# US 8,771,295 B2 · Suturing instrument and method for uterine preservation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,295 B2 - Document ID: US8771295B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/434,038 - Filed: 2009-05-01 - Published: 2009-12-17 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2008-06-11 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Applicants: Michael S. H. Chu - Inventors: Michael S. H. Chu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771295B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/0469: {Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery} - A61B 2017/047: {having at least one proximally pointing needle located at the distal end of the instrument, e.g. for suturing trocar puncture wounds starting from inside the body} - A61B 2017/0472: {Multiple-needled, e.g. double-needled, instruments} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A suturing instrument includes an elongate body member, a needle deployment mechanism, and a depth adaptor. The elongate body member includes a distal portion that defines an opening. The needle deployment mechanism is at least partially disposed within the elongate body member and moves the needle out of the suturing instrument and into tissue. The depth adaptor is disposed in the opening at the distal portion of the elongate body member and controls the depth that the needle penetrates into the tissue. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A suturing instrument comprising: an elongate body member including a distal portion defining a first opening, the distal portion having a curved portion defining a second opening; a needle deployment mechanism disposed at least partially within the elongate body member for moving a needle out of the suturing instrument into tissue; and a depth adaptor configured to control the depth that the needle penetrates into the tissue, the depth adaptor having a coupling portion configured to engage a portion of the elongate body member to removably couple the depth adaptor to the elongate body member such that at least a portion of the depth adaptor is disposed within the second opening and configured to contact bodily tissue while disposed within the second opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The suturing instrument of claim 1 wherein the needle deployment mechanism comprises: a needle carrier; and an actuator coupled to the needle carrier, the actuator disposed in a proximal portion of the elongate body member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The suturing instrument of claim 1 further comprising a needle catch disposed on the distal portion of the elongate body member and configured to receive the needle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The suturing instrument of claim 1 wherein the elongate body member includes a bend. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The suturing instrument of claim 1 wherein the elongate body member includes two bends. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The suturing instrument of claim 1 further comprising a handle disposed opposite the distal portion of the elongate body member, the handle at least partially houses the needle deployment mechanism. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The suturing instrument of claim 1 wherein the elongate body member is adapted to access remote organs or tissue within a body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The suturing instrument of claim 1 wherein the distal portion of the elongate body member can rotate relative to a remainder of the elongate body member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The suturing instrument of claim 1, wherein the coupling portion includes a snap member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The suturing instrument of claim 1, wherein the needle deployment mechanism is configured to be removably coupled to the needle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The suturing instrument of claim 1, the coupling portion of the depth adaptor being a first coupling portion, wherein the elongate body has a first outer surface and a second outer surface, the coupling portion having a second coupling portion, the first coupling portion being configured to engage the first outer surface, the second coupling portion being configured to engage the second outer surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The suturing instrument of claim 1, the coupling portion of the depth adaptor being a first coupling portion, wherein the elongate body has a first outer surface and a second outer surface disposed opposite the first outer surface, the coupling portion having a second coupling portion, the first coupling portion being configured to engage the first outer surface, the second coupling portion being configured to engage the second outer surface. ### Claim 13 A suturing instrument comprising: an elongate body member including a distal portion defining a first opening, the elongate body member having a curved portion that defines a second opening; a needle deployment mechanism at least partially disposed within the elongate body member for moving a needle out of the suturing instrument into tissue; and a plurality of depth adaptors, each depth adaptor capable of being removably disposed in the opening to control the penetration depth of the needle, each of the plurality of depth adaptors having a coupling portion configured to engage a portion of the elongate body member to removably couple each of the plurality of depth adaptors to the elongate body member, such that at least a portion of each of the plurality of depth adaptors is configured to be disposed within the second opening and configured to contact bodily tissue while disposed within the second opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The suturing instrument of claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of depth adaptors allows the needle to penetrate a tissue at a different penetration depth. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The suturing instrument of claim 14 wherein each of the plurality of depth adaptors include a color to identify the penetration depth. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The suturing instrument of claim 13 further comprising a needle deployment mechanism coupled to the needle and disposed at least partially within the elongate body member for moving the needle out of the suturing instrument into tissue. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The suturing instrument of claim 16 wherein the needle deployment mechanism comprises: a needle carrier; and an actuator coupled to the needle carrier, the actuator disposed in a proximal portion of the elongate body member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The suturing instrument of claim 16 further comprising a handle disposed opposite the distal portion of the elongate body member, the handle at least partially houses the needle deployment mechanism. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The suturing instrument of claim 13 wherein the elongate body member includes a bend. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The suturing instrument of claim 13 wherein the elongate body member includes two bends. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The suturing instrument of claim 13 wherein the elongate body member is adapted to access remote organs or tissue within a body. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The suturing instrument of claim 13 wherein the distal portion of the elongate body member can rotate relative to a remainder of the elongate body member.