247 results about "Suturing instrument" patented technology

A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. An E-beam firing bar moves distally through the clamped end effector to sever tissue and to drive staples on each side of the cut. The E-beam firing bar affirmatively spaces the anvil from the elongate channel to assure properly formed closed staples, especially when an amount of tissue is clamped that is inadequate to space the end effector. In particular, an upper pin of the firing bar longitudinally moves through an anvil slot and a channel slot is captured between a lower cap and a middle pin of the firing bar to assure a minimum spacing. Forming the E-beam from a thickened distal portion and a thinned proximal strip enhances manufacturability and facilitates use in such articulating surgical instruments.

In various embodiments, a surgical stapling instrument can include a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, wherein the shaft defines an axis, and a disposable loading unit which is assembled to the shaft in a direction which is transverse to the shaft axis. Such a connection between the disposable loading unit and the shaft can prevent, or at least inhibit, the disposable loading unit from being unintentionally displaced proximally and/or distally relative to the shaft of the surgical instrument. The surgical stapling instrument and/or disposable loading unit can further include a threaded collar and/or detent assembly configured to hold the disposable loading unit in place. In various embodiments, a disposable loading unit can include a lockout feature which can prevent, or at least inhibit, an expended disposable loading unit from being reassembled to the elongated body of the surgical instrument.

A system for endoscopic suturing is provided having an endoscope, such as a gastroscope, with a distal end locatable in the body of a patient and a flexible shaft extending to the distal end, a flexible accessory tube coupled to the endoscope to be movable relative to the endoscope's shaft, and a tip coupled to the shaft of the endoscope having an opening through which one end of the accessory tube is received. A tissue suturing instrument is provided having a partially flexible shaft locatable through the accessory tube, and a tissue engaging end coupled to the shaft. The tissue engaging end has a vacuum sleeve enabling suction to be selectably applied at the tissue engaging end to capture tissue through an opening in the vacuum sleeve. Two needles are provided which extend through the shaft of the suturing instrument. Each needle is separately actuated into a gap in the instrument's tip, through tissue suctioned into the opening of the vacuum sleeve and into a ferrule at each end of a loop of suture. The system further includes a suture securing instrument having a partially flexible shaft locatable through the accessory tube, and a distal end coupled to the shaft. After removal of the suturing instrument from the accessory tube, a loop of suture extends through the tissue and the accessory tube, the suture securing instrument receives the free ends of the loop of suture at its distal end through a sleeve member, and the suture securing instrument is then inserted through the accessory tube to the location of the suture in the tissue. The suture securing instrument crimps the sleeve member and cuts the free ends of the suture to secure the suture closed. The suturing instrument and suture securing instrument are passed through the accessory tube without removal of the endoscope from the patient. The endoscope provides viewing by an operator of the engaging end of the suturing instrument for selecting placement of the suture through tissue, and of the distal end of the suture securing instrument to secure the suture closed.

A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. Various embodiments are configured to be operably attached to a robotic system to receive actuation/control motions therefrom.

Introducers for introducing a surgical circular stapler into a patient. Various embodiments comprise cover members that are applied over a stapling head portion of the circular stapler. In some embodiments, the cover members are fabricated from a flexible stretchable material and have a bumper portion that protrudes distally beyond the distal face of the stapling head. The staples may be fired through the cover member and the balance of the cover member is withdrawn from the patient with the stapling head. Other cover embodiments are selectively movable from a position wherein the distal face of the stapling head is covered and other positions wherein the distal face of the stapling head is exposed.

The present invention provides a new family of ultrasonically powered medical devices and systems for powering such devices. Disclosed are methods for improving the overall power transfer efficiency of devices according to the present invention, as well as a wide variety of medical uses for such devices and systems. Devices of the present invention comprise a transducer that, during operation, converts electrical energy into high frequency, low amplitude mechanical vibrations that are transmitted to a driven-member, such as a wheel, that produces macroscopic rotary or linear output mechanical motions. Such motions may be further converted and modified by mechanical means to produce desirable output force and speed characteristics that are transmitted to at least one end-effector that performs useful mechanical work on soft tissue, bone, teeth and the like. Power systems of the present invention comprise one or more such handheld devices electrically connected to a power generator. Examples of powered medical tools enabled by the present invention include, but are not limited to, linear or circular staplers or cutters, biopsy instruments, suturing instruments, medical and dental drills, tissue compactors, tissue and bone debriders, clip appliers, grippers, extractors, and various types of orthopedic instruments. Devices of the present invention may be partly or wholly reusable, partly or wholly disposable, and may operate in forward or reverse directions, as well as combinations of the foregoing. The devices and systems of the present invention provide a safe, effective, and economically viable alternative source for mechanical energy, which is superior to AC or DC (battery) powered motors, compressed air or compressed gas, and hand powered systems.

An instrument for surgical suturing includes a shaft, and a needle disposed slidably for longitudinal travel with respect to the shaft. A prong formed on one end of the shaft projects across a longitudinal axis of the needle and has an opening formed through the prong that provides a clearance through which a tip portion of the needle passes when it is advanced. Slots formed on a surface of the prong facing the shaft releasably hold suture across the opening. Advancing the needle through the clearance allows a hook formed on the tip of the needle to capture the suture. Once withdrawn, the needle draws the suture back through tissue pierced during advancement. The suture is released from the slots and drawn back through the tissue for further knot tying and suturing to effect the tissue repairs.

