Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SURGICAL SUTURING APPARATUS WITH LOADING MECHANISM
BACKGROUND
S This is a division of copending Canadian Application Serial No. 2, I 55,615,
filed August 8, 1995.
1. Technical Field
The device relates generally to surgical instrumentation and, more
particularly,
to a suturing apparatus and loading unit adapted for use in endoscopic or
laparoscopic
surgical procedures.
2. Description of Related Art
Endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures are characterized by the use of an
elongated cannula structure having a relatively small diameter with a proximal
and
distal end. The distal end ofthe cannula is passed through the surrounding
tissue into
the body cavity wherein the surgical procedure or examination is to be
effected, thus
providing a conduit for the insertion of surgical instrumentation. A plurality
of cannula
structures may be used to allow operation of a variety of instruments
simultaneously
during a given procedure. For example, one cannula may provide a conduit for
an
endoscope for vision and illumination within the operative cavity while the
other
cannulas may provide conduits for control of specialized surgical instruments
designed
for performing specific procedural functions.
Many surgical procedures call for placing stitches through tissue, a procedure
traditionally accomplished by hand. Laparoscopic suturing presents a
particularly
challenging task, because it must be accomplished using remote instrumentation
through a port that typically averages between five and ten millimeters. One
instrument
for facilitating laparoscopic suturing is discussed in British Patent
Application No.
2260704, published
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April 2$, 1993.
Although the suturing device described in British Patent Application Serial
No. 2260704 can be used to place laparoscopic sutures, once the suture is used
up, or if a
new needle is required, the suturing device must be manually re-loaded, which
can be time-
s consuming. As it is generally considered desirable to place 2 or 3 lines of
stitching when
performing an anastomosis to provide reinforcement, the Iaparoscopic suturing
device as
described in the British Patent Application mentioned above requires manual
reloading one or
more times. It would be advantageous to provide a laparoscopic suturing
instrument to
permit quick and efficient reloading of a new needle and suture. A
laparoscopic suturing
device would also provide an advantage if the jaws could be prevented from
moving when
the needle is not secured in either jaw, so as to prevent the needle from
accidentally
dislodging in the body cavity.
SUMMARY
Briefly stated, a surgical apparatus is provided with an elongated body
portion, two
jaw elements extending from the body portion, securing blades for securing a
needle (or
similar surgical incision member), the securing blades cooperating wide a
first recess in each
jaw element and a releasing mechanism cooperating wide the securing blades for
releasing the
needle secured by the securing blades. In addition, a locking wheel and pin
cooperating with
the securing blades prevents the jaw elements from opening unless the needle
is secured in at
least one jaw, so as to help prevent the needle from accidentally falling from
the jaws. The
apparatus also has an overnde mechanism to defeat the locking means, which
makes it
possible to load a new needle and suture into the device. A loading unit is
provided for use
with the surgical suturing apparatus to ensure rapid and positive placement of
a needle and
suture within the jaw elements. The loading unit includes a support member to
hold a needle
or surgical incision member in a position to be grasped by the jaw elements
and a storage
member for holding a length of suture attached to the needle. The Loading unit
may further
include structure to align the jaws of the surgical suturing instrument about
the needle and a
safety mechanism to prevent the removal of the jaws from the loading unit
until the needle
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has been properly grasped by the jaws. As used herein, "needle" or "surgical
needle"
refers generally to all types of surgical needles, while "surgical incision
member" refers
more specifically to double pointed needles for use in a surgical suturing
apparatus.
