Surgery – Instruments – Suture – ligature – elastic band or clip applier
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-06
2001-09-04
Recla, Henry J. (Department: 3731)
Surgery
Instruments
Suture, ligature, elastic band or clip applier
C606S222000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283979
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to medical devices, and more particularly to an articulable suturing needle for use in internal body stitching requirements.
2. Prior Art
Suturing is an art common in the medical field. Typically, suturing is done with some form of needle or thread, and sometimes it is replaced with a staple arrangement. Advanced medical techniques utilizing laproscopy have thus permitted surgical techniques to be accomplished on a body, through minor openings within the body surface. After surgery has been completed under a laproscopic technique, suturing is necessary. A needle held in a spaced-apart manner must accomplish such suturing and such needle must be moveable.
It is an object of the present invention, to provide a suturing device for use with laproscopic surgery.
It is yet a further object of the present invention, to provide a suturing device, which is articulable over a wide range of movement.
It is still yet a further object of the present invention, to provide a suturing device of elongated proportions, having a very moveable distal end, and a readily controllable proximal end to accomplish suturing in a laproscopic manner.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises of an elongated suturing device, having a proximal or first end comprising a handle, and a distal or a second end comprising an articulable needle shaft.
The handle comprises an elongated generally barrel shaped housing, having a proximalmost end. A threaded shaft is arranged through the proximalmost end, the threaded shaft having a distal end arranged near, the distal end of the handle. The proximal-most end of the threaded shaft has a captor on to permit it to be rotated with respect to the housing permitting relative longitudinal of movement therebetween. The suturing needle is arranged at the distal end of the housing, and comprises a plurality of generally disk-shaped beads. Each of the beads is of the order of less than one-eighth of an inch in diameter. The beads are generally of oval shape in cross-section, and have an upper and a lower planar end, which are non-parallel with respect to one another. A pair of generally rectangular slots extends parallel to each other through each respective bead. The beads are stacked upon one another, one flat surface of each respective bead having a pair of projections thereon, its opposite surface of the bead, having a pair of detents thereon. The column of successive beads have their respective projections and detents intermated so as to provide an interlocking relationship therebetween. The distalmost bead may have a pointed “suture-holding” tip arranged thereon, the tip having a slot by which to hold a suture thread therewithin. An outer sheath is arranged about the proximalmost end of the column of beads comprising the suture needle. The outer sheath is slideable longitudinally with respect to the handle and with respect to the beads.
A rigid connector is arranged between the proximalmost end of the sheath and a tab extending through the outer surface of the handle, to permit longitudinal adjustment of the sheath with respect to the handle-end and to the beads comprising the suture needle.
A thin flat strip of metal, for instanced Nitinol is threaded through one of each of the slots in the column of the beads comprising the suture needle. The first end of that metal strip being attached to the distalmost end of the threaded screwshaft within the housing. The thin strip of metal extends distally through the column of beads, over the distalmost bead at the distalmost end of the suture device, and back in through the collection of the second slots in each of the column of beads, in a proximal direction. The other end of the metal strip is then anchored to the proximalmost end wall within the handle.
The tension in that steel or Nitinol band arranged through the corresponding slots within the column of beads, may be adjusted, by rotation of the threaded shaft within the handle. Increasing the tension within the steel or Nitinol band by rotation of the threaded shaft will cause the column of beads at its distalmost end, to curve in a “C” or “J” shape, and stiffen. Such action is necessary when making a suture around a body part so as to bring the thread around that body part by the distal end of the suture device.
Movement of the outer sheath distally will help straighten and stiffen the needle by requiring all the beads to be aligned axially therewithin.
Thus, what has been shown is a novel arrangement for a suture device wherein a polarity of stacked disks, each disk having generally non-parallel opposed surfaces which can be lockably engaged and caused to curve in its columnar arrangement, permitting a suturing to take place at its distalmost end.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2579192 (1951-12-01), Kohl
patent: 5350385 (1994-09-01), Christy
patent: 5919199 (1999-07-01), Mers Kelly
Kiple Bryan Patrick
Mers Kelly William Charles
Phelps David Young
Halgren Don
Ngo Lien
Recla Henry J.
LandOfFree
Suturing device with tensioning adjustment member does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Suturing device with tensioning adjustment member, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Suturing device with tensioning adjustment member will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2480352