Patent ID: 9743924
Date: 2017-08-29
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A device for suturing tissue comprising: a handle including a housing having a distal end and an opposite proximal end; a suturing needle for advancing a suture through the tissue, the suturing needle having a first pointed end and an opposite second end; a first needle gripper coupled to the housing, the first needle gripper being configured to both grasp and release the suturing needle; a second needle gripper coupled to the housing, the second needle gripper being configured to both grasp and release the suturing needle; and an actuator that is coupled to the housing, the actuator being operatively coupled to: (a) a first linkage that pivots the second needle gripper between a fully extended position and a retracted position relative to the housing; and (b) a second linkage that is operatively coupled to the first and second needle grippers and configured to alter a state of each of the first and second needle grippers to permit each respective needle gripper to either: (a) receive and grasp the suturing needle or (b) release the suturing needle; wherein the second linkage includes a one-way clutch that is operatively coupled to the actuator and is configured to synchronously alter the states of the first and second needle grippers to permit each respective needle gripper to either: (a) receive and grasp the suturing needle or (b) release the suturing needle, and wherein the one-way clutch is configured to trip at a select operating state of the actuator to cause a release of stored energy in the second linkage which causes the synchronized alteration of the states of the first and second needle grippers.