Claims
- 1. A suturing device for use endoscopically, comprising:
a clamping portion having a longitudinal axis, which is adapted for percutaneous entry into an operative site and which comprises a plurality of jaw members that are movable relative to one another between a closed position wherein the jaw members are disposed in close proximity to one another and an open position wherein the jaw members are spaced apart; and a needle portion disposed at an angle relative to said longitudinal axis, which is adapted for percutaneous entry into said operative site; said needle portion comprising a needle for passage through a portion of soft tissue disposed between the jaw members of said clamping portion.
- 2. The suturing device as recited in claim 1, and further comprising suturing material disposed in one of said jaw members, said needle being adapted for engaging said suturing material at said operative site.
- 3. The suturing device as recited in claim 2, wherein said needle comprises a distal end which is configured for engaging said suturing material.
- 4. The suturing device as recited in claim 3, wherein said distal end is hooked for gaffing said suturing material.
- 5. The suturing device as recited in claim 2, wherein the suturing material disposed in the one jaw member comprises a suture loop.
- 6. The suturing device as recited in claim 5, wherein there are two suture loops disposed on opposing sides of said one jaw member.
- 7. The suturing device as recited in claim 5, and further comprising a second needle, each of said needles engaging a respective one of said two suture loops.
- 8. The suturing device as recited in claim 1, wherein said angle is between about 30 and about 90 degrees.
- 9. The suturing device as recited in claim 1, wherein said clamping portion and said needle portion enter the operative site through different percutaneous locations.
- 10. The suturing device as recited in claim 1, wherein said needle portion includes a needle guide having a needle guide channel for guiding said needle to the operative site.
- 11. The suturing device as recited in claim 10, wherein the needle guide is telescopically fixed to the needle portion to adjust for different patient dimensions.
- 12. A suturing device for use endoscopically, comprising:
a clamping portion having a longitudinal axis, which is adapted for percutaneous entry into an operative site and which comprises a plurality of jaw members that are movable relative to one another between a closed position wherein the jaw members are disposed in close proximity to one another and an open position wherein the jaw members are spaced apart; one of said jaw members comprising first and second slots on opposing sides thereof, wherein a first looped end of a length of suturing material is disposed in said first slot and a second looped end of a length of suturing material is disposed in said second slot.
- 13. The suturing device as recited in claim 12, and further comprising a needle portion having first and second needles adapted for engagement with said first and second looped ends, respectively.
- 14. The suturing device as recited in claim 13, wherein said first and second needles are disposed at an angle relative to said longitudinal axis.
- 15. The suturing device as recited in claim 14, wherein said angle is between about 30 degrees and about 90 degrees.
- 16. A suturing device for use endoscopically, comprising:
a tissue retaining portion having a longitudinal axis, which is adapted for percutaneous entry into an operative site through a cannula; and a suture engagement portion spaced from said tissue retaining portion, which is adapted for percutaneous entry into said operative site through a location spaced from said cannula.
- 17. The suturing device as recited in claim 16, wherein said tissue retaining portion comprises a clamping portion having means for retaining soft tissue which is to be attached to bone within said operative site.
- 18. The suturing device as recited in claim 17, wherein said retaining means comprises first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another between a closed position wherein the jaw members are disposed in close proximity to one another and an open position wherein the jaw members are spaced apart.
- 19. A method of placing sutures in tissue, using a suturing device which comprises a clamping portion having a longitudinal axis and a needle portion spaced from said clamping portion, the method comprising:
inserting a distal end of said clamping portion percutaneously into an operative site until a distal working end thereof is adjacent to tissue which is to be repaired; engaging said tissue with said distal working end; inserting a distal end of said needle portion percutaneously into the operative site, so that at least one needle of said needle portion extends through said engaged tissue and through a suture loop disposed on a distal side of said engaged tissue; and withdrawing said at least one needle proximally to thereby pull said suture loop proximally through said engaged tissue to form a stitch through said tissue.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is related to co-pending Application Ser. No. 09/547,171, filed on Apr. 11, 2000, entitled Dual Function Suturing Apparatus and Method, and to co-pending Application Ser. No. 09/668,055, filed on Sep. 21, 2000, entitled Linear Suturing Apparatus and Methods, both of which are herein expressly incorporated by reference.
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09909928 |
Jul 2001 |
US |
Child |
10452889 |
Jun 2003 |
US |