Ultrasonic needle driver
View Patent ↗An ultrasonic needle driver is provided. The driver includes a housing, an ultrasonic transducer mounted within the housing, a coupling mechanism operably connected to and extending distally from the ultrasonic transducer, and a tool assembly operably connected to the coupling mechanism. The tool assembly may be configured for selectively retaining a suture needle. The housing may include a handle assembly for actuating the tool assembly. The handle assembly may include a pair of handles. The handles are spaced apart from the housing when in a first position. The handles may be approximated toward the housing to actuate the tool assembly. The tool assembly may include a jaw member. The housing may be configured for operable engagement by a user and may define a substantially elongated body. The housing may define a pistol or pencil grip. The driver may also include an activation mechanism for activating the ultrasonic transducer. The driver may further include a control module integrally formed therewith.
1. An ultrasonic needle driver comprising:
a housing;
an ultrasonic transducer mounted within the housing;
a coupling mechanism operably connected to and extending distally from the ultrasonic transducer; and
a tool assembly operably connected to the coupling mechanism, the tool assembly being configured for selectively retaining a suture needle, wherein the tool assembly includes a jaw assembly having a first jaw member pivotally secured to a second jaw member, the second jaw member defining a plurality of indentations for selectively receiving a suture needle, the plurality of indentations including a substantially circular cross-sectional profile, a substantially rectangular cross-sectional profile, and a substantially triangular cross-sectional profile.
2. The driver of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a handle assembly for actuating the tool assembly.
3. The driver of claim 2 , wherein the handle assembly includes a pair of handles.
4. The driver of claim 3 , wherein the handles are spaced apart from the housing when in a first position.
5. The driver of claim 3 , wherein the handles are approximated toward the housing to actuate the tool assembly.
6. The driver of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured for operable engagement by a user.
7. The driver of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a substantially elongated body.
8. The driver of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a pistol grip.
9. The driver of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a pencil grip.
10. The driver of claim 1 , further including an activation mechanism for activating the ultrasonic transducer.
11. The driver of claim 1 , further including a control module integrally formed therewith.
12. The driver of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to oscillate a suture needle at least 20 kHz.
13. A needle driving system comprising:
an ultrasonic needle driver according to claim 1 ; and
a control module for supplying energy to the ultrasonic transducer.
14. The system of claim 13 further including a remote actuator operably connected to the control module for activating the ultrasonic transducer.
15. The system of claim 13 , wherein energy supplied by the control module may be varied.
16. The driver of claim 1 , wherein the second jaw member is configured to oscillate relative to the first jaw member.
17. The driver of claim 1 , wherein the second jaw member is in axial alignment with the ultrasonic transducer.
18. The driver of claim 1 , wherein the first jaw member includes a coating to facilitate engagement with a suture needle.
19. The driver of claim 1 , wherein the second jaw member includes a coating to facilitate engagement with a suture needle.