Patent ID: 8685045
Filing Date: 2014-04-01
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A suturing method of suturing a tissue of a patient, said method comprising: grasping a proximal portion of a suturing needle with a first clamp of a suturing device, the suturing device having a body with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the first clamp is supported by an elongate extension of the body, the extension extending along an axis toward the distal end and having a bend in the axis, wherein grasping of the needle with the first clamp is effected by axially moving an associated first shaft along the axis through the bend within the extension, the first shaft having axial stiffness sufficient to compressively transmit axial movement and being laterally flexible to accommodate the bend within the extension; inserting a distal portion of the needle through the tissue by moving the body supporting the extension so that the needle moves in correlation with the body; grasping the distal portion of the needle with a second clamp of the suturing device, wherein the second clamp is supported by the elongate extension of the body, wherein grasping of the needle with the second clamp is effected by axially moving an associated second shaft along the axis through the bend within the extension, the second shaft having axial stiffness sufficient to compressively transmit axial movement and being laterally flexible to accommodate the bend within the extension; releasing the proximal portion of the needle from the first clamp; and pulling the proximal portion of the needle through the tissue by moving the body while the second clamp holds the distal portion of the needle.