Suture safety device for minimally invasive surgical suturing

Abstract

A suture safety device is disclosed. The suture safety device also includes a latch, a plate, and an actuator coupled to the latch and operable to move the latch away from the plate. The suture safety device may also include: a first latch array; a second latch array; a plurality of plates; a first actuator coupled to the first latch array and operable to move the first latch array away from the plurality of plates; and a second actuator coupled to the second latch array and operable to move the second latch array away from the plurality of plates.

Description

[0001] Related Applications

[0002] This international patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 838,281, entitled “SUTURE SECURITY DEVICE FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGICAL SUTURING,” filed on April 24, 2019. The entire contents of the 62 / 838,281 application are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The claimed invention relates generally to surgical instruments for automated suturing and, more particularly, to such surgical instruments having a suture safety device to ensure that the suture does not deploy prematurely. Background Art

[0004] Surgical instruments for automated suturing (e.g., from LSI Solutions, Victor, NY) www.lsisolutions.com )of Device) provides a reliable and effective way to remotely deliver suture stitches through minimally invasive surgical openings. Such devices usually have a suture loaded therein, whereby the suture has a metal tube or ferrule attached to the end of the suture. The ferrule is located in a ferrule holder on one side of the tissue gap on the distal end of the suturing device. The needle on the opposite side of the tissue gap of the device is axially aligned with the retained ferrule. The device is oriented to place the target tissue position in the tissue gap, and the needle actuator is engaged to move the needle through the tissue in the gap, interfering with the ferrule so that the ferrule is connected to the needle. The needle actuator is released, so that the needle is retracted back through the tissue in the tissue gap, and the suture attached to the ferrule is also pulled back through the tissue and this forms a stitch in the tissue.

[0005] Typically, the loop holder is very effective in keeping the loop aligned with the needle of the device before the stitch is formed. However, automated suturing devices continue to be developed to meet the ever-expanding applications in which the device may be used and / or the flexibility and maneuverability of the device shaft required to position the tissue gap onto the target tissue may cause the loop held in the loop holder to loosen before the needle is actuated. If this occurs, the suturing device may not work as intended.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a suture safety device for such automatic suturing devices to provide a high degree of assurance that the ferrule remains in its ferrule holder until the needle is ready to pick it up for a particular suturing application. Summary of the invention

[0007] A suture security device is disclosed. The suture security device also includes a latch, a plate, and an actuator coupled to the latch and operable to move the latch away from the plate.

[0008] Another suture safety device is also disclosed. The suture safety device includes: a first latch array; a second latch array; a plurality of plates; a first actuator coupled to the first latch array and operable to move the first latch array away from the plurality of plates; and a second actuator coupled to the second latch array and operable to move the second latch array away from the plurality of plates.

[0009] An additional suture safety device is also disclosed. The suture safety device also includes: a housing; a first latch array having a plurality of latches coupled to the housing; a second latch array having a plurality of latches coupled to the housing and interleaved with the first latch array; a plurality of plates; a first actuator coupled to the first latch array and operable to move the first latch array away from the plurality of plates, and a second actuator coupled to the second latch array and operable to move the second latch array away from the plurality of plates. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figures 1A-1C is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a suture safety device 20 for surgical suturing.

[0011] Figures 2A-2H , 2J is an exploded view showing the assembly of another embodiment of a suture safety device.

[0012] Figure 3 It is a partial illustration of the assembly of the suture safety device.

[0013] It should be understood that for purposes of clarity and where considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated in the drawings to indicate corresponding features and that various elements in the drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to better illustrate the features. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Figure 1A2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a suture safety device 20 for surgical suturing. The device has a latch 22 that can be selectively held toward a plate 24. A suture 26 can be placed between the latch 22 and its plate 24. At least one end of the suture 26 has a ferrule 28 coupled thereto. The ferrule 28 is placed into a ferrule holder 30, and the suture 26 is returned toward the latch 22 and the plate 24. The suture 26 can be slightly tightened or otherwise adjusted in length so that the ferrule 28 is retained in the ferrule holder 30. The latch 22 can be engaged or held toward the plate 24, thereby clamping the suture 26 therebetween to maintain the suture position and provide additional assurance that the ferrule 28 will not leave the ferrule holder 30 prematurely. As described above in the background, the needle 32 is axially aligned relative to the loaded ferrule 28.

[0015] like Figure 1B As shown schematically, the needle 32 can be actuated toward and into contact with the collar 28. At about the same time or at any desired relative time, the actuator 34 can also be engaged to move the latch 22 away from the plate 24 to release the retained suture 26. Figure 1B At the moment of the needle 32 has properly engaged the collar 28, so there is no need to fix the collar 28 in the collar holder 30 at this time. By releasing the clamping of the latch 22 on the suture 26, the needle 32 is then Figure 1C The loop 28 and its attached suture 26 are shown free to retract, thereby pulling the loop 28 and its attached suture 26 back through the tissue space.

