Suturing device and suturing needle

Abstract

The invention relates to a suturing device for suturing at least one layer of a material to be sutured, the device comprising a housing in which a circular guide, extending about an axis, is formed for receiving an arcuately curved suturing needle and for guiding the suturing needle in a rotational direction about the axis for a circulating rotational movement, the suturing needle having a tip and an end to which a thread is or can be fixed, and extending in a circumferential direction from the tip to the end across a needle circumference angle, a needle opening region, extending in the circumferential direction, remaining between the end and the tip, the housing and the guide extending, relative to the axis, in the circumferential direction by a guide angle of less than 360°, and a receiving opening which extends in the circumferential direction remaining for receiving the material, and comprising a needle drive for cyclically moving the suturing needle in a full rotation about the axis, beginning in a starting position, in which the needle opening region and the receiving opening overlap at least in part.

Description

[0001] Sewing device and sewing needle

[0002] The invention relates to a sewing device for sewing at least one layer of a material to be sewn and a sewing needle, as well as a method for sewing material using a sewing device according to the invention.

[0003] Especially in the surgical field, many sutures are performed with needle and thread, although methods such as staples or plasters and spray plasters are useful for short-term fixation but would not promote wound healing.

[0004] A single needle, usually guided manually by one hand and an aid, is guided to a wound with a thread attached to the needle and the wound is closed using suturing methods such as a Donati suture or a single-head suture.

[0005] With conventional methods, the needle has to be picked up with an aid such as a needle holder, which works on a forceps-like principle and is designed to hold the needle in place when the needle is removed from its packaging. The needle must then be guided towards and into the wound. The thread must also be held using an aid such as tweezers and then knotted after the sewing process. This requires a lot of patience, delicate work and mindfulness. In addition, there are several steps in which the needle holder has to be separated from the needle, for example in order to tie a knot. In more confined sewing situations, such as in oral and maxillofacial surgery, endosurgery, otolaryngology, such as during a tonsillectomy, or in...In neurosurgery, there is little room to guide the needle with various tools and achieve a precise, clean, and satisfactory result for the patient, as contamination, which could arise from sloppy work, can lead to harmful health effects. Preventing these problems currently requires considerable effort and time in teaching the use of such suturing methods in various surgical applications, as aspiring physicians learn during medical school, for example. Furthermore, further training is needed, even for experienced physicians, to deepen their understanding of these methods.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned problems. In particular, it is intended to provide a sewing device that is immediately ready for use without insertion and that does not require manual movement in the sewing room during the sewing process.

[0007] According to the invention, the sewing device for sewing at least one layer of material to be sewn comprises a housing in which a circular guide extending around an axis is formed for receiving a circularly curved sewing needle and for guiding the sewing needle for a circumferential rotational movement in a rotational direction around the axis, wherein the sewing needle has a tip and an end, to which a thread is fixed or can be fixed, and extends in a circumferential direction from the tip to the end over a needle circumferential angle, wherein a needle opening area extending in the circumferential direction remains between the end and the tip, wherein the housing and the guide extend in the circumferential direction with respect to the axis by a guide angle of less than 360° and a circumferentially extending receiving opening remains for receiving the material,and with a needle drive for cyclically moving the sewing needle one full rotation around the axis, starting from a starting position in which the needle opening and the receiving opening at least partially overlap. Depending on the area of ​​application, the tissue may be living material, as in surgery, although the area of ​​application is preferably broadly defined. This can involve applications outside the body, such as suturing on the skin, such as in cuts or puncture wounds. However, suturing can also be performed inside the body, such as in oral and maxillofacial surgery, or in narrower areas also in neurosurgery or in interventions near the spine.

[0008] The needle drive can be realized by a mechanical driver, in particular a mechanical arm, which is rotatably mounted on the axis in a bearing and can be brought into drive engagement with the sewing needle in order to carry out the rotational movement of the needle. The arm can be operated manually or by a motor.

[0009] In one embodiment, the needle drive may comprise a motor and an associated control system. A motor drive is advantageous when the sewing device is not used in the surgical field, but rather, for example, for securing curtains or other textile items, where conventional hand-stitching is time-consuming and requires considerable effort, or where it is difficult to perform precise work because the seams are difficult to access.

[0010] The mechanical arm can have an engagement means, in particular in the form of a tooth, which is designed to engage in a locking means provided for this purpose, in particular a projection or a notch on the sewing needle.

[0011] In a special embodiment, one end of the mechanical arm facing the sewing needle can be slightly angled, creating an axial difference between the arm and the engagement means, allowing it to engage with a locking means provided on the sewing needle. Furthermore, the end of the mechanical arm facing the sewing needle can be wider than the engagement means, providing support for guiding the sewing needle and preventing it from slipping during a rotational movement.

[0012] It can be provided that the sewing device comprises a further driver, in particular a further mechanical arm, which can be brought into driving engagement with the sewing needle

[0013] NüMicherweise the rotation direction of the rotational movement of the mechanical arm can be opposite to the rotation direction of the rotational movement of the other mechanical arm.

