Apparatus for delivering a suture into a body cavity and method of using the apparatus

Claim 2

In combination: a) a pre-tied suture assembly having a needle carrying a thread with a noose thereon; and b) an instrument for delivering the pre-tied suture assembly into a body cavity, said instrument comprising: an elongate body having a proximal end and a free distal end; means on the body for holding the needle in a transfer position with the pointed free end of the needle shielded to prevent inadvertent puncture of a tissue as the suture assembly is introduced into a body cavity, said elongate body having a noose receiving portion to be surrounded by the noose with the needle in its transfer position to prevent the noose from closing upon itself; and first means on the elongate body for a) preventing the noose on the noose receiving portion from sliding from the noose receiving portion off of the distal free end of the body with the first means in a first position and b) allowing the noose to slide from the noose receiving portion off of the distal free end of the body with the first means in a second position.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 wherein the holding means is adjacent to the distal end of the body, the noose receiving portion has an outer surface with a first diameter and the first means comprises a blocking shoulder that has an effective diameter that is greater than the first diameter with the first means in its first position.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 2 wherein said instrument body has a lengthwise axis and the first means comprises first and second blocking shoulders at diametrically opposite locations relative to the instrument body axis.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 1 wherein the holding means comprises a pad of material which can be penetrated by the pointed free end of the needle of the pre-tied suture assembly.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 4 wherein the pad material is compressible rubber.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 1 wherein actuator means are provided on said instrument body at a location remote from said first means for selectively placing the first means in its first and second positions.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 1 further in combination with a sleeve with a passageway to be placed in communication with a cavity in which a suturing procedure is to be performed, and cooperating means on the proximal end of the elongate body and sleeve for blocking free communication of air between a cavity through the sleeve passageway to externally of the passageway.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 7 including means for releasably fixing the relative positions of the sleeve and instrument for delivering a pre-tied noose assembly.

Claim 10

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said elongate body has an internal stem and an external sleeve with a cylindrical outer surface defining the noose receiving portion, there being a cut in the sleeve, and said first means includes cooperating means, interconnecting the body stem and sleeve, for placing the stem and external sleeve selectively in first and second relative positions, said external sleeve bulged at the cut with the stem and sleeve in said first relative position to define a bulged external sleeve section defining a blocking shoulder to prevent the noose surrounding the external sleeve from sliding over the blocking shoulder and over and past the free distal end of the elongate body.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 9 wherein with the stem and external sleeve in their second relative position, the bulged external sleeve section and stem are sufficiently close to each other to captively hold a suturing needle therebetween.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim 1 wherein the elongate body and holding means are made entirely from plastic.

Claim 13

An instrument for delivering a pre-tied suture assembly into a body cavity, said suture assembly having a needle carrying a thread with a noose formed by the thread, the needle having a pointed free end to puncture a tissue and guide movement of the needle and thread therethrough, said instrument comprising: an elongate body having a proximal end and a free distal end; means for holding a needle in a transfer position as a suture assembly held by the instrument is introduced into a body cavity; a noose receiving portion to be surrounded by a noose with a needle in its transfer position to prevent a noose from completely closing upon itself; and first means separate from the holding means for a) preventing a noose on the noose receiving portion from sliding off of the noose receiving portion with the first means in a first position and b) allowing a noose to slide from the noose receiving portion off of the instrument with the first means in a second position, wherein the holding means comprises a discrete pad of material attached at the free distal end of the body which pad is made of a different material than that of the body and can be penetrated by the pointed free end of a needle on a pre-tied suture assembly, wherein the pad does not extend from the free distal end of the body toward the proximal end of the body as far as the holding means.

