Suturing Device with Split Arm and Method of Suturing Tissue

Abstract

A device for suturing an opening in a tissue, having an elongated shaft, at least two arms are moveable to a deployed position in which the arms are non-perpendicular to the shaft. The arms have needle receiving portions. Needles are advanceable longitudinally along the shaft toward the needle receiving portions, the needles exiting through side walls of the shaft at a location proximal to the arms.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for suturing a puncture in a blood vessel, comprising:
 a body;   a tissue locating assembly associated with the body and being movable between a pre-deployed position and a deployed position, the tissue locating assembly comprising:
 a first tissue locating member; and 
 a second tissue locating member, wherein in the deployed position the first tissue locating member and the second tissue locating member orientate the body at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to an axis of the blood vessel into which the apparatus is deployed with the first tissue locating member being positioned longitudinally along an inside of a wall of the blood vessel; and 
   a first needle configured to penetrate tissue, the first needle being configured to be withdrawn proximally from the tissue locating assembly and into the body following tissue penetration to draw a suture, disposed distal the puncture with the tissue locating assembly in the deployed position, proximally into the body.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first tissue locating member and the second tissue locating member are independently deployable. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second tissue locating member is positioned longitudinally along the inside of the wall of the blood vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first tissue locating member is inclined less than 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the body in the deployed position. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein second tissue locating member is inclined more than 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the body in the deployed position. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second needle. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for suturing a puncture in a blood vessel, comprising:
 an elongate body;   a tissue locating assembly having a pre-deployed position and a deployed position, the tissue locating assembly comprising:
 a first tissue locating member extending radially outwardly in a first direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the elongate body; and 
 a second tissue locating member extending radially outwardly in a second direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body, the second tissue locating member being on an opposite side of the longitudinal axis from the first tissue locating member, wherein in the deployed position the first tissue locating member and the second tissue locating member orientate the body at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to an axis of the blood vessel into which the tissue locating assembly is deployed; 
   a first needle configured to be moved proximally through tissue and proximally away from the tissue locating assembly and into the body to draw a suture, disposed distal the puncture with the tissue locating assembly in the deployed position, proximally into the body;   and an actuation assembly slidable with respect to the elongate body and configured to move the first tissue locating member to transition between the pre-deployed position and the deployed position.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the first tissue locating member and the second tissue locating member are independently deployable. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the second tissue locating member is positioned longitudinally along the inside of the wall of the blood vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the first tissue locating member is inclined less than 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the body in the deployed position. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein second tissue locating member is inclined more than 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the body in the deployed position. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first direction of the first tissue locating member positions the first tissue locating member at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and the second direction of the second tissue locating member positions the second tissue locating member at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, the second angle being shallower than the first angle. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first direction of the first tissue locating member positions the first tissue locating member at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second direction of the second tissue locating member positions the second tissue locating member at an obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first tissue locating member pivots with respect to the second tissue locating member when transitioning between the pre-deployed position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first tissue locating member and the second tissue locating member are asymmetrical. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for suturing a puncture in a blood vessel, comprising:
 an elongate body;   a first needle and a second needle;   a tissue locating assembly having a pre-deployed position and a deployed position, the tissue locating assembly orientating the body at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to an axis of the blood vessel into which the tissue locating assembly is deployed, the tissue locating assembly accommodating for movement of the first needle and the second needle and withdrawal of a suture, disposed distal the puncture with the tissue locating assembly in the deployed position, proximally into the body, the tissue locating assembly comprising:
 a first tissue locating member extending radially outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongate body in the deployed position; and 
 a second tissue locating member extending radially outwardly at an obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body in the deployed position, the second tissue locating member being on an opposite side of the longitudinal axis from the first tissue locating member, each of the first tissue locating member and the second locating member rotating about different rotational centers to transition between the pre-deployed position and the deployed position; and 
   an actuation assembly slidable with respect to the elongate body and configured to move the first tissue locating member to transition between the pre-deployed position and the deployed position.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein in the deployed position the first tissue locating member is positioned longitudinally along an inside of a wall of the blood vessel. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the first tissue locating member and the second tissue locating member are asymmetrical. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the first tissue locating member transitions between the pre-deployed position the deployed position differently from the second tissue locating member.