Minimally invasive surgical suturing device with improved visualization
A suturing device is disclosed. The suturing device has a guide tip. The guide tip has first and second framing arms that define a viewing port from a first orientation. The guide tip also has proximal and distal ends of the guide tip which, with the first and second framing arms, define a tissue bite area from a second orientation. The suturing device also has a ferrule holder located in the distal end of the guide tip and centered relative to the first orientation. The suturing device further has a needle movable within the guide tip along a path through the tissue bite area and centrally viewable in the viewing port relative to the first orientation.
1. A suturing device, comprising:
a) a guide tip having:
1) first and second framing arms that define a viewing port from a first orientation; and
2) proximal and distal ends of the guide tip which, with the first and second framing arms, define a tissue bite area from a second orientation;
b) a ferrule holder located in the distal end of the guide tip and centered relative to the first orientation; and
c) a needle movable within and circumferentially rotatable relative to the guide tip along a path through the tissue bite area, circumferentially rotatable, and centrally viewable in the viewing port relative to the first orientation; and
d) a ferrule removal spring in the distal end of the guide tip.
2. The suturing device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second orientations are substantially perpendicular to each other.
3. The suturing device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second framing arms are symmetrical.
4. The suturing device of claim 1 , further comprising a ferrule releasing spring in the proximal end of the guide tip.
5. The suturing device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a ferrule held by the ferrule holder; and
a suture coupled to the ferrule.
6. The suturing device of claim 1 , further comprising a shaft having a proximal and a distal end, wherein the guide tip is coupled to the distal end of the shaft and the needle is movable within the shaft.
7. The suturing device of claim 6 , wherein the shaft comprises a bend such that:
the shaft has a first longitudinal axis on one side of the bend and a second longitudinal axis on a second side of the bend; and
the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis lie in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the viewing port.
8. The suturing device of claim 6 , wherein the shaft comprises a bend such that:
the shaft has a first longitudinal axis on one side of the bend and a second longitudinal axis on a second side of the bend; and
the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis lie in a plane which is substantially centered in the viewing port.
9. The suturing device of claim 6 , wherein the shaft is flexible.
10. The suturing device of claim 1 , wherein the tissue bite area is visible through the viewing port.
11. A suturing device, comprising:
a) a shaft having a proximal and a distal end, wherein the shaft comprises a bend such that the shaft has a first longitudinal axis on one side of the bend and a second longitudinal axis on a second side of the bend;
b) a guide tip coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the guide tip having:
1) first and second framing arms that define a viewing port such that the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis lie in a plane which is substantially centered in the viewing port; and
2) proximal and distal ends of the guide tip which, with the first and second framing arms, define a tissue bite area which is visible through the viewing port;
c) a ferrule holder located in the distal end of the guide tip; and
d) a needle movable within and circumferentially rotatable relative to the guide tip along a path through the tissue bite area, circumferentially rotatable, and centrally viewable in the viewing port; and
e) a ferrule removal spring in the distal end of the guide tip.
12. The suturing device of claim 11 , wherein the first and second framing arms are symmetrical.
13. The suturing device of claim 11 , further comprising a ferrule releasing spring in the proximal end of the guide tip.
14. The suturing device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a ferrule held by the ferrule holder; and
a suture coupled to the ferrule.
15. The suturing device of claim 11 , wherein the shaft is flexible.
16. A suturing device, comprising:
a guide tip defining a viewing port and a tissue bite area;
a needle movable within and circumferentially rotatable relative to the guide tip along a path through the tissue bite area, circumferentially rotatable, and centrally viewable in the viewing port; and
a ferrule removal spring in the distal end of the guide tip.
17. The suturing device of claim 16 , wherein the viewing port and the tissue bite area are substantially orthogonal to each other.
18. The suturing device of claim 16 , further comprising a ferrule holder.