These together with other advantages will become apparent from the details of
construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a
method of loading a surgical needle having a length of suture attached thereto
into a
surgical suturing apparatus comprising: a) providing a loading unit having a
body
portion, the body portion including apparatus receiving structure; b)
releasably
supporting a surgical needle above the body portion of the loading unit; c)
positioning a
pair of open grasping jaws within the apparatus receiving structure and about
the
surgical needle; d) closing the jaws about the surgical needle to grasp the
surgical
needle between the jaws; and e) removing the surgical needle from the loading
unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various embodiments are described herein with reference to the drawings,
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a surgical suturing
apparatus;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the instrument depicted in FIG. I ;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the jaw actuating mechanism of the instrument
depicted in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the instrument depicted in FIG. 1 with the jaws
open and the needle secured in the upper jaw;
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the instrument depicted in FIG. 1 with the jaws
closed;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a loading mechanism for a
surgical stitching apparatus;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the needle, surgical thread and anchor;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the needle of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 shows the loading mechanism of FIG. 6 being placed into the jaw of the
apparatus;
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FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 show a plan view of the jaws of the instrument as they
draw the needle and connected length of suture through tissue;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the loading
mechanism;
FIG. 14 is a side view of a portion of the mechanism that overrides the
lockout
mechanism of the instrument depicted in FIG. l;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a loading
mechanism illustrating a surgical incision member being supported within the
loading
unit and alignment
20
30
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structure for guiding a surgical suturing apparatus into position on the
loading unit;
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the loading unit in accordance with the
embodiment
of FIG. 15 illustrating a length of suture fed from a storage cavity within
the loading unit;
FIG. 17 is a side elevational view, partly shown in section, taken along the
lines 17-
17 of FIG. 16;
FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the loading mechanism of FIG. 15
illustrating a suture reel positioned within the loading unit;
FIG. I9 is a bottom plan view of the loading unit of FIG. 15 with a bottom
cover
plate removed;
FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the loading unit of FIG. 14 illustrating a
portion of a
surgical suturing apparatus positioned in the loading unit;
FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 20 illustrating the jaws of a surgical
suturing
apparatus grasping a surgical incision member;
FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrating the surgical
incision
member removed from the loading unit by the jaws and the length of suture
being drawn out
of the storage member; and
FIG. 23 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a loading
mechanism.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a
suturing
apparatus generally indicated by reference numeral l, which has a handle
housing 61 with a
two-armed handle 2, an elongated tubular housing or body portion 3, and two
jaws (or jaw
elements) 4 and 5. Handle 2 is used to control the opening and closing of jaws
4 and 5 and
may be designed to move in the same plane as jaws 4 and 5 to provide an
ergonomic
advantage. Handle 2 may also be rotatably connected to body portion 3 to
provide further
ergonomic advantage. This embodiment is particularly well adapted for use in
endoscopic or
laparoscopic procedures as the tubular housing 3 is preferably dimensioned to
be deployable
through a tubular cannula structure, e.g., of S mm or 10 mm internal diameter.
Referring to FIG. 2, handles 2 are connected to rod 7 by a pair of links 33
and 34 and
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pins 49, 50 and 51. Center rod 7 is spring biased distally by spring 6. Spring
6 fits around
center rod 7 and rests in channel 63 of housing 61. When the handles 2 are
squeezed, center
rod 7 moves backward (proximally), causing spring 6 to be compressed.
Referring to FIG.
3, the distal end of center rod 7 has a pin 8 which rides in a cam slot 9 and
10 in each of the
jaws 4 and 5. Jaws 4 and 5 are pivotally connected to each other by pin 11
extending
through holes 12 and 13 and through holes 53 and 54 of support 52. When center
rod 7 is
pulled back, pin 8 is also pulled back in cam slots 9 and I0, camming jaws 4
and 5 closed.
Refernng to FIG. 3, each jaw is adapted to receive needle 14 (FIG. 7) in
recess 15.
Needle 14 is depicted tluoughout the figures as a surgical incision member (as
defined
above), however, the use of other varieties of surgical needles is also
contemplated. When
jaws 4 and 5 are closed as shown in FIG. 5, the needle 14 sits in the recess
15 in both jaws.
When the jaws are opened, the needle 14 is retained in one or the other recess
IS depending
on which blade 16 or 29 intersects the needle 14 through recess 17 (see FIG.
8). As shown
in FIG. 4, blade 16, for example, cooperating with upper jaw element 4 has
been extended
into recess 17 to secure needle 14. Alternatively, blade 29 may intersect
needle 14 through
recess 17, securing needle 14 in jaw 5. The movement of blades 16 and 29 to
engage needle
14 will be described in more detail below.
On either side of the center rod 7, side rods 21 and 22 sit inside tubular
housing 3 and
are connected at their proximal ends to a wheel 23 movably housed inside
handle housing 61.
The two halves of housing 61 are secured by pins 30. Wheel 23 has two arms 24
and 25
projecting from either side that allow the operator of the apparatus to turn
wheel 23. To
transfer needle 14 from jaw 4 to jaw 5, the jaws are closed and wheel 23 is
rotated by turning
side arm 25 clockwise so that side rod 21 is pulled back and side rod 22 is
pushed forward.
The side rods 21 and 22 are connected to blades 16 and 29, respectively.
Therefore, when
side rod 22 is pushed forward, blade 29 is pushed forward and engages needle
14 by
extending into recess 17 to secure needle 14 in jaw 5. While blade 29 is in a
forward
position, blade 16 is in a retracted position, thus blade 16 does not contact
needle 14, thereby
allowing release of the needle from jaw 4. Similarly, side arm 24 may be
turned
counterclockwise, sliding side rod 21 and blade 16 forward and side arn~ 22
and blade 29
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backward, thereby securing needle 14 in jaw 4 and allowing release from jaw 5.
