Apparatus for surgical suturing with thread management

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for surgical suturing with thread management. An apparatus for tissue suturing comprising a cartridge having a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end, the suturing needle capable of rotating about an axis; a pusher assembly comprising a cartridge holder having a needle rotation drive capable of releasably engaging the cartridge and rotating the suturing needle about the axis; and an actuator capable of releasably engaging the needle rotation drive to rotate the needle rotation drive. A method for suturing tissue comprising placing a suturing device having a cartridge containing a suturing needle to span separated tissue segments; activating an actuator to cause rotational movement of the suturing needle through the separated tissue segments; and deactivating the actuator to stop an advancing movement of the suturing needle to cause a suturing material to be pulled through the separated tissue segments forming a stitch.

1 . A cartridge for a suturing device comprising: 
 a curved housing having a first end and a second end separated by an aperture in a wall of the curved housing; and    a track in the wall of the curved housing, the track supporting a suturing needle.    
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the curved housing traverses an arc greater than about 180 degrees.  
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the track is semi-cylindrical and located on an inner surface of the cartridge.  
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the cartridge shields the suturing needle at an end of a revolution of the suturing needle.  
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the cartridge is disposable.  
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 1  further comprising at least one mounting clip for releasably engaging the cartridge with a cartridge holder of the suturing device.  
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 1  further comprising a suturing material dispenser containing a suturing material.  
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the suturing needle follows the track in the wall of the curved housing through successive revolutions of the suturing needle.  
     
     
         9 . The cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the track contains at least a portion of the suturing needle during an entire revolution of the suturing needle.  
     
     
         10 . The cartridge of  claim 1  wherein a pointed end of the suturing needle exits a first end of the track in the wall of the curved housing and enters a second end of the track in the wall of the curved housing.  
     
     
         11 . The cartridge of  claim 1  wherein a length of the suturing needle is less than a length of the track of the curved housing.  
     
     
         12 . A cartridge for housing a suturing needle comprising: 
 a housing having a curved shape, an inner wall and an outer wall;    a groove in the inner wall of the housing whereby the suturing needle follows a curved path along the groove during a revolution of the suturing needle; and    an aperture in the housing that intercepts the groove,    wherein the housing shields a pointed end of the suturing needle during at least a portion of the revolution of the suturing needle.    
     
     
         13 . The cartridge of  claim 12  wherein the cartridge is disposable.  
     
     
         14 . The cartridge of  claim 12  wherein the suturing needle follows the groove in the wall of the housing through successive revolutions of the suturing needle.  
     
     
         15 . The cartridge of  claim 12  wherein the groove contains at least a portion of the suturing needle during an entire revolution of the suturing needle.  
     
     
         16 . The cartridge of  claim 12  wherein a pointed end of the suturing needle exits a first end of the groove in the inner wall of the housing and enters a second end of the groove in the inner wall of the curved housing.  
     
     
         17 . The cartridge of  claim 12  wherein a length of the suturing needle is less than a length of the groove of the housing.  
     
     
         18 . A cartridge housing a suturing needle for use in suturing, the suturing needle comprising: 
 a pointed end at a first end of the suturing needle that is protected at an end of a rotation cycle;    a blunt end at a second end of the suturing needle;    a gap between the pointed end and the blunt end; and    an eye adjacent to the blunt end for engaging a suturing material,    wherein the suturing needle is in an arcuate shape between the pointed end and the blunt end.    
     
     
         19 . The cartridge housing the suturing needle of  claim 18  wherein the suturing needle further comprises a first inner notch and a second inner notch located opposite the first inner notch.  
     
     
         20 . The cartridge housing the suturing needle of  claim 18  wherein the suturing needle rotates in a track of a cartridge.