Suture device

Abstract

The present invention is a suture device generally intended for use in puncture wounds of a body cavity. The suture device can be inserted through the tissue layer into the body cavity and extend needles attached to a common suture line, under endoscopic vision, for engagement with the internal side of the tissue layer. The needles are deployed using a straight spring that deforms outwardly from the shaft of the suture device when a force is applied to the spring. Because of the inherent characteristics of the spring, it bends perpendicular to the shaft of the suture device and the removably attached needle is moved outwardly while staying generally parallel to the shaft of the suture device. Once the force is removed on the spring, the spring returns to its original position close to the body of the shaft.

1 . A suture device for suturing puncture wounds in a body cavity wall comprising: 
 a shaft having a spring slot;    a spring having an upper portion, a crimped portion, and a lower portion, said upper portion moveably positioned in said spring slot;    said spring lower portion attached to said shaft;    said spring crimped portion having a first relaxed position relatively near said shaft, and a second tensioned position relatively extended from said shaft;    a means for exerting force on said spring upper portion such that said spring crimped portion moves from said first relaxed position to said second tensioned position; and    a needle receiver attached to said spring crimped portion.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a crimp member attached to said shaft between said shaft and said spring crimped portion such that said crimp member causes a bend in said spring when said spring is in said first relaxed position.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first needle removably attached to said needle receiver.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a suture attached to said first needle.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a suture having a first end attached to said first needle, and an excess suture;    a suture chamber in said shaft; and    said excess suture removably contained in said suture chamber.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a suture second end attached to a second needle.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said spring returns to said first relaxed position if no force is exerted on said spring upper portion.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said spring is made of metal or plastic.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said needle is held substantially parallel to said shaft both when said spring crimped portion is in said first relaxed position and when said spring crimped portion is in said second tensioned position.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said shaft is cylindrical and has a diameter that is sized to fit in an aperture of a cannula.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said shaft has a diameter that is sized to fit through a defect caused by a cannula.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said spring is comprised of more than one piece.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said spring has a greater coefficient of elasticity in an area between an attachment point of said needle receiver and an attachment point of said spring lower portion to said lower shaft.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said spring is crimped at a desired point in the spring crimped portion for said bend to occur in said second tensioned position while said spring is in said first relaxed position.  
   
   
       15 . A suture device for suturing puncture wounds in a body cavity wall comprising: 
 a shaft having a spring slot;    a spring having an upper portion, a crimped portion, and a lower portion, said upper portion moveably positioned in said spring slot;    said spring lower portion attached to said shaft;    said spring crimped portion having a first relaxed position relatively near said shaft, and a second tensioned position relatively extended from said shaft;    a means for exerting force on said spring upper portion such that said spring crimped portion moves from said first relaxed position to said second tensioned position;    a needle receiver attached to said spring crimped portion; and    a crimp member attached to said shaft between said shaft and said spring crimped portion such that said crimp member causes a bend in said spring when said spring is in said first relaxed position.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said spring returns to said first relaxed position if no force is exerted on said spring upper portion.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a suture having a first end attached to a first needle, said first needle removably attached to said needle receiver wherein said needle is held substantially parallel to said shaft both when said spring crimped portion is in said first relaxed position and when said spring crimped portion is in said second tensioned position.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a suture chamber in said shaft; and    a portion of said suture removably contained in said suture chamber.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a suture second end attached to a second needle.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said spring is made of metal or plastic.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said shaft is cylindrical and has a diameter that is sized to fit in an aperture of a cannula.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said shaft has a diameter that is sized to fit through a defect caused by a cannula.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said spring is comprised of more than one piece.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said spring has a greater coefficient of elasticity in an area between an attachment point of said needle receiver and an attachment point of said spring lower portion to said lower shaft.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said spring is crimped at a desired point in the spring crimped portion for said bend to occur in said second tensioned position while said spring is in said first relaxed position.  
   
   
       26 . A suture device for suturing puncture wounds in a body cavity wall comprising: 
 a shaft having a spring slot;    a spring having an upper portion, a crimped portion, and a lower portion, said upper portion moveably positioned in said spring slot;    said spring lower portion attached to said shaft;    said spring crimped portion having a first relaxed position relatively near said shaft, and a second tensioned position relatively extended from said shaft;    a means for exerting force on said spring upper portion such that said spring crimped portion moves from said first relaxed position to said second tensioned position;    a needle receiver attached to said spring crimped portion;    a crimp member attached to said shaft between said shaft and said spring crimped portion such that said crimp member causes a bend in said spring when said spring is in said first relaxed position; and    a suture having a first end attached to a first needle, said first needle removably attached to said needle receiver wherein said needle is held substantially parallel to said shaft both when said spring crimped portion is in said first relaxed position and when said spring crimped portion is in said second tensioned position.    
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said shaft has a diameter that is sized to fit through a defect caused by a cannula.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said spring is comprised of more than one piece.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said spring has a greater coefficient of elasticity in an area between an attachment point of said needle receiver and an attachment point of said spring lower portion to said lower shaft.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said spring is crimped at a desired point in the spring crimped portion for said bend to occur in said second tensioned position while said spring is in said first relaxed position.  
   
   
       31 . A suture device for suturing puncture wounds in a body cavity wall comprising: 
 a means for extending a needle, said needle having a first end and a second end, wherein said needle is removably attached to said means for extending, wherein said means for extending moves said needle from a first position to a second position, and wherein a line running from said needle first end to said needle second end when said needle is in said first position is substantially parallel a line running from said needle first end to said needle second end when said needle is in said second position; and    a means for activating said means for extending to move said needle from said first position to said second position, said means for activating in operative engagement with said means for extending.    
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising: 
 a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end with a longitudinal axis extending between said proximal end and said distal end;    said means for extending attached to said distal end of said shaft; and    said means for activating attached to said proximal end of said shaft.    
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 a needle recess in the surface of said shaft, wherein said first position is within said needle recess and said second position is outside of said needle recess.    
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising: 
 said means for extending comprising: 
 a spring having an upper portion, a crimped portion, and a lower portion;  
 said upper portion moveably attached to said shaft;  
 said spring lower portion attached to said shaft;  
 said needle removably attached to said crimped portion; and  
 wherein said spring holds said needle in said first position if no force is exerted on said spring upper portion; and  
   wherein said means for activating exerts force on said spring upper portion such that said spring crimped portion moves said needle from said first position to said second position.    
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , further comprising: 
 a suture chamber in said shaft; and    a suture having a first end attached to said needle, and the majority of the remainder of said suture removably positioned inside said suture chamber.    
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein said shaft is cylindrical and has a diameter that is sized to fit in an aperture of a cannula.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein said shaft has a diameter that is sized to fit through a defect caused by a cannula.  
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein said spring is comprised of more than one piece.  
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein said spring has a greater coefficient of elasticity in an area between an attachment point of said needle receiver and an attachment point of said spring lower portion to said lower shaft.  
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein said spring is crimped at a desired point in the spring crimped portion for said bend to occur in said second tensioned position while said spring is in said first relaxed position.