Puncture site closure device

Abstract

A laparoscopic fascial closure device ( 10 ) for fashioning a secure closure about a laparoscopic puncture site. The device comprises an elongate cannula ( 12 ) having proximal ( 12 a ) and distal ( 12 b ) ends. A needle suture complex ( 22 ) is selectively deployed from the distal end ( 12 b ) of the device that is operative to deploy a suture across the puncture site from within the body and draw the free ends of the suture outwardly from the body via the laparoscopic port site. The device ( 10 ) is configured to be utilized through a ten millimeter or larger laparoscopic port, and is operative to position the suture at the puncture site such that the suture extends in a diametrically-opposed configuration at least 1.0 cm or greater across opposed sides of the puncture site.

1 . A device for fashioning a closure of a puncture site in a tissue comprising: 
 a cannula member having proximal and distal ends and a lumen;    a connecting rod disposed axially within said cannula, said connecting rod having a proximal end oriented towards said proximal end of said cannula and a distal end oriented toward said distal end of said cannula, said connecting rod having a actuating mechanism operative to selectively cause said connecting rod to advance distally or retract proximally within said cannula;    a needle/suture complex mounted upon said distal end of said connecting rod, said needle/suture complex comprising at least one pair of needles having a suture extending therebetween, said needles being operative to assume an operative configuration wherein said needles extend in opposed directions from the distal end of said cannula such that each respective needle extends from a periphery of a puncture site; and    a needle trap mechanism disposed within the lumen of said cannula and operative to lockingly engage said needles of said needle/suture complex when said needles assume the operative configuration; and    wherein said needle trap mechanism is operative to draw said needles into the lumen of said cannula such that the device may be withdrawn from the puncture site with the suture extending between the needles, forming a closure of said puncture site.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said needless and further operative to assume one or both of the following additional configurations: a folded configuration wherein said needles are operative to extend through the lumen of said cannula; and a retracted configuration wherein said needles are biased inwardly toward the lumen of said cannula;  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the distal end of said cannula is positionable through a puncture site in a tissue.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said needle/suture complex further comprises at least one pair of needle holder arms, each respective one of said at least one pair of said needle holder arms being operative to receive a respective one of said pair of needles.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein each respective one of said pair of needles is operative to disengage from said needle holder arms as said needle/suture complex transitions from its second operative configuration to its third operative configuration.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 2  wherein each respective one of said pair of needles are biased to extend in diametrically opposed directions across said puncture site as said needle/suture complex assumes said second operative configuration.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 4  wherein each respective one of said pair of needle holder arms are biased to extend in diametrically opposed directions across said puncture site as said needle holder arms assume said second operative configuration.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a handle formed upon said cannula.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said handle and said trigger are positioned relative one another to enable the handle to be grasped and the trigger to be manipulated by a single hand of a user.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said needle trap mechanism comprises a cylindrical sleeve axially mounted about said connecting rod within said cannula, said needle trap mechanism having a proximal end with a lever formed thereon, extending from said cannula, and a bell-shaped distal end having a needle catch formed therein, said needle catch being operative to lockingly engage with said needle tips of said needle/suture complex when said complex assumes said third operative configuration.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said lever formed upon said needle trap mechanism is operative to cause said needle trap mechanism to extend distally and retract proximally within the said cannula.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said needle trap mechanism, when lockingly engaged with said needle tips of said needles, captures said needles within said cannula when said needle trap mechanism retracts proximally within said cannula.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a tapered mount formed upon said distal end of said connecting rod and holding said needle/suture complex, said tapered mount having a generally hourglass shape.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said actuating mechanism is a trigger.