Blades 16
and 29 have notches 40 and 41, respectively, in their distal ends. These
notches remain
behind (proximal to) recesses 15 in jaws 4 and S unless the override
mechanism, discussed
below, is activated. When the override mechanism is activated, notches 40 and
41 align with
recesses 15.
Turning now to the lockout mechanism which prevents jaws 4 and 5 from opening
unless blade 16 or 29 has moved into position to secure needle 14, as shown in
FIG. 2, a pin
28 extends through rod 7 which is housed proximally in wheel 23. Wheel 23 has
notches 26
and 27 and abutment surface 65 therebetween. When wheel 23 is positioned so
drat pin 28 is
aligned with the mouth of one of die notches 26, 27, the jaws 4, 5 can be
opened because pin
28 has room to move forward into that notch; when wheel 23 is positioned so
that pin 28
rests against abutment surface 65, jaws 4 and 5 cannot be opened because pin
28 is stopped
by abutment surface 65, i.e., it does not have room to move forward.
In the initial position shown in FIG. 4, the handles 2 are open, as are jaws 4
and S.
Needle 14 is retained in jaw 4 by blade 16. In this position, pin 28 is
forward in notch 27.
To close jaws 4, 5 and suture body tissue, handles 2 are squeezed toged~er,
causing rod 7
and associated pin 28 to move rearwardly so that pin 28 is at the mouth of
notch 27. Wheel
23 is then rotated using arms 24 or 25 to pass the needle 14 from jaw 4 to jaw
5 as described
above. The rotation of wheel 23 slides pin 28 along abutment surface 65 to the
mouth of
notch 26. The handles can then be released, causing pin 28 to move forward
into notch 26
under the force of spring 6 (discussed above), consequently moving rod 7
forward to open
the jaws.
Therefore, when wheel 23 is positioned so that pin 28 is aligned with notch
26, it
causes side rod 22 to be pushed into a forward position, placing blade 29 in a
forward
position so as to intersect needle 14 through recess 17, thereby securing
needle 14 in jaw 5.
When wheel 23 is positioned so that pin 28 is aligned wide notch 27, it causes
side arm 21 to
be pushed into a forward position, placing blade 16 in a forward position so
that it intersects
needle 14 though recess 17, thereby securing needle 14 in jaw 4.
If the user attempts to release the handles 2 when the pin 28 is not aligned
with the
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mouth of either notch, i.e., when wheel 23 is in position so that pin 28 is
resting against
(aligned with) abutment surface 65, pin 28 cannot slide forward and
consequently rod 7
cannot slide forward to open the jaws 4 and 5. Thus, the locking mechanism of
this
apparatus prevents jaws 4 and 5 from opening if needle 14 is not secured in
one of the jaws
by the respective blade.
Needle 14 as shown in FIG. 7 is curved, has two pointed ends 55 and 56 and is
connected to a portion of surgical suture 18 in the center of needle 14.
Channel 66 holds an
end of the suture. To retain the suture in the needle, the suture may either
be glued into
channel 66 or the needle itself may be crimped. A straight needle as shown in
FIG. 8 may
also be utilized, and the suture can be connected adjacent one of the ends
(not shown). A
single-pointed needle could also be alternatively provided (not shown). The
opposite end of
suture 18 may also have an anchor 19 affixed thereto for securing the suture
in tissue.
Referring to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, to operate the suturing apparatus, the open
jaws 4,
5 are positioned around the tissue to be sutured. Note that needle 14 is shown
held securely
in jaw 4 by blade 16. Handles 2 are squeezed, closing the jaws 4, 5 around the
tissue and
piercing it with needle 14, which is held securely in jaw 4 by blade 16. As
needle 14 pierces
the tissue, it is guided into a recess 15 in the opposite jaw 5. If the jaws
are open, pin 28 is
positioned forward in notch 26 or 27 as described above, and consequently
wheel 23 cannot
move until the jaws are closed and pin 28 can then travel along abutment
surface 65. With
the jaws closed, wheel 23 may be moved by turning side arm 25 clockwise,
thereby sliding
blade 16 out of one end of the needle 14 and simultaneously sliding blade 29
into the other
end of the needle. This clockwise movement slides pin 28 from the mouth of
notch 27 to the
mouth of notch 26 as described above. Thus, by turning side arm 25 (and wheel
23), needle
14 is released from jaw 4 and engaged in jaw 5. The needle 14 will then be
positioned in the
jaw 5, drawing suture 18 through the tissue. Anchor 19 will rest on the
tissue, thereby
securing suture 18 in the tissue. The jaws 4 and 5 are then opened by
releasing the handles.
