Placing sutures

摘要

A suturing instrument is configured for to apply sutures to approximate, ligate, or fixate tissue in, for example, open, mini-incision, trans-vaginal, or endoscopic surgical procedures. The suturing instrument includes an elongate body member, a needle exit port, a needle receiving port, and a needle deployment mechanism. The suturing instrument eliminates the need for a preassembled needle and suture and reduces or eliminates the possibility of needle loss during suturing.

主权项

1. A suturing instrument comprising:
an elongate body member including a distal portion defining a first opening and a second opening that opposes the first opening; a needle at least partially disposed within the elongate body member, the needle including a hook-shaped distal portion and a tissue-penetrating tip distal of the hook-shaped distal portion, the needle including a movable member configured to move between a first position in which the hook-shaped distal portion is open and a second position in which the hook-shaped distal portion is closed; and a needle deployment mechanism coupled to a proximal portion of the needle and disposed at least partially within the elongate body member for moving the needle between the first and second openings.