[0014] In one embodiment, the mechanical arm may be mounted axially adjacent to the further mechanical arm.

[0015] Advantageously, in a design with two arms or an arm mounted axially above the sewing needle, a circumferentially extending escape opening is formed in the housing for the passage of a thread fixed to the sewing needle.

[0016] The thread escape opening is an opening in the housing designed so that when the sewing needle is transferred from one mechanical arm to the other, the fixed thread can slide out of the opening, preventing it from becoming jammed under the mechanical arm located above and one side of the same arm. The thread is moved by the arm sliding above the sewing needle toward the escape opening.

[0017] In a possible embodiment with a mechanical arm arranged axially above the sewing needle, an escape opening is also advantageous to prevent the thread from jamming. The escape opening is located at a position where the mechanical arm, which is arranged axially above the sewing needle and the thread, slides over the thread. In another embodiment, engagement means can be arranged along the guide on a guide wall, axially opposite to the closed housing surface, starting from the circumferential surface and towards the bearing of the mechanical arms, which hold the sewing needle in its rotational movement. This is particularly advantageous in an embodiment with only one mechanical arm.

[0018] The invention further relates to a sewing needle for suturing material, wherein the sewing needle preferably has a circular arc-shaped curvature and extends from a tip to an end around a needle circumferential angle, wherein at least one locking means is formed on the needle, which is preferably designed as a depression, in particular as a notch, and which serves as a hold during engagement of a needle drive. The sewing needle can have different types of cross-sectional shapes, with a circular cross-section preferably being used. Alternatives could include, for example, a triangular cross-section, which is used in surgery for self-tapping needles.

[0019] Preferably, the needle circumference angle can be dimensioned and fixed differently for different areas of application. For procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery, in which the space for the treating physician is usually only a few centimeters, a significantly shorter sewing needle and smaller-sized sewing device are necessary than for sewing procedures in openly accessible areas.

[0020] Alternatively, a plurality of locking means can be arranged along the sewing needle. This depends on the needle circumferential angle and the circumferential length of the sewing needle.

[0021] The invention further relates to a method for sewing material using a sewing device according to the invention, comprising the steps of: a) bringing the sewing device and the material together so that the material is located in the receiving opening; b) activating the rotational movement of the sewing device. Advantageously, one mechanical arm at the end of the sewing needle engages the sewing needle and moves it in the direction of rotation, with the tip moving toward the material.

[0022] The engagement means of the mechanical arm can engage with the locking means of the sewing needle and move the sewing needle through the material.

[0023] In an alternative possible transfer of the drive of the sewing needle from one mechanical arm to another mechanical arm, the arms advantageously perform a forward movement in and a backward movement against the direction of rotation.

[0024] The transfer of the drive of the sewing needle from one mechanical arm to the other mechanical arm occurs when the one mechanical arm reaches the other mechanical arm, that is, when the one mechanical arm reaches an end position and the other mechanical arm is reached in a starting position.

[0025] The transfer takes place before one mechanical arm would collide with the material during a force-exerting rotational movement in the direction of rotation, which is implemented at the end of the sewing needle by the mechanical arm. Therefore, a force-exerting rotational movement in the direction of rotation is necessary, which acts near the tip of the sewing needle in order to move the sewing needle out of the material. A re-engagement occurs when the mechanical arm previously acting at the end of the sewing needle transfers the needle drive to the other mechanical arm, which continues the rotational movement in the direction of rotation near the tip of the sewing needle. Alternatively, in an embodiment with a mechanical arm, this can also be achieved by the mechanical arm changing its direction of rotation, moving to a locking means near the tip of the sewing needle and moving the needle out of the material with a pulling movement when the direction of rotation changes again.Preferably, when transferring the drive of the sewing needle from one mechanical arm to the other mechanical arm, the thread is moved through the escape opening, which prevents the thread from becoming jammed between the mechanical arms.

[0026] The invention is described below using embodiments of the sewing device long, with reference to a drawing in which

[0027] Fig.j. a plan view of an embodiment of the close-up device in the initial position,

[0028] Fig. 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of one of the mechanical arms 28,

[0029] Fig. 3 a plan view of different positions of the proximity device during the process execution,

[0030] Fig.4 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the sewing device,

[0031] Fig. 5. a plan view of another embodiment of the proximity device,

[0032] Fig. 6 is a plan view of an embodiment of the proximity device with a mechanical Ann,

[0033] Fig. 7 is a plan view of different positions of the proximity device when carrying out the procedure with one arm,

[0034] Fig. 8 is a plan view of an embodiment of the needle drive 2b,

[0035] Fig. 9 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the needle drive 26, Fig. 10 is a plan view of different embodiments of the locking means 34 of a mechanical arm or the guide,

[0036] Fig. 11 a cylindrical projection of an embodiment of the sewing device 100. and

[0037] Fig. 12 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of the needle drive 26.