If the needle 14 is double-pointed, the instrument is ready to make another
stitch. To do so,
the handles 2 are squeezed and the jaws are again closed. After closing the
jaws to make the
second stitch, the needle 14 can be passed back to jaw 4 by rotating side arrn
24 of wheel 23
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to slide blade 16 distally and blade 29 proximally. If the needle has only one
point, the
needle must be transferred back to the opposite jaw (by closing the jaws and
rotating wheel
23) before the instrument is ready to make another stitch.
In order to load the suturing apparatus, jaws 4 and 5 must be opened and still
allow
needle 14 to be removed and a replacement needle to be loaded into slot 15.
This cannot be
accomplished if either blade 16 or 29 is intersecting slot 15 in accordance
with the securing
mechanism described above. Therefore, a mechanism to override the lockout
mechanism
described above is provided, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 14. U-channel 35
straddles wheel
23. Spring 34 is seated within channel 64 of housing 6I and is proximal to U-
channel 35
and wheel 23. Rod 7 extends through spring 34, hole 59 in U-channel 35 and
wheel 23.
Plungers 36 and 37 each rest in hole 60 on either side of wheel 23 and each
plunger extends
through U-channel 35. Each plunger 36, 37, rests upon a spring washer 46,
which also rests
in hole 60 in wheel 23. Plungers 36 and 37 have a smaller-diameter knobs 38
and 39,
respectively, extending therefrom and through housing 61.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 14, housings 61 have channels 62 in which knobs 38 and
39, respectively, may move back and forth freely. Plungers 36 and 37, however,
rest
against surface 48 in housing 61. When knobs 38 and 39 are pushed down, spring
washers
46 compress, plungers 36 and 37 clear surfaces 48 and ride forward (distally)
into recesses
47, propelled by the energy of compressed spring 34.
Therefore, to operate this override mechanism, side arms 24 and 25 are
positioned so
that pin 28 is abutting abutment surface 65 and cannot ride forward into
notches 26 or 27.
Knobs 38 and 39 are pushed down, thereby causing wheel 23 to ride forward into
recesses
47 of housing 61. As wheel 23 rides forwwd, so do pin 28 and rod 7, thereby
allowing
jaws 4 and 5 to open.
When wheel 23 is propelled forward as described above, side rods 21 and 22 and
blades 16 and 29 are driven forward sufficiently so that notches 40 and 41
align with recess
15 in each jaw. When notches 40 and 41 align with recess 15, blades 16 and 29
are
technically in a forward position (which allows the jaws to be opened because
the lockout
mechanism described above is only actuated if neither blade is in a forward
position). In this
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position, however, recesses 15, instead of being intersected by blades 16 and
29, are aligned
with notches 40 and 41 so that recesses 15 are clear all the way through in
each jaw, thereby
allowing the old needle 14 to be removed from the instrument and a new needle
14 to be
replaced. Thus, the lockout mechanism discussed above has been defeated by the
override
mechanism, because the jaws 4, 5 are open, and yet the needle 14 is not
secured. After the
new needle has been inserted, side arms 24 and 25 can be pulled proximally,
compressing
spring 34 and re-engaging lower knobs 36 and 37 with surface 48, thereby re-
arming the
lockout mechanism of this instrument.
Refernng to the loading mechanism for replacing the needle, suture and anchor
of the
present stitching apparatus shown in FIG. 13, needle 14 is positioned in notch
44 and
recesses 42 and 43 of the loading mechanism are configured to receive jaws 4
and 5. When
jaws 4 and 5 are closed, the needle 14 becomes engaged in jaw 4 and the closed
jaws are
removed from the loading mechanism by lifting them through recess 49. The body
portion
of this Loading mechanism 45 may be hollow, thereby holding a package
containing suture
Z5 and anchor inside it.
FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a loading mechanism 33 for replacing the
needle, suture and anchor of the present stitching apparatus. The loading
mechanism
consists of handle 30 and arms 31 and 32 attached thereto via fasteners 57 and
58. Each arm
is adapted to hold either an anchor/positioning element 19 or a needle 14. The
anchor/posidoning element 19 and the needle 14 are preferably approximately
the same
diameter so that both arms 31 and 32 may be of similar dimension.
Referring to FIG. 9, each jaw may be adapted to hold anchor 19 shown in FIG.
6.
