Device and method for suturing intracardiac defects

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a suturing device. The suturing device includes a length of suture that will be delivered to tissue and placed through the tissue adjacent an opening. The suture is advanced through the tissue surrounding the opening by needle that penetrates the tissue adjacent to the opening. A knot is then loosely tied with the length of suture and advanced to the site of the opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a locating foot housing;   a first body portion coupled to a first end of the locating foot housing and a second body portion coupled to a second end of the locating foot housing, the second body portion comprising an atraumatic tip;   a locating foot mounted to the locating foot housing at a position between the first body portion and the second body portion, the locating foot selectively movable from a pre-deployed configuration to a deployed configuration extending from one side of the locating foot housing; and   a needle selectively movable from a pre-deployed configuration to a deployed configuration in which the needle extends towards the locating foot from a location distal the locating foot, the needle being angularly orientated outwardly from the locating foot housing and toward the locating foot in the deployed configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a handle assembly disposed proximal the locating foot housing. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a handle assembly disposed proximal the locating foot housing, the first body portion extends from the locating foot housing towards a proximally end of the handle assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a handle assembly, the handle assembly comprises a locating foot actuation actuator and a needle actuation actuator. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a tip of the needle is configured to cooperate with the locating foot in the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first body portion extends from the locating foot housing towards a proximally positioned handle assembly of the device. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the locating foot housing comprises a locating foot pivot point, the locating foot being selectively movable about the locating foot pivot point from the pre-deployed configuration to the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         8 . A device comprising:
 an elongate locating foot housing comprising a first end and a second end;   a first body portion coupled to the first end of the locating foot housing and a second body portion coupled to the second end of the locating foot housing, the second body portion comprising an atraumatic tip;   a locating foot mounted to the locating foot housing at a position between the first body portion and the second body portion, the locating foot is selectively pivotable from a pre-deployed configuration in which the locating foot is at least partially disposed within the locating foot housing to a deployed configuration in which the locating foot extends from one side of the locating foot housing to present a distally facing surface of the locating foot toward body tissue; and   a needle selectively movable from a pre-deployed configuration to a deployed configuration in which the needle extends towards the distally facing surface of the locating foot from a location distal the locating foot, the needle being orientated outwardly from the locating foot housing and toward the locating foot in the deployed configuration.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device further comprises a handle assembly disposed proximal the locating foot housing. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device further comprises a handle assembly disposed proximal the locating foot housing, the first body portion extends from the locating foot housing towards a proximally end of the handle assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device further comprises a handle assembly, the handle assembly comprises a locating foot actuation actuator and a needle actuation actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein a tip of the needle is configured to engage with the locating foot in the deployed configuration with both the needle and the locating foot in the deployed configurations. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the first body portion extends from the locating foot housing towards a proximally positioned handle assembly of the device. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the locating foot housing comprises a locating foot pivot point proximal the needle, the locating foot being selectively movable about the locating foot pivot point from the pre-deployed configuration to the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         15 . A device comprising:
 an elongate locating foot housing comprising a first end and a second end;   a proximally extending first body portion coupled to the first end of the locating foot housing and a distally extending second body portion coupled to the second end of the locating foot housing, the second body portion comprising an atraumatic tip;   a locating foot mounted to the locating foot housing at a position between the first body portion and the second body portion, the locating foot is selectively pivotable from a pre-deployed configuration to a deployed configuration in which the locating foot extends from only one side of the locating foot housing to present a distally facing surface of the locating foot toward body tissue; and   a needle selectively movable from a pre-deployed configuration to a deployed configuration in which the needle extends proximally towards the locating foot from a location distal the locating foot, with a tip of the needle passing through the body tissue toward the locating foot in a distal to proximal direction, the needle being orientated outwardly from the locating foot housing and toward the locating foot in the deployed configuration.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the device further comprises a handle assembly disposed proximal the locating foot housing. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the first body portion extends from the locating foot housing towards a proximally end of the handle assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the handle assembly comprises a locating foot actuation actuator and a needle actuation actuator. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first body portion extends from the locating foot housing towards a proximally positioned handle assembly of the device. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the locating foot housing comprises a locating foot pivot point proximal the needle, the locating foot being selectively movable about the locating foot pivot point from the pre-deployed configuration to the deployed configuration.