US6245079B1 — Suturing device and method for sealing an opening…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 141 words

A suturing apparatus, comprising: an elongate body; an arm mounted to move relative to said elongate body, said arm having a needle receiving portion which mounts an end portion of a suture, said arm having a proximal side and a distal side, said arm being hingedly mounted to permit said proximal side to move away from said body to a first position and towards said body to a second position, said distal side being disposed adjacent said body during said movement of said proximal side; and a needle having a distal end, said needle mounted to move relative to said elongate body, said distal end of said needle movable from a position adjacent said elongate body to a position spaced outwardly from said body and within said needle receiving portion of said arm when said arm is in said first position.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 141 words

A suturing apparatus, comprising: an elongate body; an arm mounted to move relative to said elongate body, said arm having a needle receiving portion which mounts an end portion of a suture, said arm having a proximal side and a distal side, said arm being hingedly mounted to permit said proximal side to move away from said body to a first position and towards said body to a second position, said distal side being disposed adjacent said body during said movement of said proximal side; and a needle having a distal end, said needle mounted to move relative to said elongate body, said distal end of said needle movable from a position adjacent said elongate body to a position spaced outwardly from said body and within said needle receiving portion of said arm when said arm is in said first position.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 48 words

The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said needle comprises a shaft portion and tip portion, and wherein said apparatus comprises an eyelet disposed in said needle receiving portion, said eyelet sized to receive said distal end of said needle and to engage said needle by interference fit.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the needle comprises a shoulder proximal to the tip portion, said shoulder sized to capture said eyelet.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 147 words

A suturing apparatus, comprising: an elongated body; an arm mounted to move relative to said elongated body, said arm having a needle receiving portion which mounts an end portion of a suture, said arm having a proximal side and a distal side, said arm being hingedly mounted at said distal side to permit said proximal side to move away from said body to an extended position and toward said body to a retracted position; and a needle having a distal end, said needle mounted to move relative to said elongated body, said distal end of said needle movable from a position adjacent said elongated body to a position spaced outwardly from said body and within said needle receiving portion of said arm when said arm is in said extended position, such that the end portion of the suture is engaged by the distal end of the needle.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 147 words

A suturing apparatus, comprising: an elongated body; an arm mounted to move relative to said elongated body, said arm having a needle receiving portion which mounts an end portion of a suture, said arm having a proximal side and a distal side, said arm being hingedly mounted at said distal side to permit said proximal side to move away from said body to an extended position and toward said body to a retracted position; and a needle having a distal end, said needle mounted to move relative to said elongated body, said distal end of said needle movable from a position adjacent said elongated body to a position spaced outwardly from said body and within said needle receiving portion of said arm when said arm is in said extended position, such that the end portion of the suture is engaged by the distal end of the needle.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 49 words

The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said needle comprises a shaft portion and tip portion, and wherein said suture comprises an eyelet disposed in said needle receiving portion, said eyelet sized to receive said distal end of said needle, such that said eyelet is captured by said needle.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the needle comprises a shoulder proximal to the tip portion, said shoulder sized to cap said eyelet.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 144 words

The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising: a second arm mounted to move relative to said elongated body, said second arm having a needle receiving portion which mounts a second end portion of a suture, said second arm having an extended position in which said arm extends away from said body and a retracted position in which said arm is against said body; and a second needle having a distal end, said second needle mounted to move relative to said elongated body, said distal end of said second needle movable from a position adjacent said elongated body to a position spaced outwardly from said body and within said needle receiving portion of said second arm when said second arm is in said extended position, such that the second end portion of the suture is engaged by the distal end of the second needle.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first and second needles are configured to move relative to said elongated body at the same time.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first and second needles are configured to move relative to said elongated body at different times.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 55 words

The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first needle is configured to penetrate a first tissue portion and the second needle is configured to penetrate a second tissue portion, such that the first tissue portion and the second tissue portion are substantially drawn together when the end portions of the suture are drawn together.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a patch adapted to occlude a space between the fist and second portions of tissue.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the elongated body is adapted to bend the needle away from the body as it is advanced to penetrate tissue.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the elongated body comprises a needle guide for bending the needle.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 150 words