[0038] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the sewing device 100 for sewing at least one layer of a material to be sewn in a starting position. The sewing device 100 comprises a housing 10 in which a circular guide 12 extending around an axis A is formed for receiving a circularly curved sewing needle 14 and for guiding the sewing needle 14 for a circumferential rotational movement around the axis A. The sewing needle 14 has a tip 16 and an end 18, to which a thread 20 is fixed, and extends from the tip 16 to the end 18 over a needle circumferential angle λ. Between the end 18 and the tip 16, a needle opening area 22 extending in the circumferential direction remains. The housing 10 and the guide 12 extend circumferentially around the axis A by a guide angle cw of less than 360°, leaving a circumferentially extending receiving opening 24 (360° - a m) for receiving the material. Furthermore, a needle drive 26 can be seen, which comprises a first mechanical arm 28a and a second mechanical arm 28b, which are adjacent to one another in the axial direction, are mounted for rotation about the axis A in a housing-fixed bearing 30 (not visible here), and can engage with the sewing needle 14.

[0039] The housing 10 extends in the circumferential direction with respect to the axis A, wherein the housing 10 is closed in a first axial direction and is closed in an opposite axial direction with a height hpührang (see Fig. 11), wherein, minus wall thicknesses, the guide 12 has a radius The guide 12 is thus closed on three sides for the sewing needle 14 and has a guide wall 12WA opposite a closed housing surface.

[0040] In addition to the receiving opening 24, which is brought together with the material and comprises a first opening edge 24a and a second opening edge 24b, the housing 10 has an escape opening 38 along the guide 12 on a radial outer wall in the circumferential direction, which in this example is arranged radially opposite the receiving opening 24. The escape opening 38 serves as an opening for the exit of the thread 20 and extends in the circumferential direction by an escape opening angle OFÖ of less than 90°, wherein the escape opening 38 has a first opening edge 38a and a second opening edge 38b

[0041] In this embodiment, the sewing needle 14 has a circular cross-section, and on the sewing needle 14 there is a locking means 36, here in the form of a recess, which serves for engagement with an engagement means 34a of the mechanical needle 28a. Furthermore, the sewing needle has a diameter or, in other cross-sectional shapes, a thickness d?&de? f which is smaller than the height of the guide is to be moved with minimal play in the guide 12.

[0042] Alternatively to the circular cross-section, the sewing needle 14 can, for example, have a triangular cross-section, as is usual with self-tapping sewing needles, or any other cross-sectional shape if this is advantageous for a possible application.

[0043] A thread 20 is attached to the end 18 of the sewing needle 14. This thread serves to sew at least one layer of material. In another embodiment, the thread 20 can be secured to the sewing needle 14, for example, in an eyelet 18a.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, the first mechanical arm 28a, the arm shown above, is engaged with the locking means 36 of the sewing needle 14. The engagement means 34a of the mechanical arm 28a engages the locking means 36 of the sewing needle. The engagement means 34a of the mechanical arm 28a is designed here as a tooth, which engages the locking means 36, formed as a recess, of the sewing needle 14. Further examples of the engagement means 34 of the mechanical arms are described in Fig. 10.

[0045] In further embodiments, the sewing needle 14 can have several along its length or the needle circumference angle spaced-apart locking means 36, depending on the needle circumference angle ONad«? and the length of the sewing needle .14.

[0046] With the aid of the engagement means 34a, the mechanical arm 28a moves the sewing needle 14 along the guide 12 through the housing 10 in the direction of the material (not shown) to be sewn.

[0047] It can also be seen that the additional mechanical arm 28b engages the sewing needle 14 at the end 18 of the sewing needle 14. This can be advantageous if a certain pressure must be exerted on the sewing needle 14 so that the sewing needle 34 can penetrate a material. Then, the mechanical arm 28b performs a force-exerting rotational movement in the direction of rotation, acting on the end 18 of the sewing needle, and the mechanical arm 28a performs a force-exerting rotational movement in the direction of rotation near the tip 16 of the sewing needle.

[0048] In this embodiment, the mechanical arms 28a, b each have a circular base body 29a, on which the actual arms or connecting elements 29b are formed as an extension in the radial direction up to the edge of the guide 52, which have the engagement means 34 at the end.

[0049] Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a mechanical arm 28, which in the embodiment of Figure 1 performs a pushing movement as a mechanical arm 28b. Extending radially from the base body 29a to the edge at the level of the guide 12 is the arm element 29b, which is wider than the first embodiment in Figure 1 and forms a support for the sewing needle 14 during a rotational movement, wherein the engagement means 34b in Figure 2 has a smaller width than the arm 29b in order to be able to engage with the locking means 36 on the sewing needle.

[0050] During a sewing process, the sewing device 100 is assembled from the housing 10 including the sewing needle 14 and the needle drive 26, which is described in more detail in Figures 8 and 9, and brought together with a material to be sewn, which is not shown here, and a method, explained in Figure 3, is carried out.

[0051] First, the sewing device 100 is brought together with a material so that the material is located in the receiving opening 24. Then, the rotational movement of the sewing needle 54 is activated via a needle drive 26. In the present embodiment, the sewing needle 14 is driven by the needle drive 26, which comprises the first mechanical arm 28a and the second mechanical arm 28b.