Recess 20 is one adaptation suitable to hold the suture anchor. The distance
between the
needle's recess 15 and the anchor's recess 20 approximately equals the
distance between the
2 5 needle 14 and anchor 19 in the loading mechanism to facilitate proper
loading. Suture anchor
19 can be fixedly attached to needle 14 by suture 18. Suture anchor 19 may
also help guide
and position needle 14 into recess 15. If anchor 19 is not properly placed in
recess 20, jaws
4 and 5 cannot close. If anchor 19 is properly placed, however, this placement
helps guide
the position of needle 14 into recess 15. Alternatively, a separate
positioning element may be
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provided. In yet another embodiment, positioning element 19 is fixedly
attached to loading
mechanism 33 and is placed into recess 20 for positioning purposes, but is
drawn away
when the loading mechanism 33 is removed from the suturing apparatus.
To reload a needle, anchor and suture into the apparatus, the override
mechanism
described above would be activated and the old needle removed. As shown in
FIG. 9, to
reload the apparatus utilizing loading mechanism 33, mechanism 33 is held
perpendicular to
the bottom open jaw 5 and the needle I4 and the anchor/positioning element 19
are placed
into their respective recesses (15 and 20) one at a time. After the needle I4
and
anchor/positioning element 19 are placed in their respective recesses, the
jaws 4, 5 are
closed, and the loading mechanism 33 is pulled away, leaving the needle 14 and
anchor 19 in
place.
Referring now to FIGS. 15 to 22, there is disclosed an alternate embodiment of
a
loading unit suitable for use with a surgical suturing apparatus. Loading unit
70 is provided
to rapidly and positively seat a needle or surgical incision member and suture
such as, for
example needle 14 and suture 18, within the jaws of the surgical suturing
apparatus. The
needle in these figures is depicted as a surgical incision member, although
the use of other
varieties of surgical needles is also contemplated.
Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 16, loading unit 70 generally includes a body
portion
72 having a handle or finger tab 74 extending proximally therefrom. As used
herein with
2 0 reference to loading unit 70, the term "proximally" refers generally in
the direction toward the
holding hand of the user. Preferably finger tab 74 may include a plurality of
ridges 76, or be
otherwise textured, to enhance the gripping ability of die user.
Loading unit 70 is provided to support needle 14 in a manner to facilitate
gripping or
loading needle 14 into a surgical suturing instrument. Thus, loading unit 70
includes a
2 5 needle support member 78 formed on body portion 72 to support or suspend
needle 14 by a
central portion thereof. Preferably support member 78 includes a pair of
flexible fingers 80
which hold a central portion of needle 14. Apparatus receiving structure may
be provided to
guide jaws 4 and 5 adjacent support member 78. The apparatus receiving
structure may
include a pair of jaw support shelves 82 which are provided adjacent and below
either the
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side of support member 78 to define a pair of recesses adjacent thereto.
Shelves 82 further
serve to align a pair of jaw members positioned thereon in a manner to grasp
needle 14.
Additionally, the apparatus receiving structure may include various other
alignment
structure to guide or orient the jaws of a surgical suturing apparatus into
position on loading
unit 70 in order to grasp and remove needle 14. For example, an elongate
member alignment
structure 84 may be provided to guide a barrel housing or elongate portion of
a suturing
instrument into position on loading unit 70. Alignment structure 84 generally
includes a pair
of side tabs 86 which surround the suture apparatus elongate portion.
Additionally, a
support stud 88 may be provided on a bottom edge of alignment structure 84 to
maintain the
elongate portion in proper vertical alignment with a corresponding recess in
the suture
apparatus elongate portion. Further, a recess such as for example, recess or
cup 90, may be
provided between a distal end of jaw support shelves 82 to support the distal
end of the
elongate portion. When inserted in alignment structure 84, the distal end of
the surgical
suturing apparatus elongate portion will abut a distal end 92 of needle
support member 78 to
limit advancement of the jaws within the loading unit.
Various structure or safety features may be provided to ensure that needle 14
may not
be removed from loading unit 70 until needle 14 has been finely grasped by
completely
closing the surgical instrument suturing jaws. A pair of sidewalls 94 are
provided on jaw
support shelves 82 and generally taper towards cup 90. Sidewalk 94 aid in
ensuring
2 0 consistent horizontal alignment of the jaws on support shelves 82 and
additionally aid in
preventing premature longitudinal withdrawal of the suture apparatus out from
the loading
unit.
The safety mechanism 96 is provided to prevent lifting of the jaws, and thus
lifting of
needle 14 out of loading unit 70 before needle 14 has been firmly grasped by
the jaws.
2 5 Safety mechanism 96 generally includes a pair of triangular blocking
members 98 which are
suspended above and adjacent either side of needle support member 78. Blocking
members
98 prevent vertical movement of die jaws out of loading unit 72 until the jaws
are closed,
thereby firmly grasping needle 14. Additionally a ramped face 97 on support
member 78 in
cooperation with side walls 94 prevent longitudinal withdrawal of the jaws
from loading unit
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70. Once the jaws of a surgical suturing apparatus have been firmly and
positively closed
about needle 14, jaws may be lifted vertically through a gap I00 formed
between members
98 in order to remove needle 14 from loading unit 70. Thus, members 98 in
conjunction
with ramped face 97 and side walls 94 aid in ensuring that a needle 14 is not
removed from
the loading unit 70 until jaws have been fully closed and firmly grasp needle
14.
As noted hereinabove, needle 14 is preferably provided with a length of suture
material 18. It is desirable to maintain the length of suture material 18 in a
orderly. and secure
fashion until such time as needle 14 is removed from loading unit 70. Loading
unit 70
includes a guide notch 102 which guides a length of suture into a hollow body
cavity 104 of
loading unit 70 (FIG. 17). Still referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, hollow body
cavity 104 is
formed between body portion 72 and a body portion bottom plate 106. Suture 18
extends
through an aperture 108 formed in a distal portion of finger tab 74 and
extends into hollow
body cavity 104. Additionally, a channel 110 may be provided in body portion
72 to guide
the length of suture between notch 102 and hollow body cavity 104. Thus, the
length of
suture 18 is neatly and securely stored within loading unit 70 prior to
removal of needle 14.
Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 18, bottom plate 106 is affixed to body portion
72 in
friction fit fashion by way of a lip 112 on body portion 106 which engages a
recessed edge
114 of body portion 72. Additionally, a plurality of male members 1 I6 formed
in bottom
plate 106 may engage corresponding female members 118 in body portion 72 to
securely
fasten bottom plate 106 to body portion 72. It will be noted that various
other ways of
removably yet firmly securing bottom plate 106 to body portion 72 may be
provided.
As noted hereinabove, loading unit 70 provides structure for neatly and
securely
maintaining at least a portion of a length of suture material within loading
unit 70. Preferably
a storage member, such as, for example, suture reel 120, is movably disposed
between
bottom plate 106 and body portion 72. Suture reel 120 generally includes a top
portion 122
and a bottom portion 124 held in spaced apart relation by a central portion
I26. As shown in
FIGS. 17-19, at least a portion of a length of suture material is disposed
between top portion
122 and bottom portion 124 and preferably wrapped around central portion 126.
As shown,
central portion 126 of suture reel 120 preferably includes a bore 128 which
surrounds male
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member 116 and female member 118 to allow suture reel 120 to rotate as suture
18 is
withdrawn. Slits 130 may be provided on top and bottom portions 122 and 124,
respectively, to temporarily secure a section of suture material on suture
reel 120.
Additionally, a pair of reel guides 132 may be formed on a bottom surface of
body portion 72
to guide suture reel 120 in rotation and to prevent excess unravelling of
suture material. As
best shown in FIG. 18, a flexible tensioning member 134 may be formed in
bottom plate I06
to provide frictional engagement with suture reel 120 in order to prevent
inadvertent
unraveling of suture material 18.
As discussed hereinabove, loading unit 70 is provided to rapidly and
positively load
needle 14 and length of suture 18 into the jaws of a surgical suturing
apparatus, such as, for
example, jaws 4 and 5 of suturing apparatus 1, described hereinabove. Loading
unit 70 is
particularly suited to ensure that needle 14 is not removed from loading unit
70 until such
time as needle I4 is Fumly and completely seated within recesses 15 of jaws 4
and 5.
Referring now to FIGS. 20-22, and initially to FIG. 20, needle 14 is initially
positioned on support member 78 and grasped by fingers 80. Suture 18 extends
from a
central portion of needle 14 through notch 102 and aperture 108 into the
hollow body cavity
104 of loading unit 70. In use, the user firmly grasps loading unit 70 by
handle 74. As
noted above, ridged surfaces 76 ensure a consistent and firm grip on loading
unit 70. A
surgical suturing apparatus I is inserted into loading unit 70 by positioning
elongate member
3 between side tabs 86. A distal end of elongate member 3 abuts end 92 of
support member
78 to limit die degree to which suturing apparatus 1 is inserted into loading
unit 70. When
positioned in loading unit 70, jaws 4 and 5 are initially placed in an open
condition on jaw
support shelves 82.
Refen-ing now to FIGS. 20 and 21, once suturing apparatus 1 has been
positioned on
loading unit 70, arms 4 and 5 are pivoted to a closed position, in a manner
more fully
described hereinabove, such that recesses IS in jaws 4 and 5 surround the
suspended ends of
needle 14. As further noted hereinabove, blade 16 or 29 (not shown) is moved
into position
to firmly grasp needle 14. As most clearly shown in FIG. 21, suturing
apparatus 1 may now
be lifted vertically through gap 100 between arms 98 and to remove elongate
portion 3 is
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pulled free of its friction fit contact with side tabs 86 the now "loaded"
suturing apparatus 1
from loading unit 70.
As discussed hereinabove, safety mechanism 96 ensures that suturing apparatus
1
cannot be removed from loading unit 70 until the jaws 4 and 5 have been fully
closed about
needle 14. For example, should jaws 4 and 5 only be partially closed towards
needle 14,
jaws 4 and 5 will be unable to pass tluough gap 100 and thus will not be able
to pass
between members 98. Thus, suturing apparatus 1 cannot be removed from loading
unit 70 in
a vertical direction. Further, referring to FIGS. 20 and 21 in conjunction
with FIG. 17,
should the user attempt to draw suturing apparatus 1 out of loading unit 70 in
a longitudinal
direction, partially open jaws 4 and 5 will cam against side walls 94
preventing further
longitudinal withdrawal of suturing apparatus 1. Additionally, and as most
clearly seen in
FIG. 17, should jaws 4 and 5 be partially closed and beneath members 98,
ramped surface
97 of support member 78 will prevent the needle from being removed from
fingers 80 and
thus prevent suturing apparatus I from being withdrawn from the loading unit
70 in a
horizontal direction. Thus, in this fashion, loading unit 70 is particularly
suited to ensure that
needle 14 is positively seated within jaws 4 and 5 of suturing apparatus 1
prior to removal of
needle 14 from loading unit 70. This has the obvious advantages of ensuring
needle 14 does
not fall out of jaws 4 or 5 due to incomplete positioning or only partial
securement therein.
Referring now to FIGS. 21 and 22, once jaws 4 and 5 have been fully closed
about
needle 14, end blade 16 or 29 is slid forward to firmly secure needle 14
within jaws 4 or 5,
respectively. Suturing apparatus 1 may be lifted in the vertical direction
causing elongate
member 3 to pull free of tabs 86 and enabling jaws 4 and S to pass through gap
100, thereby
allowing suturing apparatus 1 to be removed from loading unit 70. As needle 14
is pulled
free of loading unit 70, suture 18 attached thereto is pulled through aperture
108 causing at
2 5 least a portion of suture 18 to unravel from suture reel 120 as suture
reel 120 rotates with
respect to body portion 72. Reel guides I32 in conjunction with a male and
female members
116 and 118, respectively, enable suture reel 120 to freely rotate and allow
suture 18 to be
withdrawn from loading unit 70. In this manner, loading unit 70 enables a user
to rapidly
and positively seat needle 14 within jaws 4 and 5 of a surgical suturing
apparatus 1 while
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maintaining a suture 18 in a neat and secure condition until such time as
needle 14 is pulled
free of loading unit 70.
Loading unit 70 may be formed of any suitable material such as, for example,
polycarbonate or other medical plastics. Suture reel 120 may also be formed of
any similar
suitable material. Additionally, various labeling methods may be employed to
indicate the
size and type of needle and suture loaded in unit 70 or the type of suturing
apparatus to be
used therewith.
Referring now to FIG. 23, there is disclosed another alternate embodiment of a
loading unit suitable for use with a surgical suturing apparatus that is
smaller, uses less
material, and consequently is less costly to manufacture than loading unit 70.
Loading unit
270 is provided to rapidly and positively seat a needle or surgical incision
member and suture
such as, for example needle 14 and suture 18 (not shown in FIG. 23), within
the jaws of the
surgical suturing apparatus.
Loading unit 270 generally includes a body portion 272 having a handle or
finger tab
274 extending proximally therefrom. As used herein with reference to loading
unit 270, the
term "proximally" refers generally in the direction toward the holding hand of
the user.
Preferably finger tab 274 may include a plurality of ridges 276, or be
otherwise textured, to
enhance the gripping ability of the user.
Loading unit 270 is provided to support needle 14 in a manner to facilitate
gripping or
loading needle 14 into a surgical suturing instrument. Thus, loading unit 270
includes a
needle support member 278 formed on body portion 272 to support or suspend
needle 14 by
a central portion thereof. Preferably support member 278 includes a pair of
flexible fingers
280 which hold a central portion of needle 14. Apparatus receiving structure
may be
provided to guide jaws 4 and 5 adjacent support member 278. The apparatus
receiving
2 5 structure may include a pair of jaw support shelves 282 which are provided
adjacent and
below either the side of support member 278 to define a pair of recesses
adjacent thereto.
Shelves 282 further serve to align a pair of jaw members positioned thereon in
a manner to
grasp needle 14.
Additionally, the apparatus receiving structure may include various other
alignment
CA 02574988 2007-02-05
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structure to guide or orient the jaws of a surgical suturing apparatus into
position on loading
unit 270 in order to grasp and remove needle 14. For example, an elongate
member
alignment structure 284 may be provided to guide a barrel housing or elongate
portion of a
suturing instrument into position on loading unit 270. Alignment structure 284
generally
includes a pair of side tabs 286 which surround the suture apparatus elongate
portion.
Additionally, a support stud 288 (shown in phantom in FIG. 23) may be provided
on a
bottom edge of alignment structure 284 to maintain the elongate portion in
proper vertical
alignment with a corresponding recess in the suture apparatus elongate
portion. Further, a
recess such as for example, recess or cup 290, may be provided between jaw
support shelves
282 to support the distal end of the elongate portion of a surgical suturing
apparatus. When
inserted in alignment structure 284, the distal end of the surgical suturing
apparatus elongate
portion will abut a distal end 292 of needle support member 278 to limit
advancement of the
jaws within the loading unit.
Various structure or safety features may be provided to ensure that needle 14
may not
be removed from loading unit 270 until needle 14 has been firmly grasped by
completely
closing the surgical instrument suturing jaws. The safety mechanism 296 is
provided to
prevent lifting of the jaws, and thus lifting of needle 14 out of loading unit
270 before needle
14 has been firmly grasped by the jaws. Safety mechanism 296 generally
includes a pair of
blocking members 298 which are suspended above and adjacent either side of
needle support
member 278. Blocking members 298 prevent vertical movement of the jaws out of
loading
unit 272 until the jaws are closed, thereby firmly grasping needle 14.
Additionally a ramped
face 297 on support member 278 helps prevent premature longitudinal withdrawal
of the
jaws from loading unit 270. Once the jaws of a surgical suturing apparatus
have been firmly
and positively closed about needle 14, jaws may be lifted vertically through a
gap 200 formed
between members 298 in order to remove needle 14 from loading unit 270. Thus,
members
298 in conjunction with ra~nped face 297 aid in ensuring that a needle 14 is
not removed from
the loading unit 270 until jaws have been fully closed and firmly grasp needle
14.
As noted hereinabove, needle 14 is preferably provided with a length of suture
material 18. It is desirable to maintain the length of suture material 18 in a
orderly and secure
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fashion until such time as needle 14 is removed from loading unit 70. Loading
unit 270
includes a guide notch 202 which guides a length of suture into a hollow body
cavity (not
shown) of loading unit 270. In addition, slot 203 aids in ease of manufacture
of the loading
unit, by allowing easier insertion of the suture 18 into the unit 270. Suture
18 extends
through an aperture 208 formed in a distal portion of finger tab 274 and
extends into a hollow
body cavity in the back of unit 270. Additionally, a channel 210 may be
provided in body
portion 272 to guide the length of suture between notch 202 and hollow body
cavity 204.
Thus, the length of suture 18 is neatly and securely stored within loading
unit 270 prior to
removal of needle 14.
The suturing apparatus is loaded using loading unit 270 substantially as
described
above and depicted in FIG.s 20-22. As described above, loading unit 270 has
safety
advantages similar to those of loading unit embodiment 70 to help prevent
needle 14 from
falling out of jaws 4 or 5 due to incomplete positioning or only partial
securement therein.
Loading unit 270 and the accompanying suture reel located in the back of the
unit may
be formed of any suitable material such as, for example, polycarbonate or
other medical
plastics. Additionally, various labeling methods may be employed to indicate
the size and
type of needle and suture loaded in unit 270 or the type of suturing apparatus
to be used
therewith.
Regardless of the loading mechanism employed, once a new needle, suture and
anchor are loaded into jaws 4 and 5, the lockout mechanism must then be re-
armed, as
described above, by pulling knobs 38 and 39 proximally so that plungers 36 and
37 re-
engage surface 48 of housing 6I. Wheel 23 must den be turned, placing blade 16
or 29 in a
forward position so that it intersects needle 14, thereby retaining needle 14
when jaws 4 and
5 are opened, allowing the instrument to pierce another portion of tissue.
It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the
embodiments
disclosed herein. For example, the unit may be color coded to indicate the
size and type of
needle and suture found in the unit. Therefore, the above description should
not be
construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of preferred
embodiments. Those
skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and
spirit of the claims
CA 02574988 2007-02-05
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appended hereto.
The foregoing is considered illustrative only of the principles of the loading
apparatus. Further, dais is not intended to be limited to the exact structure,
construction and
operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and
equivalents fall
within the scope of the claims.