Claim 14

An instrument for delivering a pre-tied suture assembly into a body cavity, said suture assembly having a needle carrying a thread with a noose formed by the thread, the needle having a pointed free end to puncture a tissue and guide movement of the needle and thread therethrough, said instrument comprising: an elongate body having a proximal end and a free distal end; means for holding a needle in a transfer position as a suture assembly held by the instrument is introduced into a body cavity; a noose receiving portion to be surrounded by a noose with a needle in its transfer position to prevent a noose from completely closing upon itself; and first means separate from the holding means for a) preventing a noose on the noose receiving portion from sliding off of the noose receiving portion with the first means in a first position and b) allowing a noose to slide from the noose receiving portion off of the instrument with the first means in a second position, wherein the holding means comprises a discrete pad of material attached at the free distal end of the body which pad is made of a different material than that of the body and can be penetrated by the pointed free end of a needle on a pre-tied suture assembly, wherein the pad does not extend from the free distal end of the body toward the proximal end of the body as far as the holding means.

Claim 15

The instrument for delivering a pre-tied noose assembly according to claim 12 wherein the holding means is adjacent to the distal end of the body, the noose receiving portion has an outer surface with a first diameter and the first means comprises a blocking shoulder that has an effective diameter that is greater than the first diameter with the first means in its first position.

Claim 16

The instrument for delivering a pre-tied noose assembly according to claim 12 wherein actuator means are provided on said instrument body at a location remote from said first means for selectively placing the first means in its first and second positions.

Claim 17

An instrument for delivering a pre-tied suture assembly into a body cavity, said suture assembly having a needle carrying a thread with a noose formed by the thread, the needle having a pointed free end to puncture a tissue and guide movement of the needle and thread therethrough, said instrument comprising: an elongate body having a proximal end and a free distal end; means for holding a needle in a transfer position as a suture assembly held by the instrument is introduced into a body cavity; a noose receiving portion to be surrounded by a noose with a needle in its transfer position to prevent a noose from completely closing upon itself; first means separate from the holding means for a) preventing a noose on the noose receiving portion from sliding off of the noose receiving portion with the first means in a first position and b) allowing a noose to slide from the noose receiving portion off of the instrument with the first means in a second position, wherein the holding means comprises a discrete pad of material attached to the body which pad is made of a different material than that of the body and can be penetrated by the pointed free end of a needle on a pre-tied suture assembly; and a pre-tied suture assembly comprising a needle with a pointed free end and carrying a thread with a noose thereon to surround the noose receiving portion.

Claim 18

An instrument for delivering a pre-tied suture assembly into a body cavity, said suture assembly having a needle carrying a thread with a noose formed by the thread, the needle having a pointed free end to puncture a tissue and guide movement of the needle and thread therethrough, said instrument comprising: an elongate body having a proximal end and a free distal end; means for holding a needle in a transfer position as a suture assembly held by the instrument is introduced into a body cavity; a noose receiving portion to be surrounded by a noose with a needle in its transfer position to prevent a noose from completely closing upon itself; first means separate from the holding means for a) preventing a noose on the noose receiving portion from sliding off of the noose receiving portion with the first means in a first position and b) allowing a noose to slide from the noose receiving portion off of the instrument with the first means in a second position, wherein the holding means comprises a discrete pad of material attached to the body which pad is made of a different material than that of the body and can be penetrated by the pointed free end of a needle on a pre-tied suture assembly; and a pre-tied suture assembly comprising a needle with a pointed free end and carrying a thread with a noose thereon to surround the noose receiving portion.

Claim 19

The instrument for delivering a pre-tied noose assembly according to claim 15 wherein the pad material is compressible rubber.