[0052] The second mechanical arm 28b, which is considered the lower arm as described here and is arranged below the sewing needle 14, starts with a movement from an initial position PAi. In PA1, the locking means 34b of the second mechanical arm 28b engages the end 18 of the sewing needle 14, and the engagement means 34a of the first mechanical arm 28a is at the level of the locking means 36 of the sewing needle, but is not engaged with it. Furthermore, the sewing needle 14 is located in the guide 12 and a center point of the sewing needle 14 is located at the level of the second opening edge 38b of the escape opening 38. Viewed from the figure, the second mechanical arm 28b, with a force-exerting rotational movement in the direction of rotation, acts on the end 18 of the sewing needle 14 and moves the sewing needle 14 in a rotational movement which runs counterclockwise in the direction of the receiving opening 24.The first mechanical arm 28a moves in the opposite direction, clockwise as viewed in the illustration, up to the first opening edge 24a of the receiving opening 24. The second mechanical arm 28b and the first mechanical arm 28a intersect at the level of the center of the air opening 38. This is position PAa. In PAa, the tip 16 of the sewing needle 14 is at the level of the second opening edge 24b of the receiving opening 24 and penetrates a material upon further movement. The end 18 of the sewing needle 14 and the engaging second mechanical arm 28b are at the level of the center of the air opening 38. The first mechanical arm 28a, which is at the top as viewed in the illustration, is arranged above the sewing needle 14. moves clockwise over the end 18 of the sewing needle 14 and the fixed thread 20.

[0053] To prevent the thread 20 from becoming jammed between the two mechanical arms 28a and 28b, the escape opening 38 is provided, through which the thread 20 radially falls out of the housing 1.0. The thread comes out of the guide 12 and cannot get between the engagement means 34a, b of the mechanical arms, with the first mechanical arm 28a sliding over the thread 20 and moving it, with the extension 29b, to the escape opening.

[0054] The second mechanical arm 28b moves the sewing needle 14 counterclockwise with the tip 16 into the material, and at the same time, the first mechanical arm 28a moves clockwise toward the tip 16 of the sewing needle 14.

[0055] As soon as the sewing needle H is at more than 50% of the needle circumference angle has penetrated through the material, and the locking means 36 on the sewing needle 14 has completely penetrated the material and has moved through the receiving opening 24, the first mechanical arm 28a simultaneously reaches the locking center 36 of the sewing needle and engages with the engagement means 34a in the locking means 36 of the sewing needle. The second mechanical arm 28b thereby releases the locking means 34b from the end 18 of the sewing needle 14, so that the drive of the sewing needle 14 is transferred from the second mechanical arm 28b to the first mechanical arm 28a. In addition, the directions of rotation of the two mechanical arms 28a, b change. The second mechanical arm 28b changes the direction of rotation from a counterclockwise rotational movement to a clockwise rotational movement without engaging with the sewing needle 14, and the first mechanical arm 28a changes with the engagement with the sewing needle.14, the rotation direction changes from a clockwise rotational movement to a counterclockwise rotational movement. Here, the first mechanical arm 28a moves the sewing needle with a force-exerting rotational movement in the rotational direction, acting near the tip 16 of the sewing needle 14. This is position PA3.

[0056] From PA3, the first mechanical arm pulls the sewing needle 14 a remaining distance through the material and the second mechanical arm 28b moves clockwise in the direction of the tip 16 of the sewing needle 14. As soon as the sewing needle 14 has completely penetrated the material and has moved into the guide iS, the wide mechanical arm 28b moves under the sewing needle 14 and the first median arm 28a, in the direction of the end 18 of the sewing needle 14. As soon as the wide mechanical arm 28b reaches the end 18 of the sewing needle 14, the drive of the sewing needle 14 is transferred from the first mechanical arm 28a to the second mechanical arm 28b. This position is the starting position PA4 for the rotational movement of the first mechanical arm 28a and the starting position PAi for the second mechanical arm 28b. A force-exerting rotational movement in rotational direction acting on the end 18 of the sewing needle of the second mechanical arm 28b is repeated.

[0057] Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the sewing device 300. This contains the same features as shown in Figure 1, wherein the first mechanical arm 328a differs in that the engagement means 34a is rounded in the needle circumferential direction towards the end 318 of the sewing needle 14. This rounding has the advantage that when the first mechanical arm 328a and the second mechanical arm 328b overlap and slide over the thread 20, the rounded end of the engagement means 34a moves the thread to the side directly outwards in the radial direction and direct clamping between the two mechanical arms 328a, b is prevented (see Figure 3, PA2).If the edge of the engagement means 34a extends straight from the first mechanical arm 328a, the probability that the engagement means 34a,b of the first mechanical arm 328a and the second median arm 328b will exactly overlap and the thread 20 will become jammed between the mechanical arms 328a,b is much higher. Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of the sewing device 400. This differs from the first embodiment of the sewing device 100 from Figure 1 and the embodiment of the sewing device 300 from Figure 4 in that the axial adjacent position of the first mechanical arm 428a and the second mechanical arm 428b has been swapped. As can be seen, the second mechanical arm 428b is now arranged above the sewing needle 414 and the thread 420 as viewed from the figure, and the first mechanical arm 428a is arranged below the sewing needle 414.

