Apparatus and method for suturing a tissue

Abstract

An apparatus for suturing a tissue. The apparatus includes an outer tube, a thread threaded in the outer tube and at least one anchoring element located inside the outer tube and configured to be inserted into the tissue from an outlet end of the outer tube. The outer tube is configured to freely accommodate the thread and the at least one anchoring element, and the anchoring element includes a body adapted to be threaded on the thread and having at least locking element for locking the thread to the anchoring element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for suturing tissue, comprising:
 (a) an elongated shaft;   (b) a needle disposed inside said elongated shaft such that a sharp end of the needle is in proximity to a distal end of said elongated shaft, wherein said needle is advanceable distally within said elongated shaft, to penetrate the tissue;   (c) a handle disposed at a proximal end of said elongated shaft;   (d) a thread disposed along the length of said elongated shaft;   (e) multiple anchoring elements:
 disposed inside said needle, along the length of said needle, 
 threaded on said thread, and 
 each of said anchoring elements comprising:
 a tubular elongated body through which said thread is threaded, and 
 a fin configured to extend away from said body at a sharp angle with respect to said body, wherein said fin is configured at least to prevent the anchoring element from slipping back, out of the tissue; 
 and 
 
   (f) an elongated flexible pusher disposed inside said elongated shaft and being triggerable by said handle, wherein said elongated flexible pusher is configured to:
 bend after exiting the distal end of said elongated shaft, and 
 consecutively push the fin of each of said anchoring elements until the respective anchoring element is ejected out of the distal end of said elongated shaft and implanted into the tissue, 
 wherein the bending of said elongated flexible pusher and the pushing of the respective fin cause the respective anchoring element to travel in a curved route through the tissue. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said elongated flexible pusher is further configured to push the respective fin to create a distance between the respective anchoring element and the distal end of said elongated shaft which is greater than a length of the tubular elongated body of the respective anchoring element. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the distance is greater than twice the length of the tubular elongated body of the respective anchoring element. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said thread is freely accommodated inside said multiple anchoring elements, such that said multiple anchoring elements can slide along the length of said elongated shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said handle comprises a control for setting a depth of tissue penetration by said needle. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said handle comprises a control for generating tension on said thread. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said handle comprises a control for severing said thread at the end of a suturing cycle. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising a thread severing tube and a thread trapping tube that are disposed inside said elongated shaft and are configured to cut said thread by rotation. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each of said multiple anchoring elements is made of an alloy. 
     
     
         10 . A method for suturing tissue, comprising:
 providing an apparatus that comprises:
 (a) an elongated shaft, 
 (b) a needle disposed inside said elongated shaft such that a sharp end of the needle is in proximity to a distal end of said elongated shaft, 
 (c) a handle disposed at a proximal end of said elongated shaft, 
 (d) a thread disposed along the length of said elongated shaft, 
 (e) multiple anchoring elements: (i) disposed inside said needle, along the length of said needle, (ii) threaded on said thread, and (iii) each of said anchoring elements comprising: a tubular elongated body through which said thread is threaded, and a fin configured to extend away from said body at a sharp angle with respect to said body, and 
 (f) an elongated flexible pusher disposed inside said elongated shaft; and 
   operating said handle to:
 (g) advance said needle distally within said elongated shaft, to penetrate the tissue with said sharp end of said needle, and 
 (h) advance said elongated flexible pusher distally within said elongated shaft, such that a distal end of said elongated flexible pusher pushes the fin of a respective one of said anchoring elements until the respective anchoring element is ejected out of the distal end of said elongated shaft and implanted into the tissue, wherein, when the distal end of said elongated flexible pusher pushes the fin, the elongated flexible pusher bends and causes the respective anchoring element to travel in a curved route through the tissue. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the pushing by elongated flexible pusher comprises creating a distance between the respective anchoring element and the distal end of said elongated shaft which is greater than a length of the tubular elongated body of the respective anchoring element. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the distance is greater than twice the length of the tubular elongated body of the respective anchoring element. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said thread is freely accommodated inside said multiple anchoring elements, such that said multiple anchoring elements can slide along the length of said elongated shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising operating a control in said handle for setting a depth of tissue penetration by said needle. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising operating a control in said handle for generating tension on said thread. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising operating a control in said handle for severing said thread at the end of a suturing cycle. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising operating a thread severing tube and a thread trapping tube that are disposed inside said elongated shaft, to cut said thread by rotation. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein each of said multiple anchoring elements is made of an alloy.