Handheld safety suturing device

Abstract

Needle-stick injuries are associated with considerable risk of morbidity for healthcare workers and patients. The present invention of a handheld surgical suturing device allows tor visualization of surgical field and better control of the suture needle with possible one-hand operation. The device also provides active safety features that protect the surgeon from needle-stick injury.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A suturing needle comprising:
 a) a pointed end having at least three distal faces, wherein at least one of said distal faces has at least one locking feature;   b) a blunt end having at least four proximal faces, wherein at least one of said proximal faces has at least one locking feature; and   c) a shaft bridging said pointed end and said blunt end.   
     
     
         29 . The suturing needle of  claim 28 , wherein said at least one of said proximal faces is straight. 
     
     
         30 . The suturing needle of  claim 28 , wherein said shaft comprises a cutting edge. 
     
     
         31 . The suturing needle of  claim 28 , further comprising an aperture at said blunt end for attaching a suturing material. 
     
     
         32 . The suturing needle of  claim 28 , wherein said one or more locking features comprises one or more indentations. 
     
     
         33 . A method of suturing tissue, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a suturing device comprising:
 i) a driver arm comprising a distal end, a proximal end and a driver clasp, said driver clasp being disposed near said distal end of said driver arm and configured to reversibly secure a suturing needle to said driver arm; 
 ii) a receiver arm comprising a distal end, a proximal end and a receiver clasp, said receiver clasp being disposed near said distal end of said reciver arm and configured to reversibly retain the suturing needle to said receiver arm, 
 iii) a hinge connecting both proximal ends of said driver arm and said receiver arm, said hinge being configured to allow sboth distal ends of said driver arm and said receiver arm to converge and separate through rotation about said hinge; and 
 iv) a spring disposed between said driver arm and said receiver arm, wherein said spring is biased to separate said distal ends of said driver arm and said receiver arm; 
   b) providing a suturing needle comprising:
 i) a pointed end; 
 ii) a blunt end; and 
 iii) a shaft bridging said pointed end and said blunt end, 
   wherein said blunt end has a suturing material attached thereto;   c) securing said blunt end of said suturing needle to said driver arm;   d) using said driver arm to advance said pointed end of said suturing needle across a plurality of separated tissue fragments;   e) securing said pointed end of said suturing needle to said receiver arm;   f) releasing said blunt end of said suturing needle from said driver arm;   g) using said receiver arm to pull said suturing needle along with said suturing material across said plurality of tissue fragments;   h) re-securing said blunt end of said suturing needle to said driver arm;   i) releasing said pointed end of said suturing needle from said receiver arm,   j) repeating steps (d) to (i) until said plurality of tissue fragments are sutured together by said suturing material.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said pointed end of said suturing needle has at least three distal faces, wherein at least one of said distal faces has at least one locking feature. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said one or more locking features allow said receiver clasp to reversibly secure said pointed end of said suturing needle to said receiver arm. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said one or more locking features comprise one or more indentations. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said blunt end of said suturing needle has at least four proximal faces, wherein at least one of said proximal faces has at least one locking feature. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said one or more locking features allow said driver clasp to reversibly secure said blunt end of said suturing needle to said driver arm. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said one or more locking features comprise one or more indentations. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said suturing device is operated entirely by a single hand. 
     
     
         41 . A kit for suturing tissue comprising:
 k) a suturing device comprising:
 i) a driver arm comprising a distal end, a proximal end and a driver clasp, said driver clasp being configured to reversibly secure a suturing needle to said driver arm; 
 ii) a receiver arm comprising a distal end, a proximal end and a receiver clasp, said receiver clasp being configured to reversibly secure the suturing needle to said receiver arm; and 
 iii) a hinge connecting both proximal ends of said driver arm and said receiver arm, said hinge being configured to allow said driver arm and said receiver arm to converge and separate through rotation about said hinge; and 
   b) a suturing needle comprising:
 i) a pointed end having at least three distal faces, wherein at least one of said distal faces has at least one distal locking feature; 
 ii) a blunt end having at least four proximal faces, wherein at least one of said proximal faces has at least one proximal locking feature, said blunt end further comprising an aperture for attaching a suturing material; and 
 iii) a shaft bridging said pointed end and said blunt end. 
   
     
     
         42 . The kit of  claim 41 , wherein said hinge is configured to confine the rotation of said driver arm and said receiver arm to a single plane. 
     
     
         43 . The kit of  claim 41 , wherein said suturing device further comprises a spring disposed between said driver arm and said receiver arm and biased to separate said driver arm from said receiver arm. 
     
     
         44 . The kit of  claim 41 , wherein said receiver arm further comprises an aperture to receive and enclose a pointed end of said suturing needle. 
     
     
         45 . The kit of  claim 44 , wherein said receiver arm further comprises a shield around said aperture. 
     
     
         46 . The kit of  claim 45 , wherein said shield is configured to also engage a finger such that said receiver arm can be pulled. 
     
     
         47 . The kit of  claim 41 , wherein the receiver arm further comprises a structure for engaging a finger such that said receiver arm can be pulled. 
     
     
         48 . The kit of  claim 41 , wherein said suturing device is configured to be held and operated entirely by a single hand. 
     
     
         49 . The kit of  claim 41 , wherein said driver clasp is configured to reversibly lock onto said at least one proximal locking feature at said blunt end of said suturing needle thereby reversibly securing said blunt end of said suturing needle to said driver arm of said suturing device. 
     
     
         50 . The kit of  claim 49 , wherein said securing of said blunt end of said suturing needle to said driver arm prevents the rotation of said suturing needle about its own axis. 
     
     
         51 . The kit of  claim 41 , wherein said driver clasp of said suturing device further comprises a driver release button configured to release said blunt end of said suturing needle from said driver clasp. 
     
     
         52 . The kit of  claim 41 , wherein said receiver clasp is configured to reversibly lock onto said at least one distal locking feature at said pointed end of said suturing needle thereby reversibly securing said pointed end of said suturing needle to said receiver arm of said suturing device. 
     
     
         53 . The kit of  claim 52 , wherein said securing of said pointed end of said suturing needle to said receiver arm prevents the rotation of said suturing needle about its own axis. 
     
     
         54 . The kit of  claim 41 , wherein said one or more locking features comprise one or more indentations. 
     
     
         55 . The kit of  claim 41 , wherein said receiver clasp of said suturing device further comprises a receiver release button configured to release said pointed end of said suturing needle from said receiver clasp. 
     
     
         56 . The kit of  claim 41 , wherein said shaft of said suturing needle comprises a cutting edge.