first and second passageways following a curved path and having a polygonal cross-sectional shape;
- a needle having first and second ends sharpened to pierce tissue, the needle being curved and sized to be slidably received within the first and second passageways of the first and second arms;
- the needle having a polygonal cross-sectional shape corresponding to the polygonal cross-sectional shape of the first and second passageways and sized relative thereto such that the needle is restricted from rotating within the first and second passageways;
- a suture attached to the needle between the first and second ends of the needle;
- a first control member slidably received within the first passageway of the first arm and positioned to engage the first end of the needle;
- and
- a second control member slidably received within the second passageway of the second arm and positioned to engage the second end of the needle, wherein the first and second passageways extend longitudinally through the tubular body to a proximal end of the tubular body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.