[0058] The sewing needle 414 differs from Figures 1 and 2 in that instead of a locking means 436, a first locking means 436a, which is located near the tip 416 of the sewing needle 414 and on the axially viewed underside of the sewing needle 414, and a second locking means 436b, which is located near the end 418 of the sewing needle 414 and on the axially viewed top side of the sewing needle 414, are now provided.

[0059] Thus, the first mechanical arm 428a, which exerts a force-exerting rotational movement in the direction of rotation on the sewing needle 414 near the tip 4.16 of the sewing needle 414 and engages with the engagement means 434a in the locking means 436a of the sewing needle 414, is located below the sewing needle 414, and the second mechanical arm 428b, which exerts a force-exerting rotational movement in the direction of rotation on the end 418 of the sewing needle 414 and engages with the engagement means 434b above the sewing needle 414 in the locking means

[0060] The further process steps, which are explained in more detail in Figure 3, do not differ.

[0061] Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a sewing device 500 which uses only a mechanical pin 528a as the needle drive 526. The sewing device 500 comprises a housing 510 in which a circular guide 512 is formed, extending around an axis A, for receiving a circularly curved sewing needle 514 and for guiding the sewing needle 514 for a circumferential rotational movement around the axis A. The sewing needle 514 has a tip 516 and an end 518, to which a thread 520 is fixed, and extends from the tip 516 to the end 518 over a needle circumferential angle θ*».Between end 518 and tip 516 remains a needle opening area 522 extending in the circumferential direction (360° - öNeedlei), wherein the housing 510 and the guide 512 extend in the circumferential direction with respect to the axis A by a guide angle θFW of less than 360® and a receiving opening 524 extending in the circumferential direction (360* ■- <w) zur Aufnahme des Materials verbleibt. Des Weiteren ist ein Nadelantrieb 526 erkennbar, welcher hier ans einem mechanischen Arm 528a gebildet ist, wieher rotatorisch um die Achse A in einer gehäusefesten Lagerung 530, hier nicht sichtbar, gelagert ist und in Eingriff mit der Nähnadel 5x4 bringbar ist.

[0062] The housing 510 and the guide 512 extend circumferentially with respect to the axis A by the guide angle aw of less than 360*, wherein the housing 53 o has a radius of Rcea»«© and is closed in one axial direction in the opposite axial direction with a height h?w w;gis closed by the guide 512. The guide 512 has a radius rmrong. The guide 512 is thus closed on three sides for the sewing needle 514 and, in contrast to a closed housing surface, has a guide wall 522^.4.

[0063] In addition to the receiving opening 524 for the material to be sewn, which comprises a first opening edge 524a and a second opening edge 524b, the housing 530 has two engagement means 513a and 513b in the circumferential direction along the guide 312 on the guide wall 512WA leading over the sewing needle 5.14 and covering axially opposite the closed housing surface. The engagement means 513a in this example is arranged radially opposite the receiving opening 524, and the engagement means 513b is located directly at the first opening edge 524a of the receiving opening. The engagement means 513a serves as a block for the sewing needle 514, which engages a locking means 536 of the sewing needle and prevents movement of the sewing needle 514 in a direction opposite to the desired direction of rotation. In this embodiment, the sewing needle 514 has a circular cross-section and there are three on the sewing needle 514.Locking means 536a, 536b, and 536c, here in the form of recesses, which serve to engage with an engagement means 534a of the mechanical arm 528a and with the engagement means 513a and 513b of the guide. The first locking means 536a of the sewing needle 514 is arranged on the sewing needle 514 just behind the tip 516 of the sewing needle 514 and, viewed axially, is located on the lower side of the sewing needle between the sewing needle 514 and a closed surface of the housing 510. The second locking means 536b is at the center of the needle circumferential angle. and serves to engage with the engagement means 513a and 513b, which can engage with the sewing needle 5x4 from the guide wall SIÄWA. The third locking means 536c is located at the end 518 of the sewing needle 514 on the axially viewed lower side of the sewing needle 514, in order to engage with the engagement means 534a of the mechanical arm 528a zn. Furthermore, the sewing needle 514 has a diameter dN S.*f, which is smaller than the height of the guide is to be moved with minimal play in the guide 512.

[0064] A thread 520 is fixed at the end 518 of the sewing needle 514.

[0065] In the illustrated embodiment, the mechanical arm 528a, arranged here below the sewing needle 514, is in engagement with a locking means 536a of the sewing needle 514. In this case, an engagement means 534a of the mechanical arm 528a engages in the locking means

[0066] 536a of the sewing needle 514.

