Patent ID: 11918464
Assignee: LSI SOLUTIONS, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A modular apparatus comprising:
a housing configured to be removably coupled to a receiver of a suturing device, the housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the housing comprising:
a plurality of exterior surfaces that cooperate to define a cuff receiving area disposed between the proximal end of the housing and the distal end of the housing, the cuff receiving area configured to receive a portion of material to be sutured; and
a plurality of interior surfaces that cooperate to at least partially define an interior housing portion, wherein a first interior surface of the plurality of interior surfaces at least partially defines a first needle guide and a second interior surface of the plurality of interior surfaces of the housing at least partially defines a second needle guide;
a first ferrule holder disposed in the housing between the distal end of the housing and the cuff receiving area, the first ferrule holder configured to secure a first ferrule that is coupled to a first portion of suture, wherein when the first needle is in the extended position, the first tip is disposed at or adjacent to a portion of the first ferrule holder such that the first tip is configured to be received into a recess formed in the first ferrule that is coupled to the first portion of suture; and
a second ferrule holder disposed in the housing between the distal end of the housing and the cuff receiving area, the second ferrule holder configured to secure a second ferrule that is coupled to a second portion of suture, wherein when the second needle is in the extended position, the second tip is disposed at or adjacent to a portion of the second ferrule holder such that the second tip is configured to be received into a recess formed in the second ferrule that is coupled to the second portion of suture;

a first needle extending along a first needle axis from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein at least a portion of the first needle is disposed within the interior housing portion and in contact with the first needle guide, the first needle comprising:
a first tip disposed at the distal end of the first needle;
a first connector end disposed at the proximal end of the first needle, wherein the first connector end is configured to be removably coupled to a first portion of a driver mechanism of the suturing device such that the first needle is configured to be displaced by the driver mechanism along the first needle axis from a first needle retracted position in which the first tip is disposed proximal to the cuff receiving area of the housing to a first needle extended position in which the first tip is disposed distal to the cuff receiving area of the housing;

a second needle extending along a second needle axis from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein at least a portion of the second needle is disposed within the interior housing portion and in contact with the second needle guide, the second needle comprising:
a second tip disposed at the distal end of the second needle;
a second connector end disposed at the proximal end of the second needle, wherein the second connector end is configured to be removably coupled to a second portion of the driver mechanism of the suturing device such that the second needle is configured to be displaced by the driver mechanism along the second needle axis from a second needle retracted position in which the second tip is disposed proximal to the cuff receiving area of the housing to a second needle extended position in which the second tip is disposed distal to the cuff receiving area of the housing; and

a flexible latch that is elongated and extends from a proximal end to a distal end along a latch axis, the flexible latch comprising:
a first latch end extending in a first direction from a portion of the flexible latch that is at or adjacent to the proximal end of the flexible latch, wherein the first latch end is configured to be removably received in a first latch feature formed in a portion of the first needle;
a second latch end extending in a second direction from the portion of the flexible latch this is at or adjacent to the proximal end of the flexible latch, wherein the second latch end is configured to be removably received in a second latch feature formed in a portion of the second needle; and
an engagement portion disposed adjacent to the distal end of the flexible latch, wherein the engagement portion is fixedly coupled to a third interior surface of the plurality of interior surfaces of the interior housing portion,
wherein the proximal end of the flexible latch is configured to be displaced from a first position in which the first latch end is disposed within the first latch feature and the second latch end is disposed in the second latch feature to a second position in which the first latch end is disposed remote from the first latch feature and the second latch end is disposed remote from the second latch feature,
wherein when the flexible latch is in the first position, the first latch end operatively engages the first latch feature to prevent the first needle from being displaced from the first needle retracted position to the first needle extended position, and
wherein when the flexible latch is in the first position, the second latch end operatively engages the second latch feature to prevent the second needle from being displaced from the second needle retracted position to the second needle extended position.