Suturing Device, System, and Method

Abstract

Improved medical suturing devices, systems, and methods may hold a suture needle at a fixed location relative to a handle of the device, allowing the surgeon to grasp and manipulate the handle of the suturing device to insert the needle through tissues in a manner analogous to use of a standard needle gripper. Cycling the handle from a closed position to an open position and back to the closed position may alternate the device between gripping the needle with a first clamp (for example, along a proximal portion of the needle) to gripping the needle with a second clamp (for example, along a distal portion of the needle) and optionally back to gripping with the first clamp, with the needle often staying at a substantially fixed location relative to the suturing device body. Related single-clamp needle grasping devices can be bent plastically by a surgeon, and/or have bodies that are grasped by a hand while a portion of the hand actuates a handle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suturing method comprising:
 inserting a distal portion of a suturing needle distally through a tissue by moving a body of a suturing device while a first clamp of the suturing device holds the needle at a fixed location relative to the body;   grasping the distal portion of the needle with a second clamp of the suturing device;   releasing the proximal portion of the needle from the first clamp; and   pulling the proximal portion of the needle through the tissue by moving the body while the second clamp holds the needle; wherein the first and second clamps are alternatingly latched by an alternatable latch, and further comprising moving the alternatable latch laterally between a first configuration and a second configuration in response to movement of a drive element, wherein the alternatable latch in the first configuration inhibits axial movement of the first clamp, and wherein the alternatable latch in the second configuration inhibits axial movement of the second clamp.