Surgical suturing instruments

Abstract

A surgical suturing instrument includes first and second jaw members each defining a hole for detachable receipt of opposite ends of a curved needle. The first jaw member is rotatable relative to the second jaw member to move and transfer the curved needle between the jaw members. A first elongate locking element is slidable within the first jaw member between non-locking and locking positions. When the first elongate locking element is in the locking position and the curved needle is disposed within the hole of the first jaw member, a portion of the first elongate locking element is received in a notch defined in an end of the curved needle to selectively secure the curved needle to the first jaw member.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A surgical suturing instrument, comprising:
 a shaft defining a longitudinal axis; and   an end effector including:
 a first jaw member coupled to a distal end portion of the shaft and configured for detachable receipt of a curved needle; and 
 a second jaw member coupled to the distal end portion and configured for detachable receipt of the curved needle, 
 wherein the first jaw member is configured to rotate relative to the second jaw member and relative to the shaft, about the longitudinal axis of the shaft. 
   
     
     
         22 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 21 , wherein the end effector includes an outer body portion rotationally coupled to the distal end portion of the shaft, the first jaw member fixed to and extending from the outer body portion. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 22 , wherein the end effector includes an inner body portion disposed within the outer body portion, the second jaw member coupled to a distal end portion of the inner body portion. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 23 , further comprising an actuation bar configured to translate within the shaft, wherein the outer body portion defines a cam slot having a portion of the actuation bar received therein such that translation of the actuation bar rotates the outer body portion and the first jaw member relative to the inner body portion and the second jaw member. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 24 , wherein the portion of the actuation bar received in the cam slot is a drive pin. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 the first jaw member defines a hole and a longitudinally-extending groove that is in communication with the hole, the hole being configured for detachable receipt of a first end of the curved needle; and   the second jaw member defines a hole configured for detachable receipt of a second end of the curved needle.   
     
     
         27 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 26 , further comprising a first elongate locking element having a distal end portion slidably received in the groove, wherein the first elongate locking element is configured to move between:
 a proximal, non-locking position in which the distal end portion of the first elongate locking element is disposed outside of the hole of the first jaw member; and   a distal, locking position in which the distal end portion of the first elongate locking element is disposed within the hole of the first jaw member for locking the curved needle to the first jaw member.   
     
     
         28 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 27 , further comprising a bearing assembly including:
 an outer race; and   an inner race supported in the outer race, wherein the first elongate locking element has a proximal end portion coupled to the outer race or the inner race.   
     
     
         29 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 28 , further comprising a push rod coupled to the other of the outer race or the inner race for moving the bearing assembly and the first elongate locking element between the proximal and distal positions. 
     
     
         30 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 27 , wherein the second jaw member defines a longitudinally-extending groove in communication with the hole of the second jaw member. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 30 , further comprising a second elongate locking element having a distal end portion slidably received in the groove of the second jaw member, wherein the second elongate locking element is configured to move between:
 a proximal, non-locking position in which the distal end portion of the second elongate locking element is disposed outside of the hole of the second jaw member for releasing the curved needle; and   a distal, locking position in which the distal end portion of the second elongate locking element is disposed within the hole of the second jaw member for locking the curved needle to the second jaw member.   
     
     
         32 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 27 , wherein the first end of the curved needle defines a first notch configured for receiving the distal end portion of the first elongate locking element when the first end of the curved needle is in the hole of the first jaw member. 
     
     
         33 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 32 , wherein the curved needle has a second end defining a second notch. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 26 , wherein the hole of the first jaw member defines an axis that is perpendicular to an axis defined by the groove. 
     
     
         35 . A surgical suturing instrument, comprising:
 a shaft defining a longitudinal axis;   an end effector including:
 a tubular outer body portion rotatably coupled to a distal end portion of the shaft, the outer body portion defining a cam slot; 
 a first jaw member extending distally from the outer body portion and configured for detachable receipt of a curved needle; and 
 a second jaw member coupled to the distal end portion of the shaft and configured for detachable receipt of the curved needle; and 
   an actuation bar configured to translate within the shaft, wherein the actuation bar has a drive pin received in the cam slot such that translation of the actuation bar rotates the outer body portion and the first jaw member relative to the second jaw member and the shaft about the longitudinal axis of the shaft.   
     
     
         36 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 35 , wherein the end effector includes an inner body portion disposed within the outer body portion and rotationally fixed relative to the shaft, the second jaw member being coupled to a distal end portion of the inner body portion. 
     
     
         37 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 35 , further comprising a first elongate locking element having a distal end portion, wherein the first elongate locking element is configured to move between:
 a proximal, non-locking position in which the distal end portion of the first elongate locking element is disposed proximally of a hole defined in the first jaw member; and   a distal, locking position in which the distal end portion of the first elongate locking element is disposed within the hole of the first jaw member for locking the curved needle to the first jaw member.   
     
     
         38 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 37 , further comprising:
 a push rod; and   a bearing assembly disposed within the shaft and including:
 an outer race; and 
 an inner race supported in the outer race, the first elongate locking element having a proximal end portion coupled to the outer race or the inner race, wherein the push rod has a distal end portion coupled to the other of the outer race or the inner race for moving the bearing assembly and the first elongate locking element between the proximal and distal positions. 
   
     
     
         39 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 37 , wherein the first jaw member defines a longitudinally-extending groove in communication with the hole of the first jaw member, the distal end portion of the first elongate locking element being slidably disposed in the groove. 
     
     
         40 . The surgical suturing instrument according to  claim 37 , further comprising a second elongate locking element having a distal end portion slidably received in the second jaw member, wherein the second elongate locking element is configured to move between:
 a proximal, non-locking position in which the distal end portion of the second elongate locking element is disposed proximally of a hole defined in the second jaw member for releasing the curved needle; and   a distal, locking position in which the distal end portion of the second elongate locking element is disposed within the hole of the second jaw member for locking the curved needle to the second jaw member.