Mechanical needle carrier and method for its use

Claim 2

A mechanical needle carrier capable of grasping and releasing a surgical needle comprising: means for securely grasping said needle, means for guiding said surgical needle to a specific area, means for positioning said needle in a desired orientation by rotation about a first axis, means for directing said needle to a desired location for setting a stitch by pivoting said needle about a second axis, perpendicular to said first axis, means for releasing said needle after said stitch is set, and means for retracting said needle carrier from said specific area, whereby, after said grasped needle is guided to said specific area it is positioned by rotation about said first axis and stitches are set by rotation of said needle about said second axis, then said needle is released from said carrier and the carrier is retracted from said specific area.

Claim 3

A mechanical needle carrier according to claim 1 wherein said means for guiding the surgical needle includes an access tube through which said carrier passes to said specific area.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2, wherein said means for guiding said needle through said tube comprises a needle carrying head, pivotable about said first axis, carried on an end of a cylinderical rod member having releasable gripping means to securely hold said needle.

Claim 5

The device of claim 2 wherein said means for securely grasping and said means for releasing said needle comprises opposed and selectively movable members engageable on opposite sides of said needle.

Claim 6

The device of claim 3 wherein said means for retracting said needle carrier comprises means for pivoting said head about said first axis to return said head to its original orientation.

Claim 7

A mechanical needle holder comprising: a first rod member having a knurled flange on a first end, a pair of extending ears forming a yoke at a second end, a channel extending along a first axis between said ends and including a passage through said knurled flange, a second rod member carried in and being axially movable and rotatable in said channel an extending through said passage having an enlarged knurled first end adjacent said knurled flange, a pair of extending ears forming a yoke at a second end, a needle carrying head member connected to said yoke of said first rod member to pivot about a second axis, perpendicular to said first axis, and having a passage for receiving a surgical needle, and linkage means pivotally connected to said yoke of said second rod member and connected to said head member and including a portion engagable with said needle upon rotation of said second rod member, whereby, axial movement of said second rod member relative to said first rod member causes rotation of said head member about said second axis through said linkage means and rotational movement of said second rod member relative to said first rod member causes engagement and disengagement of a portion of said linkage means with said needle.

Claim 8

A mechanical needle holder comprising: a first rod member having a knurled flange on a first end, a pair of extending ears forming a yoke at a second end, a channel extending along a first axis between said ends and including a passage through said knurled flange, a second rod member carried in and being axially movable and rotatable in said channel an extending through said passage having an enlarged knurled first end adjacent said knurled flange, a pair of extending ears forming a yoke at a second end, a needle carrying head member connected to said yoke of said first rod member to pivot about a second axis, perpendicular to said first axis, and having a passage for receiving a surgical needle, and linkage means pivotally connected to said yoke of said second rod member and connected to said head member and including a portion engagable with said needle upon rotation of said second rod member, whereby, axial movement of said second rod member relative to said first rod member causes rotation of said head member about said second axis through said linkage means and rotational movement of said second rod member relative to said first rod member causes engagement and disengagement of a portion of said linkage means with said needle.

Claim 9

The device of claim 6 including means associated with said first and second rod members to limit the amount of relative rotation about said first axis between said members.

Claim 14

The method of claim 9 wherein said cannula is inserted through a puncture wound in the skin of said patient.

Claim 17

Means for suturing in a restricted field of surgical operation from an area of manipulation remote from said field, comprising: means including a first member supported for rotation on a first axis of rotation intersecting the field and the area, means including a second member continuously axially adjustable relative to said first member parallel to said first axis, means journaling said first member for rotation on a second axis of rotation perpendicular to said first axis, an actuating means between said first and second members for effecting rotation on said second axis in response to relative axial adjustment of said second member.

Claim 18

Means for suturing in a restricted field of surgical operation from an area of manipulation remote from said field, comprising: means including a first member supported for rotation on a first axis of rotation intersecting the field and the area, means including a second member continuously axially adjustable relative to said first member parallel to said first axis, means journaling said first member for rotation on a second axis of rotation perpendicular to said first axis, an actuating means between said first and second members for effecting rotation on said second axis in response to relative axial adjustment of said second member.