[0067] With the aid of the intervention means 534a, the mechanical arm 528a moves the needle 514 along the guide 5x2 through the housing 510 and towards a possible material.

[0068] In this embodiment, a mechanical arm 528a is shown as shown in Figure 2, whereby support from a wider extension of the mechanical arm 529b is necessary to stably move the sewing needle 514 along the guide in the rotational direction. During a sewing process, the sewing device 500 is assembled from the housing 510 including the sewing needle 514 and the needle drive 526, which is described in more detail in Figures 8 and 9 for a sewing device with two mechanical arms, and is connected to a material to be sewn, which is not shown here, and a process explained in Figure 7 is carried out.

[0069] First, the sewing device 500 is brought together with a material so that the material is located in the receiving opening 524. Then, the rotational movement of the sewing needle 514 is driven by the needle drive 526, which in this case comprises the mechanical arm 528a.

[0070] The mechanical arm 528a starts with a clockwise rotational movement, as viewed from the figure, from an initial position PAi. In PAi, the engagement means 534a of the mechanical arm 528a engages the locking means 536a of the sewing needle 514. The sewing needle 514 is located in the guide 512, and the tip 516 of the sewing needle 514 borders the second opening edge 524b of the receiving opening 524. Furthermore, the locking means 513a engages the locking means 536b of the sewing needle 514. From this position PAi, the mechanical arm 528a moves clockwise toward the end 518 of the sewing needle 514. The mechanical arm 528a moves beyond the engaging means 513a and 536b, which are arranged on the upper side of the sewing needle 514, toward the end 518 of the sewing needle 514.As soon as the mechanical arm 528a reaches the end 518 of the sewing needle 514, engagement occurs with the engagement means 534a of the mechanical arm 528a and the locking means 536c of the sewing needle 514. This is the position PÄ2< From this position, the mechanical arm 528a starts a force-exerting rotational movement in the direction of rotation, engaging the end 518 of the sewing needle 514 in a rotational direction which runs counterclockwise, and moves the tip 516 of the sewing needle 514 into a material which is located in the receiving opening 524. During the movement, the engagement of the engagement part 513a of the guide wall 512WA with the locking means 536b of the sewing needle 514 is also released. As soon as 50% of the needle circumferential angle α. S8<Once the receiving opening 524 and the material have penetrated and the locking means 336b has been completely moved from the receiving opening 524 over the first edge of the receiving opening 524a into the guide 514 and into engagement with the engagement means 513b (this position is referred to as PA3), the mechanical arm 528a releases the engagement of the engagement means 534a with the locking means 536c of the sewing needle 514 and changes the direction of rotation from a counterclockwise rotational movement to a clockwise rotational movement. In this case, the mechanical arm 528a moves toward the tip 516 and the locking means 536a of the sewing needle 5x4. When the mechanical arm 528a has reached the locking means 536a of the sewing needle 514, the engagement means 534a of the mechanical arm 528a engages the locking means 536a of the sewing needle 534.This position is referred to as PA4. From position PA4, the mechanical arm 528a moves with a force-exerting rotational movement in the direction of rotation near the tip 516 of the sewing needle 514 and moves the sewing needle 514 through the material, whereby the mechanical arm 528a changes its direction of rotation from a clockwise rotational movement to a counterclockwise rotational movement. The sewing needle 514 is moved by the mechanical arm 528a until the tip of the sewing needle 514 borders the second opening edge 524b of the receiving opening 524, and the end position PA5 is reached, which simultaneously represents the PAi.

[0071] Figure 8 shows a plan view of an embodiment of a needle drive 26 of the suturing device 100, which can be used with the aid of an aid such as, for example, a Kerrison rongeur commonly used in surgery. Figure 8 schematically shows a part of the guide 1.2 of the housing xo of a suturing device 100, an inserted suturing needle 34 and an area of ​​the needle drive 2f>, here the bearing 30. The bearing 30 is cylindrical, arranged coaxially to the axis A, and comprises two shafts arranged so as to be rotatable relative to one another, with a gear 202a, b formed on each of the shafts (see Figure 12). The gears 202a and 202b are arranged axially adjacent to one another. The gear 202a engages with a rack 204a and is fixedly connected to the first mechanical arm 28a. The gear 202b is in engagement with a rack 204b and is fixedly connected to the second mechanical arm 28b.The racks 204a and 204b are formed on an auxiliary device 32 and drive the needle drive 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the gear 202a for the first mechanical arm 28a is arranged below or below the gear 202b, and the gear 202b for the second mechanical arm 28b is arranged above the gear 202a (see Figure 12).

[0072] When a pliers-like tool is manually operated, the racks 204a, 204b are moved. The tool moves the racks forward and backward in an antiparallel manner in their longitudinal direction. When the rack 204a exerts a movement that causes the gear 202a to rotate counterclockwise, the rack 204b exerts a movement that causes the gear 202b to rotate clockwise. The gear 202a is connected to the mechanical arm 28a, which moves in the same direction as the gear 202a. Similarly, the mechanical arm 28b, which is connected to the gear 202b, moves in the same direction as the gear 202b.

