Transmission for driving circular needle

1. A suturing cartridge configured to be coupled to a laparoscopic surgical instrument comprising an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end comprising a rack and pinion and a receiver configured to receive and hold the cartridge, the suturing cartridge comprising:

an arced needle track;

an arced needle positioned in the needle track;

a length of suture connected to the needle;

a reciprocating needle driver operative to engage and move the needle in the needle track;

a rotary input that rotates about an axis;

a torsional interface comprising a first mating means connected to the rotary input, the first mating means being complimentary to a second mating means connected to the pinion, the first and second mating means being configured to engage one another when the suturing cartridge is held in the receiver of the laparoscopic surgical instrument and disengage from one another when the suturing cartridge is removed from the receiver of the laparoscopic surgical instrument;

a link comprising a proximal end connected to the rotary input and a distal end connected to the needle driver;

whereby rotation of the rotary input in a first angular direction translates the needle driver in a second angular direction opposite of the first angular direction.

2. The suturing cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the link further comprises an elongate slot interposed between the proximal and distal ends, the elongate slot receiving a fixed pin about which the link both longitudinally translates and pivots.

3. The suturing cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the rotary input comprises a radial slot receiving a pin connected to the proximal end of the link.

4. The suturing cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the link is pivotally connected to the needle driver.

5. The suturing cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the needle track has a first radius and the rotary input has a second radius less than the first radius.

6. The suturing cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the rotary input, link, and the reciprocating needle driver have no indeterminate point.

7. The suturing cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the rotary input has a reciprocating rotational motion.

8. The suturing cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the needle driver slides back and forth at least 180 degrees in the arced track.

9. The suturing cartridge of claim 8 , wherein the rotary input and needle rotate in parallel planes.

10. The suturing cartridge of claim 1 , wherein a pin pivotally connects the distal end of the link to the needle driver.

11. The suturing cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first mating means comprises a slot, and the second mating means comprises a key dimensioned to fit in the slot.

12. A surgical suturing system, comprising:

the suturing cartridge of claim 1 ; and

a laparoscopic surgical instrument comprising an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end comprising a rack and pinion and a receiver configured to receive and hold the suturing cartridge, and an actuator connected to the shaft proximal end and operably connected to the rack and pinion.

13. The suturing cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the pinion and rotary input are axially aligned when the suturing cartridge is held in the receiver.

14. The surgical suturing system of claim 12 , wherein the laparoscopic surgical instrument further comprises a latch configured to selectively lock and unlock the cartridge in the receiver.

15. The surgical suturing system of claim 14 , wherein the latch engages a recess in the cartridge.

16. The surgical suturing system of claim 14 , wherein the latch engages a step on the cartridge.

17. A suturing cartridge configured to be connected to a surgical instrument comprising an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end comprising a rack and pinion and a receiver configured to receive and hold the suturing cartridge, the suturing cartridge comprising:

an arced needle track;

an arced needle positioned in the needle track;

a length of suture connected to the needle;

a reciprocating needle driver operative to engage and move the needle in the needle track;

a rotary input configured to rotationally couple with the pinion when the suturing cartridge is seated in the receiver of the surgical instrument and decouple from the pinion when the suturing cartridge is removed from the receiver of the surgical instrument; and

a link comprising a proximal end connected to the rotary input and a distal end connected to the needle driver;

whereby rotation of the rotary input translates the needle driver to move the needle in the needle track.

18. The suturing cartridge of claim 17 , further comprising a torsional interface comprising a first mating means connected to the rotary input and configured to releasably engage a second mating means connected to the pinion.

19. The suturing cartridge of claim 17 , wherein the rotary input and pinion are axially aligned when the suturing cartridge is seated in the receiver of the surgical instrument.

20. A circular needle applier, comprising:

an arced needle track;

an arced needle positioned in the needle track;

a length of suture connected to the needle;

a reciprocating needle driver operative to engage and move the needle in the needle track;

a rotary input that rotates about an axis, the rotary input comprising a radial slot; and

a link comprising a proximal end having a pin received by the radial slot of the rotary input such that the radial slot rotationally constrains the pin relative to the rotary input while accommodating some relative radial movement, a distal end pivotally connected to the needle driver, and an elongate slot interposed between the proximal and distal ends, the elongate slot receiving a pin about which the link both longitudinally translates and pivots;

whereby rotation of the rotary input in a first angular direction translates the needle driver in a second angular direction opposite of the first angular direction.