A method of suturing a vessel, comprising: providing a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and an actuating rod therein; attaching a suture to at least one needle point, said needle point being removably attached to a deformable arm, said deformable arm being fixed to an end of the actuator rod; pushing the actuating rod distally such that the deformable arm moves from an undeployed position with the needle point positioned inside the housing to a deployed position with the needle point positioned outside the housing and beyond the circumference of the housing into an internal passageway of a vessel through an opening in the vessel; pulling the actuating rod proximally such that the needle point penetrates the wall of the vessel; and catching the needle point with a suture catch and pulling the suture catch proximally such that the needle point is removed from the arm.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 150 words

A method of suturing a vessel, comprising: providing a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and an actuating rod therein; attaching a suture to at least one needle point, said needle point being removably attached to a deformable arm, said deformable arm being fixed to an end of the actuator rod; pushing the actuating rod distally such that the deformable arm moves from an undeployed position with the needle point positioned inside the housing to a deployed position with the needle point positioned outside the housing and beyond the circumference of the housing into an internal passageway of a vessel through an opening in the vessel; pulling the actuating rod proximally such that the needle point penetrates the wall of the vessel; and catching the needle point with a suture catch and pulling the suture catch proximally such that the needle point is removed from the arm.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 14 , wherein the needle point is press fit onto the deformable arm.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 14 , wherein the deformable arm is made of a shape memory material.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 16 , wherein the deformable arm is at rest when in the deployed position.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 14 , further comprising moving the actuating rod proximally following catching the needle point with the suture catch to pull the arm into the housing.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 14 , wherein the suture is attached to a pair of needle points, each needle point being correspondingly removably attached to a deformable arm.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 14 , wherein the suture catch is a rod extending longitudinally along the housing.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 20 , wherein the suture catch includes a V-shaped notch and a cavity for holding the needle point.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 87 words

A method of suturing a vessel, comprising: attaching a suture to at least one needle point, said needle point being attached to an arm; introducing the needle point into an internal passageway of a vessel through an opening in a wall of the vessel; penetrating the vessel wall from within the internal passageway with the needle point; and pulling the needle point with the suture from outside the vessel away from the vessel wall, said pulling of the needle point detaching the needle point from the arm.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 87 words

A method of suturing a vessel, comprising: attaching a suture to at least one needle point, said needle point being attached to an arm; introducing the needle point into an internal passageway of a vessel through an opening in a wall of the vessel; penetrating the vessel wall from within the internal passageway with the needle point; and pulling the needle point with the suture from outside the vessel away from the vessel wall, said pulling of the needle point detaching the needle point from the arm.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 22 , wherein the needle point is introduced through a housing.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 23 , wherein the arm is operably connected to an actuating rod within the housing.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 21 , wherein introducing the needle point into the internal passageway comprises pushing the actuating rod through the housing to allow the arm to move the needle point from within the housing into the internal passageway.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 203 words

A suturing device for suturing an opening in a wall of a vessel, comprising: a housing; an actuating rod supported within the housing; at least one arm having a first end fixed to the actuating rod and a second end; at least one needle point adapted to hold a suture and configured to penetrate biological tissue, the needle point being removably connected to said arm at said second end, wherein the actuating rod is moveable within the housing from a first position in which the arm is in an undeployed position and the needle point is inside the housing, to a second position in which the arm is in a deployed position and the needle point is outside the housing and beyond the circumference of the housing in an internal passageway of the vessel, and to a third position in which the needle point penetrates into the wall of the vessel; and at least one suture catch adapted to engage the needle point after the needle point has penetrated the wall of the vessel, wherein when said suture catch is moved in a direction away from the arm, the needle point disengages from the arm to carry the suture with the needle point.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 203 words

