Abstract:
Sutures can be placed in difficult to access areas of the human body with devices, and related methods, utilizing a needle carrier. The devices and methods can be used in conjunction with both endosurgical and traditional open surgery procedures.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The invention relates to devices and methods for placing sutures.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Until recently, all but the simplest surgical procedures required the physician to make a large opening in the human body in order to expose the area requiring surgical repair. Today instruments are available that allow for viewing of internal body regions through a small puncture wound without exposing the entire body cavity. These instruments, called endoscopes, can be used in conjunction with specialized surgical instruments to detect, diagnose, and repair areas of the body that previously required open surgery to access.  
           [0003]    Some surgical instruments used in endoscopic procedures are limited by the manner in which they access the areas of the human body in need of repair. In particular, the instruments may not be able to access tissue or organs located deep within the body or that are in some way obstructed. Also, many of the instruments are limited by the way they grasp tissue, apply a suture, or recapture the needle and suture. Furthermore, many of the instruments are complicated and expensive to use due to the numerous parts and/or subassemblies required to make them function properly. Suturing remains a delicate and time-consuming aspect of most surgeries, including those performed endoscopically.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention allows for the performance of surgical procedures that involve the passing of sutures through tissue, for example, in a location that is facilitated by the suturing instrument deploying the suture in a forward-facing direction in relation to the suturing instrument. In addition, this invention provides for the catching and retrieval of the suture after it is passed through the tissue, for example. In particular this suturing instrument may be placed or positioned in the body such that a suture may be passed into a tissue of the body while the face of the distal end of the instrument abuts the tissue. Such a surgical device may allow for surgical procedures not previously possible or improve upon the performance of known surgical protocols.  
           [0005]    In one aspect, the invention relates to a suturing instrument. The suturing instrument includes an elongate body member, a needle deployment system disposed at a distal portion of the elongate body member. The suture deployment system includes a forward-deploying needle carrier including a needle for tissue penetration and a catch to receive and retain the needle. The inclusion of a needle catch in the needle deployment system prevents the need for the introduction of a second surgical instrument into the location of the body where the suture was passed in order to retrieve the suture.  
           [0006]    In some embodiments, the suturing instrument may include a deployment controller having a proximal end and a distal end. The deployment controller extends substantially along a longitudinal axis of the elongate body member to the distal portion of the elongate body member, where the distal end of the deployment controller is coupled to the needle carrier and moves the suture carrier between a retracted position and a deployed position. The proximal end of the deployment controller may be coupled to an actuator. In some embodiments, the deployment controller guides the suture carrier along a path which includes a proximal curved path segment such that the needle carrier initially travels away from the elongate body member and then toward the elongate body member.  
           [0007]    Various embodiments according to the foregoing aspect of the invention can include the following features. A suture can include a needle, and the needle can be permanently fixed to an end of the suture. The needle fixed on the suture can insert into the needle carrier. Also, the needle can be plastic, metal, or polymer compound. In addition, the suturing instrument can include a catch to receive and retain the needle, where the catch is positioned on the body member such that a distal segment of the needle carrier&#39;s path is intercepted by the catch. Additionally, the suturing instrument may include a second needle carrier and a second forward-facing exit port. Further, the deployment controller may be coupled to the suture carrier with a flexible driver member. The flexible driver member may be manufactured of an alloy that includes at least or exclusively nickel and titanium.  
           [0008]    In yet another embodiment, the invention relates to a suturing instrument including an elongate body member having a longitudinal axis and a distal tip needle deployment assembly joined with a distal end of the elongate body member such that the distal tip assembly is free to rotate axially about the longitudinal axis of the elongate body member. The distal tip suture deployment assembly includes a forward-facing needle exit port and a curved needle carrier channel formed in the distal tip needle deployment assembly, a curved needle carrier movably positioned in the curved needle carrier channel, a suture with an attached needle tip, and a deployment controller including a proximal end and a distal end. The deployment controller extends substantially along the longitudinal axis of the elongate body member to the distal end of the elongate body member, where the distal end of the deployment controller is coupled to the distal tip suture deployment assembly and moves the curved suture carrier through the curved suture carrier channel as the deployment controller moves between a retracted position and a deployed position. Additionally, the proximal end of the deployment controller may be coupled to an actuator.  
