Endoscopic suture systems

摘要

A surgical instrument for applying sutures to tissue includes a needle deployment mechanism and a catch mechanism. In some embodiments, the needle deployment mechanism employs a linear path. Alternatively, it can employ a curved needle. The surgical instrument may include a rotatable head, a bend, and/or a malleable elongated body member formable into various shapes.

主权项

1. A suturing instrument, comprising:
an elongate body member having a lumen defined in a distal portion, the lumen extending through the elongate body member and defining an opening in the distal portion, the lumen having an inner wall that tapers inward at a distal end of the lumen; and a needle deployment mechanism including:
a needle carrier including a needle holder disposed at a distal end of the needle carrier, a distal end of the needle holder having a hole defined therein;a needle including a tapered body defining a shoulder and a neck disposed distally to the tapered body, the neck being removably disposed in the hole in the distal end of the needle holder; anda catch having a slot defined therein, the catch being laterally separated from the needle carrier and the needle within the lumen,the needle deployment mechanism being configured for distally deploying the catch, the needle carrier and the needle between respective retracted positions, in which the catch, the needle carrier and the needle are substantially disposed within the lumen, and respective extended positions, in which the catch, the needle and at least a portion of the needle carrier, including the needle holder, are extended distally out of the lumen and through the opening, the inner wall causing the catch, and the needle holder and the needle to be directed from the inner wall toward an intersecting point outside of the lumen when the catch, the needle carrier and the needle are deployed from their respective retracted positions to their respective extended positions.