A suturing device for suturing an opening in a wall of a vessel, comprising: a housing; an actuating rod supported within the housing; at least one arm having a first end fixed to the actuating rod and a second end; at least one needle point adapted to hold a suture and configured to penetrate biological tissue, the needle point being removably connected to said arm at said second end, wherein the actuating rod is moveable within the housing from a first position in which the arm is in an undeployed position and the needle point is inside the housing, to a second position in which the arm is in a deployed position and the needle point is outside the housing and beyond the circumference of the housing in an internal passageway of the vessel, and to a third position in which the needle point penetrates into the wall of the vessel; and at least one suture catch adapted to engage the needle point after the needle point has penetrated the wall of the vessel, wherein when said suture catch is moved in a direction away from the arm, the needle point disengages from the arm to carry the suture with the needle point.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 17 words

The suturing device of claim 26 , wherein the needle point is press fit onto the arm.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 12 words

The suturing device of claim 26 , wherein the arm is deformable.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 18 words

The suturing device of claim 28 , wherein the deformable arm is made of a shape memory material.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 19 words

The suturing device of claim 29 , wherein the deformable arm is at rest when in the deployed position.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 19 words

The suturing device of claim 26 , wherein the suture catch is a rod extending longitudinally along the housing.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 19 words

The suturing device of claim 26 , wherein said suture catch has a cavity for holding the needle point.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 116 words

A suturing device, comprising: an elongate housing having a proximal end and a distal end; at least one arm mounted to move relative to said elongate body, said arm including a needle receiving portion and being actuatable between a first and second position, said needle receiving portion being substantially within said housing in said first position and said needle receiving portion disposed outwardly away from said housing in said second position; and a needle having a distal end, said needle mounted to move longitudinally along at least a portion of the extension of said elongate body in a proximal to distal direction and into said needle receiving portion when said arm is in said second position.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 116 words

A suturing device, comprising: an elongate housing having a proximal end and a distal end; at least one arm mounted to move relative to said elongate body, said arm including a needle receiving portion and being actuatable between a first and second position, said needle receiving portion being substantially within said housing in said first position and said needle receiving portion disposed outwardly away from said housing in said second position; and a needle having a distal end, said needle mounted to move longitudinally along at least a portion of the extension of said elongate body in a proximal to distal direction and into said needle receiving portion when said arm is in said second position.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 24 words

The suturing device of claim 33 , further comprising an actuator within said housing for actuating said arm between said first and second positions.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 24 words

The suturing device of claim 34 , wherein said actuator moves proximally to actuate said arm from said first position to said second position.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 12 words

The suturing device of claim 33 , comprising a pair of arms.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 26 words

The suturing device of claim 36 , wherein each of said arms is substantially parallel to one another when said arms are in their second position.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 23 words

The suturing device of claim 37 , wherein each of said arms is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongate housing.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 16 words

The suturing device of claim 36 , wherein each of the arms is a separate piece.

Claim 46

Independent Claim 113 words

A method of suturing a vessel, comprising: holding a suture with at least one suture clasp, the suture clasp being contained inside an elongate housing; introducing the elongate housing containing the suture clasp and suture into an internal passageway of a vessel through an opening in a wall of the vessel; moving the suture clasp from inside the elongate housing to outside the elongate housing; piercing the vessel wall with a suture catch; catching the suture with the suture catch after the suture clasp is moved outside away from the elongate housing; and penetrating the vessel wall with the suture, the step of penetrating comprising retracting the suture catch from the vessel wall.

Claim 47

Independent Claim 113 words

A method of suturing a vessel, comprising: holding a suture with at least one suture clasp, the suture clasp being contained inside an elongate housing; introducing the elongate housing containing the suture clasp and suture into an internal passageway of a vessel through an opening in a wall of the vessel; moving the suture clasp from inside the elongate housing to outside the elongate housing; piercing the vessel wall with a suture catch; catching the suture with the suture catch after the suture clasp is moved outside away from the elongate housing; and penetrating the vessel wall with the suture, the step of penetrating comprising retracting the suture catch from the vessel wall.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-06-11	2004-12-11	2005-06-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-06-11	2008-12-11	2009-06-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-06-11	2012-12-11	2013-06-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Suturing device and method for sealing an opening in a blood vessel or other biological structure

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