           [0009]    In still another embodiment, the invention relates to a suturing instrument including a body member defining a forward-facing exit port and a carrier channel, a carrier movably positioned in the carrier channel, and a surgical needle attached with an interference fit on a distal end of the needle carrier. The needle carrier has a retracted position within an interior region of the body member and a deployed position exterior to the body member. The needle carrier is configured within the needle carrier channel such that the needle carrier exits the interior region of the body member through the forward-facing exit port. In addition, the forward-facing exit port, needle carrier channel, and needle carrier can be located in a distal tip assembly coupled to the body member, and the distal tip assembly can be coupled to the body member such that the distal tip assembly is free to rotate axially about a longitudinal axis of the body member. In addition, the the needle carrier and needle catch can be located in a distal tip assembly coupled to the elongate body member at a pivot joint such that the distal tip assembly is free to deflect about the pivot joint. Such embodiments described above allow for enhanced control of the precise placement or position of the distal tip of the suturing instrument.  
           [0010]    An additional aspect of the invention relates to a method for placing a suture in tissue. The method includes the steps of placing a suturing instrument enclosing a needle carrier having an attached needle for tissue penetration, deploying the needle carrier out of the suturing instrument through a forward-facing exit port such that the needle carrier exits an interior region of the suturing instrument through the exit port along a path which approaches being substantially tangential to an outer surface of the suturing instrument surrounding the forward-facing exit port, and capturing a needle attached to a suture and carried by the needle carrier in a catch that receives and retains the needle. The needle carrier is movably positioned within a needle carrier channel adjacent the tissue to be sutured.  
           [0011]    In one embodiment, deploying the forward-deploying needle carrier out of the suturing instrument through a forward-directed exit port includes activating a deployment controller, which includes a distal end that extends substantially along a longitudinal axis of an elongate body member to the distal portion of the elongate body member. The distal end of the deployment controller is coupled to the needle carrier to facilitate movement of the needle carrier between a retracted position and a deployed position. In another embodiment, the invention further includes activating an actuator coupled to a proximal end of the deployment controller. In yet another embodiment, deploying the forward-deploying needle carrier out of the suturing instrument through a forward-directed exit port includes activating the deployment controller. The deployment controller is configured to guide the needle carrier along a path that includes a proximal curved path segment leading initially away from the elongate body member and then towards the elongate body member.  
           [0012]    In yet another embodiment, the invention further includes placing a suturing instrument enclosing a second forward-deploying needle carrier. This embodiment may facilitate passing two sutures in the same general location without removing the surgical device from body in order to reload the needle carrier with a second needle. The needle carrier includes a needle and the second forward-deploying needle carrier is movably positioned within a needle carrier channel adjacent the tissue to be sutured. The needle may also include a suture attached to the needle. In another embodiment, the invention relates a method that includes the needle carrier following a path that includes a distal path segment. As the needle carrier traverses the distal path segment the needle is intercepted by the catch.  
           [0013]    In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for shortening the pelvic floor including the steps of placing a suturing instrument enclosing a forward-deploying needle carrier including a needle adjacent to the tissue of the pelvic floor, deploying the suturing instrument such that the suture is passed through the tissue of the pelvic floor, and tightening the suture such that the pelvic floor buckles and is effectively shortened in height.  
           [0014]    In one embodiment, the invention further comprises a second deploying of the suturing instrument such that the suture is passed through the tissue of the pelvic floor prior to tightening the suture such that the pelvic floor buckles and is effectively shortened in height.  
           [0015]    In another embodiment, the invention relates to placing a suturing instrument enclosing a forward-deploying needle carrier including a needle adjacent to the tissue of the pelvic floor, in which the suturing instrument includes an elongate body member, a needle deployment system disposed at a distal portion of the elongate body member. The needle deployment system includes the forward-deploying needle carrier and a catch disposed on the elongate body member to receive and retain the needle. In yet another embodiment, the suturing instrument further includes a deployment controller that includes a distal end. The deployment controller extends substantially along a longitudinal axis of the elongate body member to the distal portion of the elongate body member, where the distal end of the deployment controller is coupled to the needle carrier to facilitate movement of the needle carrier between a retracted position and a deployed position.  
           [0016]    These and other objects, along with advantages and features of the present invention herein disclosed, will become apparent through reference to the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the claims. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein are not mutually exclusive and can exist in various combinations and permutations. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following drawings.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the general structure of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a partial-cutaway elevation of the general structure of another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a needle and suture.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a partial-cutaway elevation of a needle with an attached suture in a needle carrier.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of an alternate catch mechanism with a suture carrier.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is an end view illustrating the formed suture tip catch.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the suture tip catch shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0025]    FIGS.  8 A-D are perspective views of the general structure of an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]    FIGS.  9 A-D illustrate a single suture-pass surgical method.  
