US5540705A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Suturing instrument with thread management
Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations Inc
•
Filing: 1995-05-19
•
Granted: 1996-07-30
•
Expires: 2015-05-19
Abstract
Abstract A suturing instrument for suturing tissue comprises an elongated housing having opposite ends. A curved suturing needle having a pointed end and to which a suture is attached is supported at one end of the housing for rotational motion about an axis. A driver mechanism in the housing rotates said needle about said axis through successive revolutions. There may also be a suture tensioner in the housing which applies tension to the suture to draw the suture toward the other end of said housing following each revolution of said needle. In its operation, the instrument thus emulates the actions of a surgeon suturing manually.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Meade
- 👤 Gerald I. Brecher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/0491
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A suturing instrument comprising a needle/suture cartridge, said cartridge including support means having opposite ends and an axis extending between them; a curved suturing needle having a pointed end; a suture having one end attached to said needle, track means at one end of said support means for supporting said needle for rotational motion about said axis, and actuator means for releasably holding the other end of said support means, said actuator means including rotary means releasably engaging and rotating said needle through successive revolutions about said axis in a direction to advance the pointed end of said needle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A suturing instrument comprising a needle/suture cartridge, said cartridge including support means having opposite ends and an axis extending between them; a curved suturing needle having a pointed end; a suture having one end attached to said needle, track means at one end of said support means for supporting said needle for rotational motion about said axis, and actuator means for releasably holding the other end of said support means, said actuator means including rotary means releasably engaging and rotating said needle through successive revolutions about said axis in a direction to advance the pointed end of said needle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The instrument defined in claim 1 wherein said curved needle is circular covering an arc greater than 180° and less than 330° leaving a gap between said needle ends.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The instrument defined in claim 1 wherein said needle includes interfitting means which interfit with said rotary means when said needle is rotated in said advancing direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The instrument defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator means comprise an elongated housing having opposite first and second ends; holding means at said housing first end for releasably holding the other end of said support means; a needle driver rotatably mounted in said housing, said driver including a portion which extends from said housing first end into driving engagement with said needle, and means adjacent to said housing second end for rotating said driver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The instrument defined in claim 1 wherein the needle also has an end opposite, and said suture one end is attatched to the needle opposite end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The instrument defined in claim 1 wherein the needle also has an opposite end, and the suture one end is attatched to the needle at a location therealong between the needle apex and said opposite end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
A suturing instrument for suturing tissue comprising an elongated housing having opposite ends; a curved suturing needle having a pointed end; a suture having one end attached to said needle; support means at one end of the housing for supporting said needle for rotational motion about an axis; means in said housing for rotating said needle about said axis through successive revolutions, and tensioning means in said housing for engaging and drawing said suture toward the other end of said housing following each revolution of said needle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
A suturing instrument for suturing tissue comprising an elongated housing having opposite ends; a curved suturing needle having a pointed end; a suture having one end attached to said needle; support means at one end of the housing for supporting said needle for rotational motion about an axis; means in said housing for rotating said needle about said axis through successive revolutions, and tensioning means in said housing for engaging and drawing said suture toward the other end of said housing following each revolution of said needle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
The instrument defined in claim 7 wherein said needle has circular curvature, and said support means include a cylindrical wall, means defining a circular track in the cylindrical wall that constrains the needle to follow a circular path about said axis, and an aperture in said wall which intercepts said track whereby the pointed end of the needle traverses the aperture during each revolution of the needle so that when the housing one end is placed against tissue so that the aperture faces the tissue, said needle can follow a curved path through the tissue.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The instrument defined in claim 7 wherein said means for rotating include a needle driver rotatably mounted in said housing, said driver including a portion which extends into driving engagement with said needle, and motive means at said housing other end for rotating said driver.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
A suturing instrument comprising a needle/suture cartridge, said cartridge including support means having opposite ends and an axis extending between them; a curved suturing needle having a pointed end; a suture having one end attached to said needle, and track means at one end of said support means for supporting said needle for rotational motion about said axis through successive revolutions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A suturing instrument comprising a needle/suture cartridge, said cartridge including support means having opposite ends and an axis extending between them; a curved suturing needle having a pointed end; a suture having one end attached to said needle, and track means at one end of said support means for supporting said needle for rotational motion about said axis through successive revolutions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
A suturing instrument for suturing tissue comprising an elongated housing having opposite ends; a curved suturing needle having a pointed end; a suture having one end attached to said needle; means defining a circular track at one end of the housing for supporting said needle for rotational motion about the track axis, and means in said housing for advancing said needle along said track through at least one revolution about said axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
A suturing instrument for suturing tissue comprising an elongated housing having opposite ends; a curved suturing needle having a pointed end; a suture having one end attached to said needle; means defining a circular track at one end of the housing for supporting said needle for rotational motion about the track axis, and means in said housing for advancing said needle along said track through at least one revolution about said axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The instrument defined in claim 11 and further including means in said housing temporarily storing said suture.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The instrument defined in claim 11 and further including at least one lumen positioned in said housing substantially parallel to said axis for temporarily storing suture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2327353A
Cited
US3901244A
Cited
US4484580A
Cited
US4440171A
Cited
US4462395A
Cited
US4596249A
Cited
US5224948A
Cited
US5152769A
Cited
EP0552430A1
Cited
DE4310315A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-30 | 2000-01-29 | 2000-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-30 | 2004-01-29 | 2004-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-30 | 2008-01-29 | 2008-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |