Suturing device
A suturing device for suturing a portion of biological tissue includes a needle attached to a suture, a needle holder that releasably holds the needle, and a needle driver adapted to be advanced and retracted substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the suturing device. A distal needle holder adapted to releasably hold the needle is positioned in a distal position relative to the portion of biological tissue and a distal end of the needle driver is positioned in a proximal position relative to the portion of biological tissue. The needle is positioned in either the proximal position or the distal position. The needle driver is moved longitudinally in a first direction along a path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis such that the needle and suture pass through the portion of biological tissue, thereby forming a suture incision through which the suture passes. By repeating the above-described processes, a series of stitches is thereby formed.
1. A suturing device for suturing a portion of biological tissue having a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the suturing device, the device comprising:
a needle configured to be attached to a suture, the needle comprising a rigid locking pin extending radially outward from a body of the needle in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis;
a needle holder configured to releasably hold the needle, wherein the needle holder is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis; and
a needle driver comprising a lumen configured to accommodate the needle from a distal end of the needle driver and a locking slot configured to releasably retain the rigid locking pin upon rotation of the needle driver,
wherein the needle driver is configured to be advanced and retracted such that the needle is moved along a path that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis,
wherein the needle driver further comprises a suture-releasing gap along a longitudinal length of the needle driver parallel to the longitudinal axis.
2. The suturing device of claim 1 , wherein the locking slot extends from the suture-releasing gap on an open end.
3. The suturing device of claim 1 , wherein the rigid locking pin extends from a proximal end of the needle.
4. The suturing device of claim 3 , wherein the proximal end of the needle has a smaller outer diameter than an inner diameter of the needle holder.
5. The suturing device of claim 1 , wherein the rigid locking pin extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
6. The suturing device of claim 1 , wherein the locking slot terminates in an enlarged cutout hole at a closed end.
7. A suturing device for suturing a portion of biological tissue, the device comprising:
an elongate body having a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the elongate body;
a needle configured to be attached to a suture, the needle having a needle head and a needle body, the head having a greater outer diameter than the needle body;
a first needle holder having a first needle groove with a distal end that releasably holds the needle by expanding and contracting, the first needle holder slidably attached to the elongate body and configured to slide along the longitudinal axis;
a second needle holder having a second needle groove adapted to releasably hold the needle, the second needle holder fixedly attached to the elongate body;
a spring extending between the first and second needle holders along the longitudinal axis within the elongate body and configured to bias the first needle holder from the second needle holder at a first distance; and
a needle driver configured to translate the first needle holder along the longitudinal axis.
8. The suturing device of claim 7 , wherein the distal end of the first needle groove comprises a resilient material.
9. The suturing device of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first or second needle holders further comprises a suture-releasing opening generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.
10. The suturing device of claim 7 , wherein the first needle groove slopes radially inward at a distal portion of the first needle groove such that the distal portion has an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the needle body and smaller than the outer diameter of the needle head.
11. The suturing device of claim 7 , wherein the second needle groove has an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the needle body and smaller than the outer diameter of the proximal needle head.
12. A suturing device for suturing a portion of biological tissue having a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the suturing device, the device comprising:
a needle configured to be attached to a suture, the needle comprising a rigid locking pin extending radially outward from a proximal end of the needle in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis;
a needle holder configured to releasably hold the needle, wherein the needle holder is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis; and
a needle driver comprising a lumen configured to accommodate the needle from a distal end of the needle driver and a locking slot configured to releasably retain the rigid locking pin upon rotation of the needle driver;
wherein the needle driver is configured to be advanced and retracted such that the needle is moved along a path that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.
13. The suturing device of claim 12 , wherein the proximal end of the needle has a smaller outer diameter than an inner diameter of the needle holder.
14. The suturing device of claim 12 , wherein the locking slot terminates in an enlarged cutout hole at a closed end.
15. The suturing device of claim 14 , wherein the needle driver further comprises a suture-releasing gap along a longitudinal length of the needle driver parallel to the longitudinal axis.
16. The suturing device of claim 12 , wherein the rigid locking pin extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
17. The suturing device of claim 12 , wherein the needle driver further comprises a suture-releasing gap along a longitudinal length of the needle driver parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the locking slot extends from the suture-releasing gap on an open end.
18. A suturing device for suturing a portion of biological tissue having a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the suturing device, the device comprising:
a needle configured to be attached to a suture, the needle comprising a rigid locking pin extending radially outward from a body of the needle in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis;
a needle holder configured to releasably hold the needle, wherein the needle holder is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis; and
a needle driver comprising a lumen configured to accommodate the needle from a distal end of the needle driver and a locking slot configured to releasably retain the rigid locking pin upon rotation of the needle driver;
wherein the locking slot terminates in an enlarged cutout hole at a closed end; and
wherein the needle driver is configured to be advanced and retracted such that the needle is moved along a path that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.
19. The suturing device of claim 18 , wherein the needle driver further comprises a suture-releasing gap along a longitudinal length of the needle driver parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the locking slot extends from the suture-releasing gap on an open end.
20. The suturing device of claim 18 , wherein the rigid locking pin extends from a proximal end of the needle, wherein the proximal end of the needle has a smaller outer diameter than an inner diameter of the needle holder.