Composite suture needles having elastically deformable sections

Abstract

A composite suture needle configured for passing through a smaller cannula used in minimally invasive surgery includes a curved elongated body made of stainless steel. The curved elongated body has a proximal end and a distal end with a pointed tip. The composite suture needle includes a sheath overlying the curved elongated body. The sheath is curved for conforming to the shape of the curved elongated body. The sheath is made of a material that is more elastic than the curved elongated body. The pointed tip of the curved elongated body extends distally beyond the distal end of the sheath. The curved elongated body is made of stainless steel and the sheath is made of a material, such as nitinol, that is more elastic than the elongated body.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A composite suture needle comprising:
 an elongated body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the elongated body including a distal section with a pointed tip at the distal end thereof and a proximal section extending proximally from the distal section, and an entirety of the elongated body having a partially circular shape; and   a sheath extending from a proximal end to a distal end and overlying the proximal section of the elongated body, the sheath including a tapered section and a continuous section, the sheath comprising a material that is more elastic than a material of the elongated body, and the pointed tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the sheath.   
     
     
         23 . The composite suture needle as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the sheath comprises a highly elastic material and the elongated body comprises stainless steel. 
     
     
         24 . The composite suture needle as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the highly elastic material comprises nitinol. 
     
     
         25 . The composite suture needle as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the stainless steel is selected from a group of stainless steels consisting of austenitic stainless steels, martensitic-aged (mar-aged) stainless steels, and martensitic-aged alloys. 
     
     
         26 . The composite suture needle as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the sheath has a lumen that extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the sheath and the proximal section of the elongated body is disposed within the lumen of the sheath. 
     
     
         27 . The composite suture needle as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the lumen of the sheath has an inner diameter that is greater than or equal to an outer diameter of the proximal section of the elongated body. 
     
     
         28 . The composite suture needle as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein an outer surface of the continuous section of the sheath has an outer diameter and an outer surface of the tapered section of the sheath tapers from the outer diameter of the continuous section to approximately an inner diameter of the lumen of the sheath to smooth a transition between the distal end of the sheath and the distal section of the elongated body. 
     
     
         29 . The composite suture needle as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein an outer surface of the continuous section of the sheath has an outer diameter and an outer surface of the tapered section of the sheath tapers from the outer diameter of the continuous section to approximately an outer diameter of the distal section of the elongated body to smooth a transition between the distal end of the sheath and the distal section of the elongated body. 
     
     
         30 . The composite suture needle as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the elongated body includes a concave surface extending along an inside of a curve of the elongated body and a convex surface extending along an outside of the curve of the elongated body. 
     
     
         31 . The composite suture needle as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the sheath is attached via a thermal shrink lit process, glued or welded to the elongated body. 
     
     
         32 . The composite suture needle as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising a suture receiving hole formed in a proximal end of the proximal section of the elongated body.