         [0027]    FIGS.  10 A-F illustrate a double suture-pass surgical method. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0028]    Embodiments of the present invention are described below. It is, however, expressly noted that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but rather the intention is that modifications that are apparent to the person skilled in the art are also included.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 illustrates the general structure of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 depicts a suturing instrument  100  including handle  105 , an elongate body  110 , a distal tip  115 , and an actuator button  120 . This embodiment of the present invention is particularly well suited to, for example, the fixation of sutures to the pelvic floor during a procedure to effectively shorten the pelvic floor for the treatment of hypermobility. As will become apparent, this embodiment includes features that prevent the need for positioning the target tissue between the needle exit port and the needle catch on the side of a distal tip while placing the suturing instrument in the body. The embodiment of FIG. 1 allows for the positioning of the target tissue between the needle exit port and the needle catch on the front face of the distal tip during the placement of the suturing device into the body. The end of the distal tip  4  may be pressed against the target tissue in order to throw a suture into the tissue.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 depicts an alternative embodiment of a suturing device  200 , which includes a handle  205 , an elongate body housing  210 , a distal tip  215 , and an actuator button  220 . The button  220  operates a drive screw  225  and compression spring  230 , which are housed in the proximal end of the body housing  210 . The button  220  is mechanically linked to the drive shaft  235 , which moves a gear drive  240 , which in turn drives a gear  245 . The gear  245  is coupled to a link drive pin  250 , which is itself coupled to a needle carrier  255 .  
         [0031]    The needle carrier  17  shown in FIG. 2 is circular; however, it is contemplated that the above embodiment may be modified to include needle carriers having non-circular contours (e.g., helical, elliptical, or straight). Although a single needle carrier  255  is shown in the figure, the above configuration may in fact contain more than one needle carrier. For example, multiple needle carriers may be actuated and driven independently by dividing the deployment controls and the needle carrier drivers into separate adjacent members with separate handles or controlled by a single handle.  
         [0032]    Referring to FIG. 3, device  100 ,  200  according to the present invention may incorporate a length of suture material  300  with a needle tip  305 . The needle tip  305  is held by a needle carrier  255 . The needle carrier  255  and needle tip  305  are deployable out of the housing  110 ,  210  and into tissue. Deployment is via an actuator button  120 ,  220  coupled to rigid driving members which are suitably attached to the needle carrier  255 . With renewed reference to FIG. 2, the actuator button  220  is pushed, simultaneously driving the needle carrier  255  and needle tip  305  into a catch mechanism  260 . The needle carrier  255  is retracted back into the housing  210  and the needle tip  305  remain in the catch mechanism  260 .  
         [0033]    A needle tip  305  comprises a body  310  having a shoulder  315 . The shoulder  315  is the rear surface of the needle tip body  310  that engages a catch  260  in the manner of a flange. A length of suture material  300  is inserted into a hole  23  located on the body  310  and attached to the needle tip  305  thereby. The suturing material  300  is attached to the body  310  by any suitable means, such as crimping or adhesive bonding. It should be understood that the illustrated arrow-shaped body  310  is merely illustrative, and the shape may be varied to fit a particular application. The needle tip  305  can be manufactured from a plastic, metal, or polymer compound and can be formed by, for example, extrusion, molding, or machining. Furthermore, the nature of the suture  300  is immaterial to the present invention. The needle tip  305  of the present invention may be used with a suture of any type, length, diameter, and characteristics.  
         [0034]    Referring now to FIG. 4, a needle carrier  400  comprises a body  405  defining a lumen  410 , a needle holder  415  to receive a needle tip  420  for tissue penetration. The lumen  410  is in communication with the needle holder  415  at one end and with an aperture  425  at the other end. The needle holder  415  is sized and shaped to releasably engage the needle tip  420 . A length of suture material  430  attached to the needle tip  420  is inserted into the needle holder  415 , through the lumen  410 , and out the aperture  425 . The attached needle tip  420  is then releasably engaged with the needle holder  415 . Alternatively, the needle carrier  400  can be a solid piece with the suture  430  disposed in a groove in the outer surface of the needle carrier  400 .  