A method and device for the placement of sutures and for the purpose of approximating tissue. The invention relates to devices for approximation, ligation and fixation of tissue using a suture, to various constituent parts comprising said devices, and particularly to the placement of sutures into certain difficult to access ligamental structures, to the approximation of tissue separated by means of an endosurgical trocar being inserted into a body cavity, and to approximation, ligation, and fixation of body tissue using both traditional open surgical and endosurgical techniques and instruments. The invention provides for the loading of suture material including needles into the device, introduction and placement of the device into the body cavity, with the distal end having deployable needle guides, extending the needle guides either simultaneously or individually to the periphery of the wound, engaging the wound with the needle guides, driving the needles and suture material through the tissue to be approximated into a catch mechanism, retracting the needle guides and withdrawing the device, leaving a loop of suture material in the margin of tissue. The suture may then be tied to approximate the wound and excess suture material cut off. The invention also provides for the placement of sutures for the endoscopic approximation, fixation, and ligation of tissues within a body cavity including the driving and retrieval of needle and suture combinations, and facilitating the tying of knots.

A device is disclosed for introducing a flexible elongated element through at least two portions of a subject. The device includes an advancement unit for advancing the flexible elongated element toward the end of the device such that the elongated element may exit from the device with sufficient force to pass through the subject. The device also includes a curved die for imparting a looping configuration to portions of the flexible elongated element exiting the device, and a curved guide for receiving the looped flexible elongated element as it returns to the end of the device. A cutting mechanism is provided to permit the looped flexible elongated element to be separated from the remainder of the flexible elongated element. The cutting mechanism is adapted to deform the trailing end of the looped flexible elongated element so that the trailing end is forced distally, toward the subject being sutured.

A surgical stapling instrument including a staple sled which can be advanced and/or retracted relative to first and second jaw members, wherein the staple sled can be configured to deploy staples from a staple cartridge in one of the first and second jaw members. In at least one embodiment, the other of the first and second jaw members can include an anvil having at least one forming surface which can be configured to deform the staples as they are deployed from the staple cartridge. In at least one form of the invention, the anvil can be movably adjustable relative to the staple cartridge in order to adjust the distance in which the staples are deformed. In various embodiments, the anvil can be adjusted by a slidable adjusting plate and/or a rotatable cam.

A device is disclosed for introducing a flexible elongated element through at least two portions of a subject. In an embodiment, the device includes a proximal end and a distal end, as well as an advancement unit for longitudinally advancing the flexible elongated element toward the distal end such that a proximal end of the elongated element may pass from the distal end of said device with sufficient force to pass through the portions of the subject. The device also includes a securing unit for variably adjusting a securing force applied by the flexible elongated element to secure together the portions of the subject.

A surgical stapling instrument including a first jaw member, a second jaw member, and a cutting member. In at least one form of the invention, the surgical stapling instrument can further include a housing which can at least partially extend over and/or around the cutting member. In various embodiments, the housing can at least partially cover the cutting member when the first and second jaw members are detached from one another, yet permit the cutting member to be moved relative to the first and second jaw members during use.

A device is disclosed for introducing a flexible elongated element through at least two portions of a subject. In an embodiment, the device includes a proximal end and a distal end, as well as an advancement unit for longitudinally advancing the flexible elongated element toward the distal end such that a proximal end of the elongated element may pass from the distal end of said device with sufficient force to pass through the portions of the subject. The device also includes a securing unit for variably adjusting a securing force applied by the flexible elongated element to secure together the portions of the subject.

A device is disclosed for passing a flexible elongated element through a portion of a subject. In an embodiment, the device includes structure for retaining said flexible elongated element; and advancement structure for longitudinally advancing the flexible elongated element from a proximal end of the device toward a distal end of the device with sufficient force to pass the flexible elongated element through the portion of the subject. The advancement structure includes at least one drive wheel for contacting the flexible elongated element, and further wherein the at least one drive wheel contains a peripheral groove therein for receiving the flexible elongated element so as to provide increased contact area between the at least one drive wheel and the flexible elongated element.

An endoscopic suturing instrument is equipped with a needle mounted at the distal end of the suturing instrument for the purpose of living-tissue punctures. An engaging mechanism is provided at least at the distal end of the needle for the purpose of connecting the thread while allowing it to move freely, and the suturing instrument includes a needle-driving mechanism to drive the needle. A loop-creating mechanism is used to create a first loop in the thread, by loosening the thread connected to the engaging mechanism. A catching mechanism is provided at the distal end of the suturing instrument to be inserted through the first loop to catch the thread. The thread caught by the catching mechanism can be moved freely. The needle-driving mechanism and the catching mechanism are mechanically coupled.

Suturing instruments and methods for placing mattress stitches in soft tissue allowing the practitioner to selectively control placement of each stitch of the mattress stitch and/or place the stitch deeper into tissue by pulling tissue farther into the device are described herein.

A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. Various embodiments are configured to be operably attached to a robotic system to receive actuation/control motions therefrom.