Patent ID: 9289194
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A suturing insert for a laparoscopic instrument having a selectively lockable handle and an outer sheath coupled to the handle, the insert comprising: a rod configured to fit within the outer sheath and engage at its proximal end the handle, wherein locking of the handle limits sliding motion of the rod with respect to the sheath; a linkage mechanism disposed at a distal end of the rod, the linkage mechanism comprising a rotatable tool portion and a cam plate, the cam plate coupled to the rod at a first pivot point and coupled to the rotatable tool portion at a second pivot point, the cam plate comprising an arcuate slot disposed adjacent the second pivot point, the rotatable tool portion comprising a cam guide disposed within the arcuate slot; and a suturing needle coupled to the rotatable tool portion of the linkage mechanism, the first and second pivot points and the cam guide configured to convert sliding motion of the rod relative to the outer sheath to pivoting motion of the rotatable tool portion and suturing needle relative to the outer sheath, the linkage mechanism further comprising an insertion state wherein longitudinal axes of the rod and needle are aligned to enable the needle and at least a portion of the outer sheath to be passed through a trocar into a body cavity, and wherein, in the insertion state, the second pivot point is offset from the longitudinal axis of the rod, and wherein, in the insertion state, the cam guide is positioned abutting a first end of the arcuate slot.