Patent ID: 9486209
Filing Date: 2016-11-08
CPC Classification: A61B,F04C

Claim Text:
1. A suturing cartridge configured to be coupled to a laparoscopic surgical instrument comprising an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end comprising a rack and pinion and a receiver configured to receive and hold the cartridge, the suturing cartridge comprising: an arced needle track; an arced needle positioned in the needle track; a length of suture connected to the needle; a reciprocating needle driver operative to engage and move the needle in the needle track; a rotary input that rotates about an axis; a torsional interface comprising a first mating means connected to the rotary input, the first mating means being complimentary to a second mating means connected to the pinion, the first and second mating means being configured to engage one another when the suturing cartridge is held in the receiver of the laparoscopic surgical instrument and disengage from one another when the suturing cartridge is removed from the receiver of the laparoscopic surgical instrument; a link comprising a proximal end connected to the rotary input and a distal end connected to the needle driver; whereby rotation of the rotary input in a first angular direction translates the needle driver in a second angular direction opposite of the first angular direction.