Claim 20

An instrument for delivering a pre-tied suture assembly into a body cavity, said suture assembly having a needle carrying a thread with a noose formed by the thread, the needle having a pointed free end to puncture a tissue and guide movement of the needle and thread therethrough, said instrument comprising: an elongate body having a proximal end and a free distal end; means for holding a needle in a transfer position as a suture assembly held by the instrument is introduced into a body cavity; a noose receiving portion to be surrounded by a noose with a needle in its transfer position to prevent a noose from completely closing upon itself; first means separate from the holding means for a) preventing a noose on the noose receiving portion from sliding off of the noose receiving portion with the first means in a first position and b) allowing a noose to slide from the noose receiving portion off of the instrument with the first means in a second position, wherein the holding means comprises a discrete pad of material attached to the body which pad is made of a different material than that of the body and can be penetrated by the pointed free end of a needle on a pre-tied suture assembly, wherein said elongate body has an internal stem and an external sleeve with a cylindrical outer surface defining the noose receiving portion, there being a cut in the sleeve, and said first means includes cooperating means, interconnecting the body stem and sleeve, for placing the stem and external sleeve selectively in first and second relative positions, said external sleeve bulged at the cut with the stem and sleeve in said first relative position to define a bulged external sleeve section defining a blocking shoulder to prevent a noose surrounding the external sleeve from sliding over the blocking shoulder and over and past the free distal end of the elongate body.

Claim 21

An instrument for delivering a pre-tied suture assembly into a body cavity, said suture assembly having a needle carrying a thread with a noose formed by the thread, the needle having a pointed free end to puncture a tissue and guide movement of the needle and thread therethrough, said instrument comprising: an elongate body having a proximal end and a free distal end; means for holding a needle in a transfer position as a suture assembly held by the instrument is introduced into a body cavity; a noose receiving portion to be surrounded by a noose with a needle in its transfer position to prevent a noose from completely closing upon itself; first means separate from the holding means for a) preventing a noose on the noose receiving portion from sliding off of the noose receiving portion with the first means in a first position and b) allowing a noose to slide from the noose receiving portion off of the instrument with the first means in a second position, wherein the holding means comprises a discrete pad of material attached to the body which pad is made of a different material than that of the body and can be penetrated by the pointed free end of a needle on a pre-tied suture assembly, wherein said elongate body has an internal stem and an external sleeve with a cylindrical outer surface defining the noose receiving portion, there being a cut in the sleeve, and said first means includes cooperating means, interconnecting the body stem and sleeve, for placing the stem and external sleeve selectively in first and second relative positions, said external sleeve bulged at the cut with the stem and sleeve in said first relative position to define a bulged external sleeve section defining a blocking shoulder to prevent a noose surrounding the external sleeve from sliding over the blocking shoulder and over and past the free distal end of the elongate body.

Claim 22

The instrument for delivering a pre-tied noose assembly according to claim 17 wherein with the stem and external sleeve in their second relative position, the bulged external sleeve section and stem are sufficiently close to each other to captively hold a suturing needle therebetween.

Claim 23

An instrument for delivering a needle through a tissue opening into a body cavity, said instrument comprising: an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end; and resilient means on, and adjacent to the distal end of, the body to be penetrated by the pointed free end of a needle on a suture assembly to thereby positively hold the needle in a transfer position to prevent inadvertent puncture of a tissue as the suture assembly is introduced into a body cavity, there being in combination with said instrument a suture assembly with a needle having a pointed free end for penetrating the resilient means and a thread carried by the needle, there further being means on the body for releasably holding the thread on the body, wherein the distal body end is a free end, the resilient means is provided adjacent to the distal free end of the body and first means are provided on the body for selectively a) preventing a portion of the thread on the suture assembly, with the needle on the suture assembly in its transfer position, from passing in a first direction from the proximal end of the body toward the distal end of the body, past the free end of the body with the first means in a first position and b) allowing the thread portion to pass in the first direction beyond the free distal end of the body with the first means in a second position.

Claim 24

An instrument for delivering a needle through a tissue opening into a body cavity, said instrument comprising: an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end; and resilient means on, and adjacent to the distal end of, the body to be penetrated by the pointed free end of a needle on a suture assembly to thereby positively hold the needle in a transfer position to prevent inadvertent puncture of a tissue as the suture assembly is introduced into a body cavity, there being in combination with said instrument a suture assembly with a needle having a pointed free end for penetrating the resilient means and a thread carried by the needle, there further being means on the body for releasably holding the thread on the body, wherein the distal body end is a free end, the resilient means is provided adjacent to the distal free end of the body and first means are provided on the body for selectively a) preventing a portion of the thread on the suture assembly, with the needle on the suture assembly in its transfer position, from passing in a first direction from the proximal end of the body toward the distal end of the body, past the free end of the body with the first means in a first position and b) allowing the thread portion to pass in the first direction beyond the free distal end of the body with the first means in a second position.

