Patent ID: 6206894
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A device for use with a needle and a suture attached thereto, said device for suturing bodily tissue and comprising:a. a handle;b. a right arm extending distally from said handle, the distal end of said right arm having a right gripper attached thereto for gripping and releasing the needle;c. a left arm extending distally from said handle, the distal end of said left arm having a left gripper attached thereto for gripping and releasing the needle;d. electrically powered means for moving the distal ends of said right and left arms closely adjacent to one another and for passing a needle from one gripper to the other and thereafter for moving the distal ends of said right and left arms further apart from one another without any substantial movement of the needle with respect to said handle;e. a control unit for controlling said electrically powered means;f. a single switch on said handle for actuating said electrically powered means so as to move both said distal ends of said arms, and a button on said handle which is connected to a means for opening and closing said left and right grippers so as to insert and remove a needle to and from said left and right grippers, whereby both said switch and said button can be operated by a single hand which is holding said handle.