Suture system

Abstract

A suture system includes a plurality of double-stranded needles connected in sequence with a single-stranded needle at each end. The double-stranded suture needles incorporates two suture strands into a single needle. The suture system of the present invention facilitates the implantation of valve prostheses.

1 . A suture device for suturing tissue comprising:
 a plurality of at least three connected needles, one of the plurality of needles being a first double stranded needle attached to a first suture strand and a second suture strand, at least said first suture strand having a visual indicator to distinguish the first suture strand from the second suture strand;   the plurality of at least three connected needles including a first end needle attached to a first single suture strand and a second end needle attached to a second single suture strand; and   a suturing device to grasp one or more of the needles during tissue suturing.   
     
     
         2 . The suture device of  claim 1  wherein the suture strands include strands of at least two different colors. 
     
     
         3 . The suture device of  claim 1  wherein the device has more than three needles that are each associated with at least two strands. 
     
     
         4 . The suture device of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of suture pads such that each needle is attached to another needle with a suture strand having a pad attached to the suture strand, the suture pads defining the spacing between adjacent needle holes in the tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The suture device of  claim 1  further comprising a package for housing the suture device, the package having at least six needles. 
     
     
         6 . The suture device of  claim 1  wherein the suture device further comprises a handheld suture placement device having a first arm and a second arm. 
     
     
         7 . The suture device of  claim 1  wherein the suture device is configured for suturing a prosthetic aortic valve. 
     
     
         8 . A method for suturing tissue in a body comprising:
 inserting a first suture through tissue at a first position using a first needle of a suture system having at least three needles connected by suture strands;   inserting a second needle of the suture system, the second needle being attached to the first suture strand and a second suture strand, through the tissue at a distance from the first position, the first suture strand and the second suture strand having different indicators such that the different strands attached to the second needle can be identified;   inserting a third needle of the suture system through tissue, the third needle being attached to the second suture strand; and   securing the inserted suture strands using the visual indicators.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising using a handheld suturing device to insert at least one of the plurality of needles through the tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first suture strand and the second suture strand are different colors. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the suture system has at least two double stranded needles attached to pairs of different colored strands. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the system has at least six needles connected by suture strands. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of inserting the second needle further comprises inserting the second needle through a single hole in the tissue such that the suture strands attached to the second needle extend through the single hole. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising using the indicators to identify the strands extending through the single hole and select strands from adjacent holes in the tissue to secure the identified strands. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising using strands having at least three different colors to connect the needles in sequence. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising using pairs of strands from different holes having identified indicators to secure the device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising using a camera to view suturing of the tissue. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising holding the needles during suturing with a robotic device.