Skin suturing device using rotating needles

#The present disclosure generally relates to medical devices, and more particularly relates to medical devices for suturing skin.

#The closure of incisions or lacerations in human skin has long been a need in the medical industry. Whether the incision is the result of surgeries such as cosmetic surgery or internal organ operations, or those generated by traumatic events or accidents, surgeons are continually presented with patients needing closure of such skin openings. For example, modern studies indicate that approximately 30 million such operations are performed each year in the U.S. alone.

#In closing such incisions, surgeons are able to choose from a relatively limited number of options currently available. One of those options is manual suturing. This is perhaps the oldest of the available options and conventionally involves the physician directing a needle, to which is temporarily attached a suturing filament, through one section of skin, across the incision and into the other side of the incision. This process is repeated as many times as necessary to result in a certain number of “stitches” closing the incision. Upon reaching the end of the incision, the physician ties off the last suture to complete the process. While effective, manual suturing is certainly not without its drawbacks. For example, in the case of body contouring surgery, relatively large incisions in excess of many centimeters may be made which can often take the surgeon a very long time to close. It is not uncommon for the suturing of the incision to take longer than the actual operation itself. Not only is it time consuming, but surgeons often view the process as tedious. Moreover, the repeated movement of the needle through the skin of the patient necessarily increases the risk to the surgeon or assistant of being exposed to a needle prick which in turn can lead to certain transmissions of diseases including but not limited to Hepatitis C and HIV.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suturing tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure;

#FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the suturing tool of FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3. is a side view of the suturing tool of FIG. 1;

#While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the present invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

#Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference to FIG. 1, a suturing device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure is generally referred to by reference numeral 20. The device, as will be described in further detail herein, is advantageous for surgically closing incisions, not only quickly, but with closely approximated edges and minimal scarring. Of course, the suturing device 20 can also be used to close lacerations from traumatic events such as accidents, or the like. The first embodiment of FIGS. 1-9 of the suturing tool 20 is designed to be placed under the skin sections of the skin to be sutured, and then place a suture into the dermal layers of the skin. In later described embodiments, suturing tools are described to be used against the epidermal layer of the skin, from the outer skin surface, or be used laparoscopically. Although the embodiments disclosed herein demonstrate suturing as applied to skin, it will be understood that the present disclosure may be equally or similarly applied to tissues other than skin.

#Again referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that the suturing device 20 includes a grip 22 consisting of a handle 24 and a trigger 26. Compression of the trigger 26 toward the handle 24 by the hand of the surgeon causes a drive mechanism 28 to move the internal components of an operating end 30 and thereby install a suture 32 into the dermal layers of skin of a patient (not shown in FIG. 1, but shown later herein).