EP0705568A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vascular suturing apparatus
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
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Filing: 1995-09-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-09-27
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed an apparatus 10 for suturing vascular tissue sections which includes first 16 and second 18 arms pivotally connected together and each having a needle receiving recess 88, 90 and a needle engaging member 34, 36 mounted for movement within the arms. The apparatus also includes a toggle wheel 60 reciprocating mechanism connected to the first and second needle engaging members and movable for alternately moving the first and second needle engaging members into and out of the first and second needle receiving recesses. The reciprocating mechanism is movable between a first position advancing the first needle engaging member with respect to the first arm and a second position advancing the second needle engaging member with respect to the second arm to alternately secure a surgical needle within the arms. A cam actuating lever 30 is provided on one of the arms to automatically cam the reciprocating mechanism between the first and second positions upon closure of the first arm against the second arm. There is also disclosed a method of suturing a pair of vascular tissue sections utilizing the disclosed apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles R. Sherts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B17/2909; A61B17/04; A61B17/0469; A61B17/06; A61B17/062; A61B17/06004; A61B2017/06019; A61B2017/06042; A61B17/06066; A61B2017/0609; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2932; A61B2017/2933; A61B2017/2936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
An apparatus for suturing tissue comprising: a) a first arm having a first needle engaging member mounted for movement with respect to the first arm; b) a second arm mounted for movement with respect to the first arm and moveable between an open position spaced from the first arm to a closed position in close cooperative alignment with the first arm; c) a reciprocating mechanism connected to the first needle engaging member and mounted for movement with respect to at least one of the arms, the reciprocating mechanism movable between a first position engaging the first needle engaging member with a surgical needle and a second position disengaging the first needle engaging member from the surgical needle; and d) a cam actuating lever operatively associated with one of the arms and engagable with the reciprocating mechanism such that the cam actuating lever cams the reciprocating mechanism between the first and second positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, the second arm has a second needle engaging member, the reciprocating mechanism connected to the second needle engaging member for alternatively moving the first and second needle engaging members with respect to the first and second arms.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cam actuating lever automatically cams the reciprocating mechanism between the first and second positions when the arms are moved to the closed position.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the reciprocating mechanism includes a toggle wheel rotatably mounted on at least one of the first and second arms.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
51 words
The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a proximal end of each of the first and second needle engaging members is connected to opposite sides of the toggle wheel such that rotation of the toggle wheel simultaneously retracts one of the needle engaging members and advances the other.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
53 words
The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cam actuating lever is mounted on one of the first and second arms, such that movement of the arms to the closed position drives the cam actuating lever into engagement with camming surfaces on the toggle wheel to rotate the toggle wheel.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
49 words
The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a lockout member operatively associated with at least one of the first and second arms and mounted for movement between a locked position blocking movement of the reciprocating mechanism and an unlocked position disassociated from the reciprocating mechanism.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
38 words
The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cam actuating lever includes a release leg, the release leg moving the lockout member from the locked position to the unlocked position upon closure of the arms.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a spring member mounted between the first and second arms to bias distal ends of the first and second arms into the open position.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
44 words
The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first arm has a first recess for receipt of a portion of a surgical needle therein, the first needle engaging member movable adjacent the first recess to engage the surgical needle disposed therein.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
40 words
The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first arm has a longitudinal channel therein for receipt of the first needle engaging member, the first channel at least partially intersecting the first recess in the first arm.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
59 words
The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second arm has a second needle engaging member and the reciprocating mechanism is movable between a first position advancing the first needle engaging member within a channel in the first arm and a second position advancing the second needle engaging member within a channel in the second arm.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
92 words
The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the reciprocating mechanism includes a toggle wheel rotatably affixed to at least one of the arms and having first and second camming surfaces such that an initial closure of the arms forces the cam actuating lever into engagement with the first camming surface to automatically move the toggle wheel to the first position and a subsequent closure of the arms forces the cam actuating lever into engagement with the second camming surface to automatically move the toggle wheel to the second position.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second arms are connected together at a proximal end to be operated in a tweezer-like manner.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
53 words
The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating lever is affixed to an extension arm and initial pressure on the first and second arms initially brings the arms into substantial abutment and subsequent pressure causes the arm extension to move relative to the arms to move cam actuating lever.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the needle engaging member is retracted proximally to secure the surgical needle in the respective arm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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