Hollow suture needle with handle

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to devices used for suturing tissue during surgical procedures. More particularly, the invention relates to devices used to advance suture through tissue via a hollow needle piercing the tissue to be sutured. Still more particularly, the invention relates to suturing devices for use during endoscopic surgical procedures.

2. Background of the Prior Art

Devices for facilitating the suturing of tissue during endoscopic surgical procedures are commonly used. One such device is the Spectrum® tissue repair system made by Linvatec Corporation. The system incorporates a suture hook handle adapted to receive a variety of suture hooks, i.e. hollow needles, each suture hook having a distal tip shaped in varying ways. The suture hook handle is provided with a pair of opposed suture advancing wheels, the perimeters of which are covered with an elastomeric material. The wheels are aligned in a common plane and rotatable about their respective axes which are spaced a predetermined distance apart so that the perimeters of the wheels may be adjacent or contiguous to each other. The suture hook handle comprises a pair of diametrically opposed suture passageways leading to the nip of the wheels so that a suture inserted into a selected passageway is guided to the nip of the wheels and by rotation of one of the wheels may be advanced through the lumen of the selected needle.

The various suture hooks are attachable to the suture hook handle by means of an axially aligned recess at the distal end of the handle, the recess being adapted to receive a complementarily shaped hub attached to the proximal end of each suture hook. The end wall of the recess has an axially aligned aperture to receive suture from the nip of the wheels and guide it to the needle lumen. Once a suture hook is assembled with the suture hook handle, it is secured thereto by a transverse set screw which is advanced radially into the recess to engage a dimple on the hub of the suture hook to secure the hook to the handle.

While offering significant advantages and facilitating the suturing of tissue during endoscopic surgical procedures, the prior art device is not easily disassembled for cleaning or repair and does not allow reorientation of the suture hook during a surgical procedure. Orientation of this prior art device is generally accomplished by inserting a different suture hook rather than simply reorienting the one currently in use. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to produce a suture hook system overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art device.

It is also an object of this invention to produce a suture hook handle which is easily disassembled for cleaning or repair.

It is also an object of this invention to produce a suture hook system which enables the reorientation of a selected suture hook during a surgical procedure.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein. In one aspect, the invention comprises a suture passer comprising a handle having an axis and a path within the handle for guiding suture to a predetermined point. A hollow needle is attachable to the handle and a user-operable wheel means is mounted on the handle for engaging the suture at the predetermined point and moving it into the lumen of the hollow needle. The hollow needle has a proximal hub which cooperates with a collet on the distal end of the handle to produce a connector means interposed between the handle and the needle for attaching them together in a selected one of a plurality of predetermined rotational positions. The connector means comprises an extension member at the distal end of the handle, the extension having a recess and a collar axially aligned with and rotatably attached to the extension member. The collar has a proximal end and a distal end and is rotatable between an open position, in which it can receive the hollow needle, and a closed position in which it can hold the hollow needle to the handle. A hub is fixedly attached to the proximal end of the hollow needle, the hub comprising a body adapted to be received in the recess and an axial bore within the body. The bore is aligned with the lumen of the hollow needle and the predetermined point when the needle is assembled with the handle. A locking means is adapted to be engaged by the collar when it is in the closed position.

In another aspect, the aforementioned handle comprises a sagittal planar surface within the handle. A pair of wheels is attached to the handle, each rotatable about its own axis, with the axes of the wheels parallel to each other, perpendicular to the sagittal plane and spaced apart a predetermined distance to enable the perimeters of the wheels to be adjacent to each other at a first point. At least one first suture passageway is provided for guiding a suture from an aperture on the surface of the handle to the predetermined point between the wheels. The first suture passageway comprises a groove in the sagittal planar surface, the groove extending between the aperture on the surface of the handle and a second point adjacent and proximal to the first point.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a suture hook handle and suture hook constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a right side elevational view of FIG. 1 showing the suture hook handle in an open position.

FIG. 4 is a view of FIG. 3 showing the suture hook handle in a locked position.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective exploded view showing the various parts of the invention in relation to each other.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the suture hook system shown in FIG. 1 with a cover portion removed from the handle.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along the lines 7-7.

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Previous Patent Application:
Tissue closing device
Next Patent Application:
Anastomotic staple with capillary which expels a bonding agent upon deformation
Industry Class:
Surgery

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