[0073] .Figure § shows a top view and a side view of a further embodiment of a needle drive 26. This needle drive 26 differs from the embodiment in Figure 8 in that instead of an arrangement of two gears 202a and 202b and two racks 204a and 204b, an arrangement of two circular plates 206a and 206b is used, wherein the plate 206a drives the first mechanical arm 28a and the plate 206b drives the second mechanical arm 28b. The plates 206a and 206b are arranged axially adjacent to one another and are each connected to a thin plate 208a and 208b, which are formed on an auxiliary means 32 and drive the needle drive 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the plate 206a, which is connected to the plate 208a and drives the first mechanical arm 28a, is axially downwards or upwards.arranged below the plate 206b and the plate 206b, which is connected to the plate 208b and drives the second mechanical arm 28b, arranged in the axial direction above the plate 206a. The mode of operation is analogous to the manner described in Figure 8 and the schematic structure in the axial direction is analogous to the embodiment shown in Figure 12. In another embodiment, one of the two plates 208a or 208b could be replaced by a thread, so that a rotational movement of the plates is only possible in one direction.

[0074] In an embodiment in which the sewing device has only one mechanical arm, as shown in Figure 6, the needle drive 26 has only one gear or only one plate which drives the mechanical arm

[0075] Figure 10 shows a side view of different embodiments of engagement means 34 of the mechanical arms 28, as well as engagement means 513 of the guide 12 from the embodiment in Figures 6 and 7. The principle is shown in simplified form in Figure 10A. The structure of the engagement means is limited to a tip 35a, 515a. which can engage the associated locking means 36 of the sewing needle 14. The engagement means 34.. 513, here the tip 35a, 515a is designed as a tooth, has a triangular shape and either goes from the guide 12 above a sewing needle side into engagement with a locking means 36 of a sewing needle 14, as shown schematically in Figure 10F, or the engagement means 34 is located on the mechanical arm 28 and engages with a locking means 36 of the sewing needle, schematically shown in Figure 10G.Figure 10B also shows a tooth which has a trapezoid as its basic shape, which has unequal sides. Figure 10C shows a tooth which is based on a round, hook-like basic shape and which engages with a tip 35c, 5150, which here is designed axially downwards, in a locking means 36 of the sewing needle. Figures 10D and 10E each show a tooth which has a joint G between the tip 33d, 515h and the connection 37d, 51yd, which is designed with the mechanical arm. Figure 10D has an angular basic shape, comparable to Figure 10B, and Figure 10E has a rounded basic shape, in particular of the tip 35e, 5150. In addition, Figure 10F shows the section in the guide t2, for the engagement means 513 in the guide wall IÄWA of the housing and Figure 10G shows the section on one of the mechanical arms 28.

[0076] Figure 11 shows a cylindrical projection of an embodiment of a sewing device soo in a lateral, radial viewing direction with respect to Figures 1 and 2. Here it can be seen that the medranic arm aSa , which here is on the left y <?n der Achse A dargesteHt ist, sich unterhalb der axialen Führungswand i2 wa , wherein the mechanical arm 28a is shown exclusively by the engagement means 34a in the form of a tooth, which is inclined with the tip 35a downwards. On the right side of the axis A, the mechanical arm 28b is shown, which, with the engagement means 34b, is in engagement with the end 18 of the sewing needle 14, on which a fixed thread 20 is located. Furthermore, it can be seen that the sewing needle 10 neither rests on the lower surface H of the housing 10 nor rests on the top of the axial guide wall 12WÄ and has a diameter which is less than the height hmrw of the guide 12. This results from the engagement of the mechanical arms 28a and 28b, which are arranged above and below the sewing needle 14, respectively.

[0077] Figure 12 shows a possible arrangement of the needle drive 26 with the mechanical arms 28a, b in a side view. The shafts described in Figure 8, arranged so as to rotate relative to one another, are schematically visible.

[0078] Be^flexion switch list

[0079] A axis

[0080] Escape opening angle

[0081] ÖFW leadership angle

[0082] 0-Sfidsl Needle angle d\Wti Thickness of the needle hrührun« Height of guide

[0083] RcehSusK- Radius housing

[0084] ^Fiihrnns Radius Guide twistrong Depth Guide too, 300, 400, 500 Sewing device 10, 310, 410, 510 Housing 12, 312, 412, 512 Guide 12WA, 5-12iVA Guide wall

[0085] 14, 314, 414, 514 Sewing needle 16, 316, 416, 516 Tip of the sewing needle 18, 318, 418, 518 End of the sewing needle 18a Alternative eyelet

[0086] 20, 43.0, 520 threads

[0087] 22, 522 needle opening area

[0088] 24, 324, 4M 524 Receiving opening for the material

[0089] 24 a, 524 a first edge at the receiving opening

[0090] 24 b, 5.24 b second edge at the receiving opening 26, 526 needle drive

[0091] 2.8) a,b; 328) ab; 428)2, b; 528) a, b); mechanical arm

[0092] 29 a, 529 a basic body of mechanical Ann

[0093] 29 b, 529 b Extension mechanical arm

[0094] 3 <h 530 Lagerung

[0095] 32 external HSF agent (Kerrison Rongeur)

