Suturing device for laparoscopic procedures

Abstract

A suturing device includes an elongated body having an outer wall defining an interior space of the body, a shaft located in the interior space, and a needle mounted on a distal end of the shaft. The needle has a distal section transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The distal section of the needle terminates in a first jaw and a second jaw forming a forceps defining a piercing tip. The first jaw and second jaw have a grasping position wherein the first jaw and second jaw grasp a suturing material, and a release position wherein the first jaw and second jaw release the suturing material. After grasping the suturing material with the needle, the shaft rotates the needle to advance the needle and suturing material through tissue and mesh placed on the tissue. Spaced apart portions of the suturing material are then fused to create a suture.

1 . A suturing device comprising:
 an elongated body having an outer wall defining an interior space of the body;   a rotatable shaft located in the interior space of the body; and   a needle mounted on a distal end of the shaft, the needle having a distal section transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft, the distal section of the needle terminating in a first jaw and a second opposed jaw, at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw being movable relative to the other of the first jaw and the second jaw such that the first jaw and the second jaw have a grasping position in which the first jaw and the second jaw can grasp a suturing material and the first jaw and the second jaw have a release position in which the first jaw and the second jaw release the suturing material, the first jaw and the second jaw defining a piercing tip when the first jaw and the second jaw are in the grasping position.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The suturing device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the suturing device further comprises a handle mounted to the elongated body, and 
 the shaft is fixed to a transverse projection for rotating the shaft, and 
 the projection is located on the handle. 
 
     
     
         4 . The suturing device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the needle has a first position in which the piercing tip faces away from the interior space of the body, and 
 the needle has a second position in which the piercing tip faces toward the interior space of the body, and 
 the needle follows a curved path from the first position to the second position when the shaft is rotated about its longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
         5 . The suturing device of  claim 4  wherein:
 the first jaw and the second jaw are in the grasping position thereby grasping the suturing material when the needle moves from the first position to the second position when the shaft is rotated about its longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
         6 . The suturing device of  claim 4  wherein:
 the suturing material is provided from a supply of suturing material, and 
 a distal segment of suturing material is arranged in the interior space of the body such that the first jaw and the second jaw can grasp the suturing material when the needle is in the first position. 
 
     
     
         7 . The suturing device of  claim 4  wherein:
 the outer wall of the body includes a slot, and 
 the needle passes through the slot when the needle moves from the first position to the second position when the shaft is rotated about its longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
         8 . The suturing device of  claim 4  wherein:
 the suturing device further comprises a transfer arm located in the interior space of the body, the transfer arm terminating in a first holding member and a second opposed holding member, at least one of the first holding member and the second holding member being movable relative to the other of the first holding member and the second holding member such that the first holding member and the second holding member have a holding position in which the first holding member and the second holding member hold the suturing material and the first holding member and the second holding member have a disengaged position in which the first jaw and the second jaw disengage the suturing material. 
 
     
     
         9 . The suturing device of  claim 8  wherein:
 the suturing device further comprises an attachment device for securing together spaced apart portions of the suturing material thereby forming a closed length of the suturing material. 
 
     
     
         10 . The suturing device of  claim 9  wherein:
 the attachment device comprises a pair of heating elements movable between an open position in which the heating elements are spaced apart and a heat sealing position for contacting the spaced apart portions of the suturing material and heat sealing the spaced apart portions of the suturing material together. 
 
     
     