Claim 25

The instrument for delivering a suture assembly according to claim 19 in combination with a sleeve having an inside surface defining a passageway through which the instrument can be directed, said sleeve surface defining a first diameter, said first means defining a blocking shoulder in said sleeve passageway with the first means in its first position to prevent passage thereby of said portion of the thread.

Claim 26

The instrument for delivering a suture assembly according to claim 20 wherein the thread portion has an enlargement to abut the blocking shoulder on the body with the first means in its first position to thereby prevent passage of the thread portion.

Claim 27

The instrument for delivering a suture assembly according to claim 21 wherein the enlargement comprises a body that is attached to the thread.

Claim 28

The instrument for delivering a suture assembly according to claim 20 wherein the suture portion comprises a preformed/pre-tied noose that surrounds the body and abuts the shoulder on the first means with the first means in its first position.

Claim 29

In combination: a) a suture assembly having a needle carrying a thread, the needle having a pointed free end to puncture a tissue and guide movement of the needle and thread therethrough; and b) an instrument for delivering the pre-tied suture assembly into a body cavity, said instrument comprising: an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end; means on the body for holing the needle in a transfer position so that the suture assembly can be introduced into a body cavity by directing the distal body end into a body cavity with the thread on the suture assembly in a trailing position; first means on the body for a) preventing a portion of the thread on the suture assembly from passing in a first direction from the proximal end of the body toward the distal end of the body past the first means with the first means in a first position and b) allowing the thread portion to pass in the first direction beyond the distal end of the body with the first means in a second position.

Claim 30

In combination: a) a suture assembly having a needle carrying a thread, the needle having a pointed free end to puncture a tissue and guide movement of the needle and thread therethrough; and b) an instrument for delivering the pre-tied suture assembly into a body cavity, said instrument comprising: an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end; means on the body for holing the needle in a transfer position so that the suture assembly can be introduced into a body cavity by directing the distal body end into a body cavity with the thread on the suture assembly in a trailing position; first means on the body for a) preventing a portion of the thread on the suture assembly from passing in a first direction from the proximal end of the body toward the distal end of the body past the first means with the first means in a first position and b) allowing the thread portion to pass in the first direction beyond the distal end of the body with the first means in a second position.

Claim 31

The combination according to claim 24 including a sleeve having a surface defining a through passageway for said instrument, said through passageway having a first diameter and the first means defines a blocking shoulder within said passageway, with the first means in its first position, to reduce the effective diameter of said through passageway.

Claim 32

The combination according to claim 25 wherein the thread portion has an enlargement thereon to abut the blocking shoulder on the body with the first means in its first position.

Claim 33

The combination according to claim 26 wherein the enlargement is at least one of a bead, a clip, and a staple.

Claim 34

The combination according to claim 27 wherein there is a knot in the thread to keep the at least one of the bead, clip and staple from sliding relative to the thread in at least one direction.

Claim 35

The combination according to claim 25 wherein the thread portion comprises a noose which surrounds a portion of the elongate body between the proximal and distal ends thereof and abuts the blocking shoulder on the body with the first means in its first position.

Claim 38

The method of delivering a pre-tied suture assembly according to claim 30 including the step of holding the needle with the instrument before introducing the suture assembly into a cavity.

Claim 39

The method of delivering a pre-tied suture assembly according to claim 31 wherein the needle holding step comprises the step of penetrating a part of the instrument with the pointed free needle end before introducing the suture assembly into a body cavity to prevent puncturing of an organ by the pointed free needle end as the suture assembly is introduced into a body cavity.