| 摘要 |
A surgical instrument (20) includes a pair of pivotally connected arms (22, 24) defining a pair of opposed jaws (28, 34), a hollow suture needle (50) mounted on a first of the jaws (28, 34) and provided with a slot, and a length of suture material extending through the hollow needle (50). The hollow needle (50) has a first open end mounted on the first jaw, and a second open end defining a tissue penetrating point (20), the first and second open ends being connected by the slot. A groove (86) is preferably formed along an outer surface of the first jaw so that a portion of the suture material can be disposed within the groove (86), and, when provided, the groove preferably communicates with the first open end of the hollow suture needle (50). The slot (76) and groove (86) each have a width to prevent the suture material from inadvertently falling out while permitting deliberate removal of the suture material via the slot (76) or groove (86) by application of force so that suturing of anatomical tissue can be performed with tissue held between jaws of the instrument. In a preferred embodiment, an opening is formed in the second jaw in opposed relation to the hollow suture needle (50) such that, when the jaws are closed, the hollow suture needle (50) will protrude from the opening and suture material disposed in the needle can be grasped and removed from the instrument without opening the jaws (28, 34).
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