Apparatus and method for suturing tissue

A device for suturing tissue comprising:

• a handle having a distal end and an opposite proximal end and being rotatable about a first axis;
• a suturing needle having a first pointed end and an opposite second end;
• a needle gripping mechanism disposed within the handle and including first and second needle grippers, wherein the first needle gripper includes a first biased pin and is movable between a first position in which the suturing needle can freely move relative thereto and a second position in the first biased pin of the first needle gripper intimately contacts and applies a biasing force to the suturing needle resulting in the suturing needle being is securely held by the first needle gripper;
• a second needle gripper coupled to the handle, wherein the second needle gripper includes a second biased pin and is movable between a first position in which the suturing needle can freely move relative to the second needle gripper and a second position in which the second biased pin of the second needle gripper intimately contacts and applies a biasing force to the suturing needle resulting in the suturing needle being securely held by the second needle gripper;
• and
• an actuator disposed within the handle and operatively coupled to the needle gripping mechanism for shuttling the suturing needle between the first and second grippers, wherein the actuator is configured such that a single actuator cycle resulting from operating of the actuator causes both the first and second needle grippers to move between the first and second positions;
• wherein in a first operating position prior to insertion of the suturing needle into the tissue, the handle is positioned at a first acute angle relative to a tissue surface and the device is configured such that movement of the handle about the first axis from the first position to a second operating position in which the handle is positioned at a second acute angle relative the tissue surface causes the suturing needle to be driven into and through the tissue and permits capture of the first pointed end by the second gripping element upon activation of the actuator.

A device for suturing tissue comprising:

• a handle having a distal end and an opposite proximal end and being rotatable about a first axis;
• a suturing needle having a first pointed end and an opposite second end;
• a needle shuttle mechanism coupled to the handle and including a first part and a second part, each of the first and second parts being movable between a needle release position in which the suturing needle can freely move relative thereto and a needle retaining position in which the suturing needle is captured and held thereby, the second part being rotatable about the first axis;
• an actuator disposed within the handle and operatively coupled to the needle shuttle mechanism for causing the suturing needle to be shuttled between the first and second parts to permit the suturing needle to be driven into and passed through the tissue;
• and
• a spring biased safety mechanism coupled to the housing by a spring and configured for shielding the pointed end of the needle, the safety mechanism being rotatable about the first axis independent from the rotation of the needle shuttle mechanism about the same first axis, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the handle.

A device for suturing tissue comprising:

• a handle having a distal end and an opposite proximal end and being rotatable about an axle that extends along a first axis, in response to rotational movement of a user's hand;
• a suturing needle having a first pointed end and an opposite second end;
• a needle transfer mechanism coupled to the handle and including a first part and a second part, the second part being rotatable about the first axis to move between a retracted rest position and an extended needle transfer position, the needle transfer mechanism being constructed such that the suturing needle is initially held by the first part prior to contact between the suturing needle and the tissue, wherein the first part includes a biased pin that is configured to grasp the suturing needle by applying a biasing force to the suturing needle;
• and
• an actuator disposed within the handle and operatively coupled to the needle transfer mechanism for moving the second part between the retracted rest position and the extended needle transfer position and effectuating transfer of the suturing needle between the first and second parts, wherein the actuator is operatively connected to both the first and second parts;
• wherein the needle transfer mechanism is configured such that when the suturing needle is held by second part, it is completely free of the first part and the needle transfer mechanism is configured to transfer the suturing needle from the second part back to the first part.

A device for suturing tissue comprising:

• a handle having a distal end and an opposite proximal end and being rotatable about a first axis;
• a suturing needle having a first pointed end and an opposite second end;
• a needle transfer mechanism coupled to the handle and including a first part and a second part, the second part being rotatable about the first axis to move between a rest position and a needle transfer position, the needle transfer mechanism being constructed such that the suturing needle is initially held by the first part prior to contact between the suturing needle and the tissue;
• an actuator disposed within the handle and operatively coupled to the needle transfer mechanism for moving the second part between the rest position and the needle transfer position and effectuating transfer of the suturing needle between the first and second parts, wherein the needle transfer mechanism is configured to return the suturing needle from the second part to the first part after removal from the tissue and upon motion of the actuator which causes the second part to assume the needle transfer position;
• and
• a safety mechanism coupled to the housing and configured for shielding the pointed end of the needle, wherein the safety mechanism comprises a spring biased structure that rotates about the first axis and includes first and second shields that are spaced apart and positioned at an angle relative to one another.

A device for suturing tissue comprising:

• a handle including a housing having a distal end and an opposite proximal end;
• a suturing needle having a first pointed end and an opposite second end;
• and
• a safety mechanism coupled to the housing and configured for shielding the pointed end of the needle, wherein the safety mechanism comprises a spring biased shield that is coupled to the housing by a spring and shrouds the suturing needle during needle penetration and when the suturing needle exits the tissue, the shield being rotatable about a first axis, wherein the shield comprises a first shield member and a second shield member spaced from the first shield member, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the handle.