Sizing and positioning adapter for medical instruments

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention there is provided apparatuses and methods for using a medical instrument including a sizing and positioning adapter. The apparatus comprises an adapter for a medical instrument, the adapt having a body having a shim portion and an instrument holding portion adjacent the shim portion, wherein the shim portion provides an enlarged peripheral surface adjacent the medical instrument such that when the medical instrument is held in the instrument holding portion and the medical instrument and body are inserted through an opening in a patient tissue, at least a portion of the enlarged peripheral surface is in contact with at least a portion of the periphery of the opening in the patient tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kit comprising:
 a first suture device comprising a first pair of needles;   a second suture device comprising a second pair of needles, the second suture device being different from the first suture device; and   a distal sheath selectively couplable to each of the first suture device and the second suture device.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the first suture device comprises a first integrated adapter and the second suture device comprises a second integrated adapter. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 2 , wherein the first integrated adapter is different to the second integrated adapter. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 3 , wherein the first integrated adapter is selected from a left-geometry adapter, a right-geometry adapter, or a center-geometry adapter. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first suture device and the second suture device comprises an articulating foot supporting a suture and two needles configured to be advanced towards and receive the suture. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising a first connection element on the first suture device and a second connection element on the distal sheath, the first connection element and the second connection element selectively engaging to connect the first suture device to the distal sheath. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising a clip to retain the distal sheath to either of the first suture device or the second suture device. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 6 , further comprising a tool to detach the clip from retaining the distal sheath to either of the first suture device or the second suture device. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 8 , wherein the tool comprises a first member including a first clip engaging portion and a second member including a clip engaging portion, wherein the first and second members oppose one another. 
     
     
         10 . A kit comprising:
 a first suture device comprising a first articulating foot supporting a first suture and a first pair of needles configured to be advanced towards and the first articulating foot, the first suture device having a first peripheral surface profile at a first location at a distance proximal a distal end of the first suture device;   a second suture device comprising a second articulating foot supporting a second suture and a second pair of needles configured to be advanced towards and the second articulating foot, the second suture device having a second peripheral surface profile at a second location at the distance proximal a distal end of the second suture device; and   a distal sheath selectively couplable to each of the first suture device and the second suture device, the distal sheath comprising a first connection element configured to couple to a distal connection element of either of the first suture device or the second suture device.   
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the first suture device comprises a first integrated adapter and the second suture device comprises a second integrated adapter. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the first integrated adapter is different to the second integrated adapter. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the first integrated adapter is selected from a left-geometry adapter, a right-geometry adapter, or a center-geometry adapter. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 10 , further comprising a clip to retain the distal sheath to either of the first suture device or the second suture device. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14 , further comprising a tool to detach the clip from retaining the distal sheath to either of the first suture device or the second suture device. 
     
     
         16 . A kit comprising:
 a first suture device comprising a first articulating foot supporting a first suture and a first pair of needles configured to be advanced towards and receive the first suture, the first suture device having a first peripheral surface profile;   a second suture device a second articulating foot supporting a second suture and a second pair of needles configured to be advanced towards and receive the second suture, the second suture device having a second peripheral surface profile, the first peripheral surface profile being different from the second peripheral surface profile;   a distal sheath selectively couplable to each of the first suture device and the second suture device, the distal sheath comprising a first connection element configured to couple to a distal connection element of either of the first suture device or the second suture device; and   a tool to detach a clip from retaining the distal sheath to either of the first suture device or the second suture device.   
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the first suture device comprises a first adapter and the second suture device comprises a second adapter. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein the first adapter is different to the second adapter. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the first adapter is selected from a left-geometry adapter, a right-geometry adapter, or a center-geometry adapter. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 19 , wherein the first adapter comprises an opening to receive a portion of the first suture device and an instrument receiving portion to receive and hold another portion of the first suture device.