Apparatus for surgical suturing with thread management
An apparatus and a method for surgical suturing with thread management. An apparatus for tissue suturing comprising a cartridge having a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end, the suturing needle capable of rotating about an axis; a pusher assembly comprising a cartridge holder having a needle rotation drive capable of releasably engaging the cartridge and rotating the suturing needle about the axis; and an actuator capable of releasably engaging the needle rotation drive to rotate the needle rotation drive. A method for suturing tissue comprising placing a suturing device having a cartridge containing a suturing needle to span separated tissue segments; activating an actuator to cause rotational movement of the suturing needle through the separated tissue segments; and deactivating the actuator to stop an advancing movement of the suturing needle to cause a suturing material to be pulled through the separated tissue segments forming a stitch.
1 . A cartridge for a suturing device comprising:
a curved housing having a first end and a second end separated by an aperture in a wall of the curved housing; and
a track in the wall of the curved housing, the track supporting a suturing needle.
2 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the curved housing traverses an arc greater than about 180 degrees.
3 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the track is semi-cylindrical and located on an inner surface of the cartridge.
4 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the cartridge shields the suturing needle at an end of a revolution of the suturing needle.
5 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the cartridge is disposable.
6 . The cartridge of claim 1 further comprising at least one mounting clip for releasably engaging the cartridge with a cartridge holder of the suturing device.
7 . The cartridge of claim 1 further comprising a suturing material dispenser containing a suturing material.
8 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the suturing needle follows the track in the wall of the curved housing through successive revolutions of the suturing needle.
9 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the track contains at least a portion of the suturing needle during an entire revolution of the suturing needle.
10 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein a pointed end of the suturing needle exits a first end of the track in the wall of the curved housing and enters a second end of the track in the wall of the curved housing.
11 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein a length of the suturing needle is less than a length of the track of the curved housing.
12 . A cartridge for housing a suturing needle comprising:
a housing having a curved shape, an inner wall and an outer wall;
a groove in the inner wall of the housing whereby the suturing needle follows a curved path along the groove during a revolution of the suturing needle; and
an aperture in the housing that intercepts the groove,
wherein the housing shields a pointed end of the suturing needle during at least a portion of the revolution of the suturing needle.
13 . The cartridge of claim 12 wherein the cartridge is disposable.
14 . The cartridge of claim 12 wherein the suturing needle follows the groove in the wall of the housing through successive revolutions of the suturing needle.
15 . The cartridge of claim 12 wherein the groove contains at least a portion of the suturing needle during an entire revolution of the suturing needle.
16 . The cartridge of claim 12 wherein a pointed end of the suturing needle exits a first end of the groove in the inner wall of the housing and enters a second end of the groove in the inner wall of the curved housing.
17 . The cartridge of claim 12 wherein a length of the suturing needle is less than a length of the groove of the housing.
18 . A cartridge housing a suturing needle for use in suturing, the suturing needle comprising:
a pointed end at a first end of the suturing needle that is protected at an end of a rotation cycle;
a blunt end at a second end of the suturing needle;
a gap between the pointed end and the blunt end; and
an eye adjacent to the blunt end for engaging a suturing material,
wherein the suturing needle is in an arcuate shape between the pointed end and the blunt end.
19 . The cartridge housing the suturing needle of claim 18 wherein the suturing needle further comprises a first inner notch and a second inner notch located opposite the first inner notch.
20 . The cartridge housing the suturing needle of claim 18 wherein the suturing needle rotates in a track of a cartridge.