Endoscopic Stitching Devices

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to devices, systems and methods for endoscopic suturing or stitching through an access tube or the like. An endoscopic stitching device is provided and includes a handle assembly; an elongate shaft supported by and extending from the handle assembly; and an end effector supported on a distal end of the elongate shaft. The end effector includes a neck assembly configured and adapted for articulation in one direction between a substantially linear configuration and an off-axis configuration, and a pair of juxtaposed jaws pivotally associated with one another. Each jaw defines a suture needle receiving recess formed in a tissue contacting surface thereof.

1 . An endoscopic stitching device, comprising:
 a handle assembly;   an elongate shaft supported by and extending from the handle assembly; and   an end effector supported on a distal end of the elongate shaft, the end effector including a neck assembly configured and adapted for articulation in one direction between a substantially linear configuration and an off-axis configuration, and a pair of juxtaposed jaws pivotally associated with one another, wherein each jaw defines a suture needle receiving recess formed in a tissue contacting surface thereof, wherein the neck assembly includes:
 a plurality of links in pivotable contact with one another, wherein each link includes:
 a knuckle formed on a first side thereof; and 
 a clevis formed on a second side thereof, wherein the knuckle of a first link is operatively connected to a clevis of an adjacent link; and 
 
 at least one stiffener plate extending through at least a pair of the plurality of operatively connected links. 
   
     
     
         2 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 1 , wherein the jaws are rotatably supported on the end effector for selective rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof when the end effector is in the substantially linear configuration and in the articulated configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 1 , wherein the knuckles and clevises are configured to enable uni-directional articulation of the neck assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 1 , wherein the knuckles and clevises are configured to at least partially overlap one another when the neck assembly is in one of the substantially linear configuration and the off-axis configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 1 , wherein only one end of the at least one stiffener plate is securely attached to the neck assembly. 
     
     
         6 . An endoscopic stitching device, comprising:
 a handle assembly;   an elongate shaft supported by and extending from the handle assembly;   an end effector supported on a distal end of the elongate shaft, the end effector including a neck assembly configured and adapted for articulation in one direction between a substantially linear configuration and an off-axis configuration, and a pair of juxtaposed jaws pivotally associated with one another; and   a stiffener plate disposed in the neck assembly and axially extending therein, wherein the stiffener plate inhibits canting of the end effector in a direction orthogonal to a direction of articulation of the end effector.   
     
     
         7 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 6 , wherein the stiffener plate defines a plane that is substantially orthogonal to a direction of articulation of the end effector. 
     
     
         8 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 7 , wherein the stiffener plate is substantially flat and is bendable in a single. 
     
     
         9 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 7 , wherein the stiffener plate is translatably disposed in the neck assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 9 , wherein the end effector is articulatable in a direction out of a plane defined by the stiffener plate. 
     
     
         11 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 10 , wherein the stiffener plate restricts planar articulation of the end effector with respect to a plane defined by the stiffener plate. 
     
     
         12 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 9 , wherein one end of the stiffener plate includes an anchor portion secured to the neck assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 12 , wherein the anchor portion is bifurcated and includes at least a pair of spaced apart tines. 
     
     
         14 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 7 , wherein the neck assembly further includes a plurality of links in pivotable contact with one another, wherein each link defines a stiffener plate receiving slot for receiving the stiffener plate therethrough. 
     
     
         15 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 14 , wherein the stiffener plate extends through the receiving slot of at least one of the links. 
     
     
         16 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 14 , wherein the stiffener plate extends through the receiving slot of all of the links. 
     
     
         17 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 7 , wherein the stiffener plate is made of resilient material. 
     
     
         18 . An endoscopic stitching device, comprising:
 a handle assembly;   an elongate shaft supported by and extending from the handle assembly;   an end effector supported on a distal end of the elongate shaft, the end effector including a neck assembly configured and adapted for articulation in one direction between a substantially linear configuration and an off-axis configuration, and a pair of juxtaposed jaws pivotally associated with one another, and   a pair of spaced apart stiffener plates disposed in the neck assembly and axially extending therein, wherein each of the pair of stiffener plates defines a plane.   
     
     
         19 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 18 , wherein the pair of stiffener plates are substantially parallel with one another. 
     
     
         20 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 19 , wherein the plane defined by each of the pair of stiffener plates is substantially orthogonal to a direction of articulation. 
     
     
         21 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 20 , wherein the pair of stiffener plates are substantially flat and being bendable in a single direction. 
     
     
         22 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 20 , wherein the pair of stiffener plates are translatably disposed in the neck assembly. 
     
     
         23 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 22 , wherein the end effector is articulatable in a direction out of the plane defined by the pair of stiffener plates. 
     
     
         24 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 23 , wherein the pair of stiffener plates restrict planar articulation of the end effector with respect to the plane defined by the pair of stiffener plates. 
     
     
         25 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 20 , wherein one end of each of the pair of stiffener plates includes an anchor portion secured to the neck assembly. 
     
     
         26 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 18 , wherein the neck assembly further includes a plurality of links in pivotable contact with one another, wherein each link defines a pair of stiffener plate receiving slots for receiving the stiffener plates therethrough. 
     
     
         27 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 26 , wherein the pair of stiffener plates extend through a slot of at least one of the links. 
     
     
         28 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 26 , wherein the pair of stiffener plates extend through the slots of all of the links. 
     
     
         29 . The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 18 , wherein the stiffener plate is made of resilient material.