Patent ID: 8313496
Filing Date: 2012-11-20
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A system for endoscopic suturing of tissue comprising: an endoscope locatable in the body of a patient having a flexible shaft; an accessory tube having first and second ends, and coupled along the outside of the shaft of said endoscope to flex in accordance with flexures of said shaft of said endoscope; and at least one suturing instrument having a shaft insertable via said first of said ends of said tube, a distal tissue engaging end coupled to said shaft of the suturing instrument, one or more needles extendible through said shaft of the suturing instrument to said tissue engaging end, in which said shaft of the suturing instrument has a first section and a second section, said second section extends from said first section to said tissue engaging end, and a flexible needle carrying tube for each of said one or more needles, in which said flexible needle carrying tube extends through at least part of said second section and each of said one or more needles is extendible through their respective needle carrying tube, and said second section has sufficient flexibility to be extendible in said tube to said second of said ends of said tube when said tube has one or more flexures in accordance with one or more flexures of said endoscope.