Vascular suturing device with needle capture

Abstract

A surgical device of suturing vascular vessels is described, as well as methods for suturing tissue employing the surgical device. The device includes at least one needle advanceable through tissue and into a needle capture element within a distal end of the surgical device to draw lengths of suture material which can then be used to close various puncture wounds, particularly in vascular tissue.

1 . A suturing device for suturing a wall portion of a vascular vessel, said device comprising:
 a proximal member including an elongate body with a channel sized to receive a needle therein;   a distal member comprising a receptacle therein, said distal member configured to be inserted into a vascular vessel, and wherein the receptacle is sized to receive at least one needle therein;   an intermediate member disposed between the proximal member and distal member, said intermediate member defining a tissue receiving area and including a first passageway from the channel to the tissue receiving area and second passageway from the receptacle in the distal member to the tissue receiving area; and   a needle capture element positioned in the receptacle of the distal member configured to retain a needle inserted into the receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the receptacle of the distal member is sized to receive two or more needles. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the needle capture element is configured to secure each of the two or more needles inserted into the receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the needle capture element comprises a plug of resilient material. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein resilient material is selected from the group consisting of: polyurethane, polyethylene, poly(tetrafluoroethylene), poly(vinyl chloride), polyolefin, and silicon rubber. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the plug of resilient material defines an internal wall portion of the receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the needle capture element comprises at least one projection extending from an internal wall of the receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the projection is configured to bias a needle inserted into the receptacle against an internal wall surface of the receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the needle capture element comprises one or more leaves. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the needle capture element comprises a pair of leaves extending radially inward from an internal wall portion of the receptacle and in a distal direction. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the needle capture element comprises at least one tab extending radially inwardly from a surface of the receptacle of the distal member to engage with a recessed engagement surface of the needle. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the proximal member comprises a needle cartridge slidably mounted thereon. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 13  wherein said needle cartridge comprises a two or more needle slots capable of being sequentially aligned with a single needle channel. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1  comprising a first needle and slidably disposed in the needle cartridge. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  comprising a second needle attached to a second end of the length and slidably disposed in the needle cartridge. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  comprising a needle pusher slidably disposed in the needle channel to sequentially advance the first and second needles along the needle channel. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the first needle is attached to a first end of a length of suture material, and the second needle is attached to a second end of the length of suture material. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the intermediate member is curved or angled to offset the first and second passageways from wall portion of the vascular vessel disposed in the tissue receiving area. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the intermediate member is configured to provide a linear pathway for a needle from the first passageway through the tissue receiving area to the second passageway. 
     
     
         20 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A suturing device for suturing a wall portion of a vascular vessel, said device comprising:
 a proximal member having a needle channel and a first needle and a second needle therein, said first needle and said second needle carrying a length of suture material;   a distal member configured to be inserted into the lumen of the vascular vessel, the distal member having a receptacle comprising a needle capture element and being sized to receive said first needle and said second needle therein, the needle capture member including an interior wall portion and a first plurality of projections and a second plurality of projections, the first and second pluralities of projections extending at an angle away from the interior wall portion toward a distal end of the distal member, the first plurality of projections being longitudinally offset from the second plurality of projections;   an intermediate member disposed between the proximal member and distal member, said intermediate member defining a tissue receiving area and configured to provide a linear needle pathway between the needle channel and the receptacle; and   a needle capture element positioned in the receptacle of the distal member configured to retain a needle inserted into the receptacle.