Patent ID: 6743241
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A laparoscopic fascial closure device for fashioning a closure of a laparoscopic puncture site comprising:a. an elongate, hollow cannula member having a proximal and distal ends; b. an elongate connecting rod disposed axially within said cannula, said connecting rod having a proximal end orientated towards said proximal end of said cannula and a distal end orientated toward said distal end of said cannula, said connecting rod having a trigger formed upon the proximal end thereof operative to selectively cause said connecting rod to advance distally or retract proximally within said cannula; c. a needle/suture complex mounted upon said distal end of said connecting rod, said needle/suture complex comprising at least one pair of needles having a suture extending therebetween, said needles being operatively transitional between: (i) a first folded configuration wherein said needles are operative to extend through the lumen of said cannula; (ii) a second operative configuration wherein said needles extend in opposed directions from the distal end of said cannula such that each respective needle extends a distance from the periphery of said puncture site; and (iii) a third retracted configuration wherein said needles are biased inwardly toward the lumen of said cannula, independent of the needles' shape; d. a needle trap mechanism disposed within the lumen of said cannula and operative to lockingly engage with said needles of said needle/suture complex after said needles assume said third operative configuration; and e. wherein said needle trap mechanism is operative to draw said needles into the lumen of said cannula such that the device may be withdrawn from the body with the suture extending between the needles, forming a closure of said laparoscopic puncture site.