[0016] exist Figure 1A-1B In the embodiment of the present invention, the actuator 34 that moves the latch 22 away from the plate 24 can be coupled to the actuator for the needle 32, or it can be actuated separately. In the embodiment shown, the latch 22 can pivot about the axis 36 when the cam link 38 coupled to the actuator 34 moves. In this way, the suture 26 is fixed until it needs to be released. For some embodiments, the plate 24 can be part of, supported by, or adjacent to a window 40 through which a user can observe the retained suture 26 and see when it moves after the ferrule is picked up in order to remotely verify a successful needle pick-up, because the distal tip with the needle 32 and ferrule 28 may not be visible to the user.

[0017] Figures 2A-2H, 2J is an exploded view showing the assembly of another embodiment of a suture safety device. The device has a plurality of latches, represented by a first latch array 42 and a second latch array 44. The first latch array 42 has a plurality of latches 46, while the second latch array has a plurality of latches 48. In this embodiment, each latch array 42, 44 has six latches 46, 48, respectively, which means that the final unit will be able to secure twelve sutures, six of which are secured using the first latch array 42 and six of which are secured using the second latch array 44. Each latch array 42, 44 has its own cam link 50, 52. Similarly, each latch array 42, 44 has its own pivot axis 54, 56. In this embodiment, the second latch array 44 has a clearance slot 58, which allows the two latch arrays to be staggered for a more compact assembly. The compact, staggered latch array assembly 60 is Figure 2B Visible in.

[0018] The latch assembly 60 is placed within the inner housing 62, with the ends of the pivot axes 54, 56 passing through holes 64, 66 on both sides (only one side is visible in this view) and held in place (while still pivotable) by bushings 68, 70.

[0019] like Figure 2C As shown, an optional comb 72 may be provided to interface with the housing and assist in retaining a tube (not shown) to guide the suture into the housing 62. The suture will pass through the inner housing 62 from the distal end into the channel 74 and exit the inner housing 62 at the proximal end at the opening 76.

[0020] like Figure 2D As shown, the outer housing 78 can be placed on the inner housing 62. Figure 2E As shown, the first actuator 80 passes through the outer housing 78 and the inner housing 62 to couple with the cam link 50 of the first latch array 42. Similarly, the second actuator 82 passes through the outer housing 78 and the inner housing 62 to couple with the cam link 52 of the second latch array 44.

[0021] like Figure 2F As shown, temporary mounting posts 84 are placed in aligned holes in each of the latches 46, 48. Individual sutures are arranged around each mounting post 84 such that each suture does not extend in a straight line.

[0022] like Figure 2G As shown, a set of plates 86 are coupled to a transparent window 88 in a pattern to be aligned with previously assembled latches 46, 48. In other embodiments, the plates 86 may be integral with the window, and in still other embodiments, the transparent window may be only translucent or not translucent or not transparent at all (in which case, for these embodiments, viewing functionality would be lost).

[0023] like Figure 2H As shown, Figure 2G The window and plate assembly 90 is placed in Figure 2F Each plate 86 has a hole therein that allows a temporary mounting post to pass through, which enables the plates 86 and latches 46, 48 to sandwich a single suture portion therebetween (six are held by the first latch array and the other six are held by the second latch array).

[0024] There is no Figure 2I because that figure looks too similar to Figure 21. Then, as Figure 2J As shown, the temporary mounting post 84 is removed from the device.

[0025] Figure 3 yes Figure 2J , wherein the two latch arrays 42, 44 can be seen to press their latches upward against the corresponding plates. The first actuator 80 will release the suture held by the first latch array 42, while the second actuator will release the suture held by the second latch array 44.

[0026] Various advantages of suture safety devices for minimally invasive suturing have been discussed above. The embodiments discussed herein have been described by way of example in this specification. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing detailed disclosure is intended to be presented only by way of example and not by way of limitation. Although not explicitly stated herein, various substitutions, improvements and modifications may occur and are contemplated by those skilled in the art. These substitutions, improvements and modifications are intended to be proposed herein and are within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. In addition, the order of the listed processing elements or sequences or the use of numbers, letters or other names is not intended to limit the claims to any order unless specified in the claims. Therefore, the present invention is only subject to the following claims and their equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A suture safety device for automatic surgical suturing, comprising: a first array of latches, each of which is pivotable about a first axis; a first cam link array, each of the first latch arrays being coupled to a corresponding one of the first cam link arrays; a second array of latches, each of which is pivotable about a second axis; a second cam link array, each of the second latch arrays being coupled to a corresponding one of the second cam link arrays; a plurality of first plates, wherein each of the first latch arrays is configured to be selectively retained toward a corresponding one of the plurality of first plates so as to be configured to capture a suture between each of the first latch arrays and the corresponding one of the plurality of first plates; a plurality of second plates, wherein each of the second latch arrays is configured to be selectively retained toward a corresponding one of the plurality of second plates so as to be configured to capture a suture between each of the second latch arrays and the corresponding one of the plurality of second plates; a first actuator coupled to each of the first latch arrays through a corresponding one of the first cam linkage arrays and operable to move the first latch array away from the plurality of first plates; and A second actuator is coupled to each of the second latch arrays through a corresponding one of the second cam linkage arrays and is operable to move the second latch array away from the plurality of second plates.

2. The suture security device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more comb members.

3. The suture security device of claim 1, further comprising a housing and a window coupled to the housing.

4. The suture safety device according to claim 3, wherein: The window is made of a transparent material.

5. The suture security device of claim 1, further comprising one or more suture channels.

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