         11 . The suturing device of  claim 10  wherein:
 the suturing material is transferred from the first jaw and the second jaw of the needle to the first holding member and the second holding member of the transfer arm when the needle is in the second position, and 
 the transfer arm orients the spaced apart portions of the suturing material between the heating elements when the heating elements are in the open position, and 
 the heating elements are moved into the heat sealing position for contacting the spaced apart portions of the suturing material and heat sealing the spaced apart portions of the suturing material together. 
 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method for suturing tissue in a patient, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a suturing device including (i) an elongated body having an outer wall defining an interior space of the body, (ii) a rotatable shaft located in the interior space of the body, and (iii) a needle mounted on a distal end of the shaft, the needle having a distal section transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft, the distal section of the needle terminating in a first jaw and a second opposed jaw, at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw being movable relative to the other of the first jaw and the second jaw;   (b) grasping a leading portion of a length of suturing material with the first jaw and the second jaw of the needle such that the first jaw and the second jaw define a piercing tip;   (c) locating the piercing tip near the tissue;   (d) rotating the shaft about its longitudinal axis thereby penetrating the tissue at an entry point;   (e) continuing to rotate the shaft until the leading portion of the length of suturing material has passed through the tissue and out of an exit point;   (f) moving the leading portion of the length of suturing material to a location near the entry point such that the leading portion of the length of suturing material is near or contacts a trailing portion of the length of suturing material; and   (g) attaching together the leading portion of the length of suturing material and the trailing portion of the length of suturing material thereby forming a closed length of the suturing material.   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein:
 step (f) comprises moving the leading portion of the length of suturing material to the location near the entry point using a transfer arm located in the interior space of the body. 
 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A suturing device comprising:
 an elongated body having an outer wall defining an interior space of the body;   a needle positioned inside the body for translating in the body, a distal end of the needle terminating in a piercing tip suitable for grasping a suturing material, the piercing tip being movable between a first position in which the piercing tip is positioned in a first section of the interior space of the body and a second position in which the piercing tip is positioned in a second section of the interior space of the body; and   a length of suturing material arranged in the second section of the interior space of the body,   wherein the piercing tip of the needle follows a first path when moving from the first position to the second position in which the piercing tip exits the first section of the interior space of the body, enters and exits an external space located outside of the body, and enters the second section of the interior space of the body where the piercing tip of the needle grasps a leading portion of the length of suturing material, and   wherein the piercing tip of the needle follows a second path when moving from the second position to the first position in which the piercing tip exits the second section of the interior space of the body, enters and exits the external space, and is positioned near or in the first section of the interior space of the body.   
     
     
         23 . The suturing device of  claim 22  wherein:
 the first path and the second path are substantially the same. 
 
     
     
         24 . The suturing device of  claim 22  wherein:
 the first path is curved. 
 
     
     
         25 . The suturing device of  claim 22  wherein:
 the suturing device further comprises an attachment device for securing together a leading portion of the length of suturing material and a trailing portion of the length of suturing material thereby forming a closed length of the suturing material. 
 
     
     
         26 . The suturing device of  claim 25  wherein:
 the leading portion of the length of suturing material and the trailing portion of the length of suturing material are positioned near each other when the piercing tip of the needle is at an end of the second path, and 
 the attachment device comprises a heating element movable between an initial position and a heat sealing position for placing the leading portion of the length of suturing material and the trailing portion of the length of suturing material in contact and heat sealing the leading portion of the length of suturing material and the trailing portion of the length of suturing material together. 
 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The suturing device of  claim 22  wherein:
 the suturing material is provided from a supply of suturing material, and 
 a distal segment of suturing material is arranged in the second section of the interior space of the body such that the piercing tip can grasp the suturing material when the needle is in the second position. 
 
     
     
         32 . A method for suturing tissue in a patient, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a suturing device including (i) an elongated body having an outer wall defining an interior space of the body, and (ii) a needle positioned inside the body for translating in the body, a distal end of the needle terminating in a piercing tip suitable for grasping a suturing material, the piercing tip being movable between a first position in which the piercing tip is positioned in a first section of the interior space of the body and a second position in which the piercing tip is positioned in a second section of the interior space of the body;   (b) locating the piercing tip near the tissue with the piercing tip in the first position;   (c) moving the piercing tip from the first position to the second position such that the piercing tip exits the first section of the interior space of the body, enters and exits tissue positioned in an external space located outside of the body of the device, and enters the second section of the interior space of the body where the piercing tip of the needle grasps a leading portion of the length of suturing material;   (d) moving the piercing tip and the leading portion of the length of suturing material from the second position to the first position in which the piercing tip and the leading portion of the length of suturing material exit the second section of the interior space of the body, enter and exit the tissue positioned in the external space, and are positioned near or in the first section of the interior space of the body;   (e) moving a trailing portion of the length of suturing material to a location near the leading portion of the length of suturing material; and   (f) attaching together the leading portion of the length of suturing material and the trailing portion of the length of suturing material thereby forming a closed length of the suturing material.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein:
 step (e) comprises moving the trailing portion of the length of suturing material to the location near the leading portion of the length of suturing material using a plunger located in the body. 
 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . (canceled)