Patent ID: 6280460
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A device for passing at least one needle through tissue, the device comprising:a handle;a shaft assembly including a shaft movably coupled to the handle, at least one needle removably supported by the shaft and movable between radially extended and non-extended positions, and a protective cover overlying at least a portion of the shaft and needle when the needle is in said radially non-extended position, the cover being movable with respect to the shaft to allow the needle to move to said radially extended position, the shaft assembly having a ram slidably disposed over the shaft for moving the needle into said radially extended position, the protective cover being slidably disposed over the ram; andan actuator assembly operable using one hand for moving the cover to allow the needle to assume said radially extended position and moving the shaft to pass the needle through the tissue, the actuator assembly having a linkage coupled to a movable component, and movement of the movable component drives the linkage and moves the protective cover to allow the needle to assume said radially extended position, moves the ram to force the needle into said radially extended position, and moves the shaft to pass the needle through the tissue.