Suturing tool and grasping tool
A suturing tool for an endoscope or a laparoscope, the tool comprising: a symmetric suturing needle comprising a point at each end of the needle; and a pair of jaws for suturing a target object between the jaws, each jaw comprising a needle holder for holding the suturing needle, the pair of jaws being configured to move between an open jaw position and a closed jaw position, wherein each needle holder comprises a moveable locking element configured to move between a closed lock position in which the suturing needle is held by the needle holder and an open lock position at which the suturing needle is released by the needle holder, and each needle holder further comprises a resilient control mechanism configured to switch the locking element between the closed lock position and the open lock position.
1 . A suturing tool for an endoscope or a laparoscope, the tool comprising:
a symmetric suturing needle comprising a point at each end of the needle; and
a pair of jaws for suturing a target object between the jaws, each jaw comprising a needle holder for holding the suturing needle, the pair of jaws being configured to move between an open jaw position and a closed jaw position,
wherein each needle holder comprises a moveable locking element configured to move between a closed lock position in which the suturing needle is held by the needle holder and an open lock position at which the suturing needle is released by the needle holder, and
each needle holder further comprises a resilient control mechanism configured to switch the locking element between the closed lock position and the open lock position.
2 . A suturing tool according to claim 1 , wherein the jaws have opposite configurations of the control mechanism such that, when the locking element of one jaw is in the open lock position, the locking element of the other jaw is in the closed lock position.
3 . A suturing tool according to claim 1 , wherein the suturing needle comprises an engagement element adjacent to each end, the engagement element being adapted to engage with the locking element of a needle holder.
4 . A suturing tool according to claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism comprises a biasing element configured to bias the locking element toward one of the closed lock position and the open lock position, and a needle control tendon configured to move the locking element to the other of the closed lock position and the open lock position.
5 . A suturing tool according to claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism comprises a bistable latch mechanism configured to alternately switch the locking element between the open lock position and the closed lock position, and a latch trigger for triggering the latch mechanism.
6 . A suturing tool according to claim 5 , wherein the latch trigger is a needle control tendon.
7 . A suturing tool according to claim 5 , wherein the latch trigger is a pressure trigger configured to respond to a pressure applied to the needle by the pair of jaws.
8 . A suturing tool according to claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism comprises a needle control tendon that has a split distal end connected to the locking elements, and has a single proximal end.
9 . A suturing tool according to claim 8 , wherein the control mechanism comprises a needle control tendon that is also a jaw control tendon configured to move the pair of jaws between the open jaw position and the closed jaw position.