Replaceable tip suturing devices, system, and methods for use with differing needles

Abstract

Medical suturing devices, systems, and methods will be useful for endoscopic or open surgeries, including ear, nose, and throat procedures. Articulation motions may be transferred from a handle to needle grasping jaws using an axial movement of a shaft. Portions of the devices may be disposable, replaceable, and/or reusable, with different needle-grasping jaws and/or different elongate extension bodies having different configurations optionally being selectably coupleably to an articulatable handle and housing so as to allow the user to configure the device for a particular procedure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suturing system for use with a first suturing needle or a second suturing needle, the system comprising:
 a body having a proximal end and a distal end;   at least one clamp mountable near the distal end of the body;   a linkage effecting a movement of the at least one clamp between a grasping configuration and a released configuration when the linkage cycles, the linkage having a first configuration and a second configuration, the linkage in the first configuration applying a first clamping suitable for suturing with the first suturing needle when the linkage effects movement from the released configuration to the grasping configuration, the linkage in the second configuration applying a second clamping suitable for suturing with the second needle when the linkage effects movement from the released configuration to the grasping configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The suturing system of  claim 1 , the first needle defining a first are, the second needle defining a second arc different than the first arc, the suturing system further comprising:
 a first clamp unit and a second clamp unit, each clamp unit removably mountable to the body and including an associated plurality of clamps, the clamps sequentially grasping an associated needle when the clamp unit is mounted to the body and the linkage is cycled;   wherein the clamps of first clamp unit define a first clamping offset angle corresponding to the first arc, and wherein the clamps of second clamp unit define a second clamping offset angle corresponding to the second are, such that replacement of the first clamp unit with the second clamp unit reconfigures the linkage from the first configuration to the second configuration.   
     
     
         3 . A suturing system for use with a first suturing needle having a first needle geometry and a second suturing needle having a second needle geometry different than the first needle geometry, the system comprising:
 a drive unit having a body with a proximal end and a distal end;   a first clamp unit mountable near the distal end of the body and including a plurality of clamps;   a second clamp unit mountable near the distal end of the body and including a plurality of clamps;   a linkage operationally coupling the drive unit to an associated clamp unit mounted thereon, the linkage effecting sequentially alternating grasping and releasing by the clamps of the first clamp unit when the first clamp unit is mounted to the drive unit and the linkage is cycled, the grasping of the first clamp unit corresponding to the geometry of the first needle;   the linkage effecting sequentially alternating grasping and releasing by the clamps of the second drive unit when the second clamp unit is mounted to the drive unit and the linkage is cycled, the grasping of the second clamp unit corresponding to the geometry of the second needle.   
     
     
         4 . The suturing system of  claim 3 , wherein the clamps of the first drive unit are laterally separated so as to grasp the first needle near opposed ends of the needle, wherein cycling the linkage effects needle movement relative to the body which is insufficient to advance the first needle through tissue so that suturing can be effected by moving the body relative to the tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The suturing system of  claim 3 , wherein each clamp articulates with cycling of the linkage so as to grasp the needle laterally relative to a local axis of the needle, wherein the clamps of the first clamp unit are angularly offset by a first angle so as to accommodate a first arc angle of the first needle geometry between the clamps, and wherein the clamps of the second clamp unit are angularly offset by a second angle so as to accommodate a second arc angle of the second needle geometry between the clamps, the offset angle of the first clamp being different than the second offset angle of the second clamp. 
     
     
         6 . The suturing system of  claim 3 , wherein each clamp articulates with cycling of the linkage so as to grasp the needle laterally relative to a local axis of the needle, wherein the clamps of the first clamp unit separated by a first separation distance so as to accommodate a first arc length of the first needle geometry between the clamps, and wherein the clamps of the second clamp unit are separated by a second separation distance so as to accommodate a second arc length of the second needle geometry between the clamps, the first separation of the first clamp being different than the second separation of the second clamp. 
     
     
         7 . The suturing system of  claim 6 , wherein first and second extension portions of the first clamp unit each support an associated clamp, the first and second extension portions angling per an extension angle along a first length between the body of the drive unit and the first needle when in use. 
     
     
         8 . The suturing system of  claim 7 , wherein first and second extension portions of the second clamp unit each support an associated clamp, the first and second extension portions angling per the extension angle along a second length between the body of the drive unit and the first needle when in use, the second length being different that the first length. 
     
     
         9 . The suturing system of  claim 3 , wherein the clamp unit comprises polymer, and wherein needle engaging surfaces of the clamp unit comprise metal, the clamp unit comprising a disposable clamp unit. 
     
     
         10 . The suturing system of  claim 3 , wherein the drive unit comprises metal and is configured to withstand repeated sterilization. 
     
     
         11 . The suturing system of  claim 3 , wherein the each clamp unit has indicia of an associated needle size visible thereon so as to facilitate selection of an appropriate clamp unit for use. 
     
     
         12 . A suturing system for use with a plurality of differing suturing needles, the system comprising:
 a drive unit having a body with a proximal end and a distal end;   a plurality of alternative clamp units releasably mountable to the distal end of the drive body, each clamp unit having a plurality of clamps for engaging an associated plurality of locations of an associated needle, the clamps of the clamp units defining different geometries so as to accommodate the differing needles and their use for suturing differing tissues.   
     
     
         13 . The suturing system of  claim 12 , each suturing needle being an off-the-shelf suturing needle having a standard size identifier associated therewith, wherein each clamp unit has a visible indicia of the size identifier of an associated needle.