[0096] 34 a,b; 434 a,b; 534 a,b engagement means on the mechanical arm

[0097] 35 a, b, e, d, e Tip on the gripping means of the mechanical arm

[0098] 36 locking devices on the sewing needle

[0099] 36a, b, e; 536 a, b, c Locking device on the sewing needle

[0100] 37 a, b, c, d, e, 537 a, b, c, d, e Connection to mechanical Ann

[0101] 38 Escape Room

[0102] 3§a first edge at the escape opening

[0103] 38b second edge at the escape opening

[0104] 202 a, b gear

[0105] 204 a. b rack

[0106] 206 a, b plate

[0107] 208 a, b plate

[0108] 513 a, b Intervention means of the guide wall

[0109] 5-15 a s b, e, d, e Tip at the engagement means of the guide wall

[0110] 5.17 a, b, e, d, e Connection to the guide wall

Claims

Claims 1 Sewing device (100) for sewing at least one layer of a material to be sewn, comprising a housing (10) in which a circular guide (12) extending around an axis (A) is formed for receiving a circularly curved sewing needle (14) and for guiding the sewing needle (34) for a circumferential rotational movement in a rotational direction around the axis (A), wherein the sewing needle (14) has a tip (16) and an end (18) to which a thread (20) is fixed or can be fixed, and extends in a circumferential direction from the tip (16) to the end (18) over a needle circumferential angle (αNasu), wherein a needle opening area (22) extending in the circumferential direction remains between the end (18) and the tip (16), wherein the housing (10) and the guide extend with respect to the axis in the circumferential direction over a guide angle (OFW) of less than 360° and a a receiving opening (24) extending in the circumferential direction remains for receiving the material,and with a needle drive (26) for cyclically moving the sewing needle (14) by one full rotation around the axis (A), starting at a starting position in which the needle opening area (22) and the receiving opening (24) at least partially overlap, 2, Sewing device (too) according to claim 1, characterized in that the needle drive (26) has a driver, in particular a mechanical arm (28), which is rotatably mounted on the axis (A) in a bearing (30) and can be brought into driving engagement with the sewing needle (14) in order to carry out the rotational movement.

3. Sewing device (.100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the needle drive (26) comprises a motor and a control for controlling the needle drive (26).

4. Sewing device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical arm (28) has an engagement means (34), in particular in the form of a tooth, for engaging in a locking means (36) provided for this purpose, in particular a projection or a notch on the sewing needle (14).

5. Sewing device (wo) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the sewing device (100) comprises a further driver, in particular a further mechanical arm, which can be brought into driving engagement with the sewing needle.

6. Sewing device (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the direction of rotation of the rotational movement of the mechanical arm (283) is opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotational movement of the further mechanical arm (28b).

7. Sewing device (100) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the mechanical arm (28a) is mounted in the axial direction adjacent to the further mechanical arm (28b).

8. Sewing device (100) according to claims 5 to 7, characterized in that a circumferentially extending opening (38) for a thread (50) fixed to the sewing needle (14) is formed in the housing (w).

9. Sewing needle (14) for sewing material, wherein the sewing needle (14) has a circular arc-shaped curvature and extends from a tip (16) to an end (18) around a predefined needle circumferential circle (osattei), at least one locking means (36) is formed on the needle, which locking means is preferably designed as a depression, in particular as a notch, and which serves as a hold when a needle drive (26) engages.

10. A method for sewing material using a sewing device (wo) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the steps: a: Bringing together the sewing device (wo) and the material so that material is located in the receiving opening (24) of the sewing device (100); b: Activating the rotational movement of the sewing device (too).

11. A method for sewing material according to claim 10, characterized in that one mechanical arm (28b) engages the sewing needle (14) at the end (J8) or a locking means (36) of the sewing needle (14) and moves it in the direction of rotation and the tip (16) towards the material. A method for sewing material according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the engagement means (34a) of the mechanical arm (28a) engages the locking means (36) of the sewing needle (14) and moves the sewing needle (14) through the material.

13. A method for sewing material according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that when the drive of the sewing needle (14) is transferred from one mechanical arm (28a.) to the other mechanical arm (28b), the direction of rotation of the arms changes.

14. Method for sewing material according to claim 13, characterized in that the transfer of the drive of the sewing needle (14) from the one mechanical arm (28a) to the further mechanical arm (28b) takes place when the one mechanical arm (28a) reaches the further mechanical arm (28b), ie the one mechanical arm (28a) comes into an end position and the further mechanical arm (28b) is reached in the starting position.

15. A method for sewing material according to one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that when the drive of the sewing needle (14) is transferred from the mechanical arm (28a) to the further mechanical arm (28b), the thread (20) is moved through the escape opening (38), whereby jamming of the thread (20) between the mechanical arms (28a, 28b) is prevented

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