Devices and methods for suturing tissue

Abstract

A suture applying device includes a shaft which carries a pair of needles near its distal end. The needles are joined by a length of suture, and the shaft is used to both introduce the needles into a lumen of a body structure and to draw the needles back through tissue on either side of the puncture site. After the needles have passed through the tissue, they are captured by a needle receiver and drawn outward through the tract, leaving a loop of suture behind to close the puncture site near the body lumen. The suture can then be tied or otherwise secured to close the puncture site.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suturing device comprising:
 a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;   a pair of needles removably carried near the distal end of the shaft, each needle including sharpened tips disposed toward the proximal end of the shaft, the needles being movable between a first position and a second position, the needles being angled relative to the shaft in the first position;   a length of suture secured to and extending between the needles;   a needle receiver comprising a lumen that receives the shaft in sliding engagement and a pair of needle capture features formed in a distal end;   a barrel having a proximal end and a distal end, the shaft being slidable relative to the barrel, a distal end of the barrel comprising an aperture through which the shaft can extend and a pair of needle guides that are radially offset from one another, the needle guides being adapted to guide the needles into the needle capture features in a desired orientation.   
     
     
         2 . The suturing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a needle carrier disposed on the distal end of the shaft, the needle carrier removably carrying the needles. 
     
     
         3 . The suturing device of  claim 2 , wherein the needle carrier facilitates the movement of the needles between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The suturing device of  claim 2 , wherein the needle carrier comprises a stop member that engages the distal end of the barrel when the shaft has been drawn proximally. 
     
     
         5 . The suturing device of  claim 1 , wherein the needles are generally parallel when in the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The suturing device of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of needle guides are disposed on opposing sides of the aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The suturing device of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the barrel includes a pair of needle apertures, the pair of needles being disposed within the pair of needle apertures in the first position. 
     
     
         8 . The suturing device of  claim 7 , wherein the pair of needle apertures are angled towards the shaft. 
     
     
         9 . A suturing device comprising:
 a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;   a pair of needles removably carried near the distal end of the shaft, each needle including a shank carried near the distal end of the shaft and a sharpened tip disposed toward the proximal end of the shaft, each needle being selectively movable between a first position that is generally angled to the shaft and a second position that is generally parallel relative to the shaft;   a length of suture secured to and extending between the needles; and   a barrel having a proximal end and a distal end, the barrel being slidably mounted on the shaft to facilitate relative movement therebetween, the distal end of the barrel comprising a pair of needle guides that guide the needles into the barrel in a predetermined orientation as the shaft is drawn proximally relative to the barrel; and   a needle receiver slidably mounted on the shaft and at least partially within the barrel, the needle receiver being movable relative to the shaft and the barrel, the needle receiver comprising a needle capture disc that extends radially away from the shaft, the needle capture disc comprising a pair of needle capture features which receive and securely hold the needles after the shaft has been drawn proximally to draw the needles through the needle guides and upon distal movement of the needle receiver.   
     
     
         10 . The suturing device of  claim 9 , further comprising a needle carrier disposed on the distal end of the shaft, the needle carrier removably carrying the needles. 
     
     
         11 . The suturing device of  claim 10 , wherein the needle carrier comprises a stop member that engages the distal end of the barrel when the shaft has been drawn proximally. 
     
     
         12 . The suturing device of  claim 9 , wherein the barrel comprises a handle at the proximal end thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The suturing device of  claim 9 , wherein the pair of needles are biased toward the second position. 
     
     
         14 . The suturing device of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of needle guides are disposed on opposing sides of the aperture. 
     
     
         15 . A suturing device comprising:
 a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;   a pair of needles removably carried near the distal end of the shaft, each needle including a first end and a second end having a sharpened tip, the needles being carried with the sharpened tips disposed toward the proximal end of the shaft, the needles being selectively movable between a first position that is generally angled to the shaft and a second position that is generally parallel relative to the shaft;   a length of suture secured to and extending between the needles;   a barrel having a proximal end and a distal end, the barrel being slidably mounted on the shaft to facilitate relative movement therebetween, the distal end of the barrel comprising a pair of needle guides and a pair of needle apertures, the needle apertures being adapted to securely hold the needles in the first position.   
     
     
         16 . The suturing device of  claim 15 , further comprising a needle carrier disposed on the distal end of the shaft, the needle carrier removably carrying the needles. 
     
     
         17 . The suturing device of  claim 16 , wherein the needle carrier facilitates the movement of the needles between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         18 . The suturing device of  claim 16 , wherein the needle carrier comprises a stop member that engages the distal end of the barrel when the shaft has been drawn proximally. 
     
     
         19 . The suturing device of  claim 16 , wherein the pair of needle guides are disposed on opposing sides of the aperture. 
     
     
         20 . The suturing device of  claim 16 , wherein the pair of needle apertures are angled towards the shaft.