         [0035]    The needle tip  420  is releasably engaged with the needle holder  415  so that the shoulder  435  protrudes slightly from the needle carrier  400 . The rear surface of the shoulder  435  faces away from the sharpened tip of the needle tip  420 . The needle tip  420  and the needle holder  415  are engaged such that the needle tip body  440  is held in place by frictional forces when the needle carrier  400  is extended forward. The needle tip body  440  is released from the needle holder  415  when the needle carrier  400  is retracted from a catch. This is facilitated by dimensioning the shoulder  435  so as to be retained by the catch  260  when the needle carrier  400  exits the catch  260 . The interaction of the needle carrier  400  and various catches is described in greater detail with respect to FIGS. 5A and 5B.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 5A and 5B depict alternate catches and illustrate their operation. Referring to FIG. 5A, the catch  500  includes a series of openings  505  defined by successive ribs  510 . The catch  500  receives a needle carrier (not shown) and a suture  515  with a needle tip  520  through opening  505 , the ribs  510  deflecting slightly to allow the suture carrier and needle tip  520  to pass through. After the needle tip shoulder  525  has cleared the ribs  510  and the suture carrier has been withdrawn, thereby releasing the needle tip  520 , the ribs  510  spring back to their original position defining the openings  505 . The openings  505  are chosen to be smaller in dimension than the needle tip shoulder  525 . This causes the catch  500  to retain the needle tip  520  because, due to the flat rear surface of the tip shoulder  525 , needle tip  520  cannot pass back through an opening  505 . When it is necessary to remove the needle tip  520  from the catch  500 , it may be moved toward an enlarged portion  530  of opening  505 ; enlarged portion  530  is sized to allow the needle tip shoulder  525  to pass through without resistance. The catch  500  is preferably constructed of thin stainless steel of high temper, such as ANSI 301 full hard. The catch  500  may be fabricated by means of stamping, laser machining, or chemical etching.  
         [0037]    Referring now to FIG. 5B, a catch  535  includes a frame  540  to which is attached a woven mesh  545 . Threads  550  creating the woven mesh  545  may be nylon, polyester, or the like woven in a common over/under pattern. The weaving of the threads  550  creates windows  555  in the mesh through which a needle carrier  560  may be passed. The needle carrier  560  is constructed such that the shoulder  565  of the needle tip  570  is larger than the windows  555 , or conversely, threads  550  are woven such that the windows  555  are smaller than the needle tip shoulder  565 . The needle tip  570  of the needle carrier  560  pushes the threads  550  aside, allowing the needle tip shoulder  565  to pass through the holes  555 . Upon withdrawal of the needle carrier  560 , the threads  550  return to their original positions and the catch  535  retains the needle tip  570  and attached suture  575  (once again due to the flat rear surface of tip shoulder  565 , which is larger in size than the windows  555 ).  
         [0038]    Referring to FIG. 6, the catch  600  includes openings  605  defined by ribs  610 . The configuration and function of the formed tip catch  600  is similar to that described earlier with respect to FIG. 5A. When the catch  600  is fabricated by means of chemical etching, the preferred method is to etch from a single side, a technique known in the art as single sided etching. When the catch  700  is etched from a single side, the ribs  705  have a tapered cross section  710  as shown in FIG. 7. The tapered cross section  710  helps to guide the needle tip  520  of the needle carrier into the catch openings  715 , thereby minimizing the chance of the sharpened end of the needle tip  520  hitting the top of the ribs  705 .  
         [0039]    FIGS.  8 A-D depict an alternative embodiment of a suturing device  800 , which includes a handle  805 , an elongate body housing  810 , a distal tip  815 , an actuator button  820 , a pivot joint  825 , and a distal tip deflection control lever  830 . In FIG. 8A, the control lever  830  is mechanically linked to the distal tip  815  by a cranking assembly that allows the movement of the control lever  830  from a forward position  835  to a back position  840  to cause the deflection of the distal tip  815  about a pivot joint  825  from a tip up positon  845  to a tip down position  850 .  
         [0040]    Moreover, distal tip  815  may be rotatable about the axis of the elongate body housing  810  as shown in FIGS. 8B-8D. For example, an actuator button  820  may be secured to the distal tip  815  through housing  815 . Rotation of the actuator button  820  causes a corresponding rotation of the distal tip  815 . The actuator button  820  may include a directional indicator  855  such as a pointed shape on the actuator button  820  that is aligned with the plane in which the needle tip (not shown) travels during deployment of the device  800 . FIGS. 8C and D depict the rotation of the distal tip  815  by 90 degrees in alternative directions from the starting position depicted in FIG. 8B. Additionally, the range of rotation of the distal tip  815  may include a complete 360 degrees about the axis of the elongate body housing  810 .  
         [0041]    Current surgical methods of treating hypermobility in women include bone anchoring or suture placements by invasive techniques. Hypermobility in women can be relieved by a minimally invasive surgical method that involves passing a suture into the pelvic floor and tightening the suture in order that the pelvic floor buckles or otherwise shortens in length. A suturing device as described above may be used to access the pelvic floor through a small anterior vaginal incision. The end of the distal tip of a suturing device can be pressed against the pelvic floor and a suture can be thrown. The suture can be tightened manually or by a surgical device know in the art. Although this description relates to a specific application, i.e., shortening the pelvic floor via a transvaginal approach, it is to be understood that the principles and construction herein described may be applied to other areas of the human body, and for other procedures requiring suturing body structures.  
         [0042]    FIGS.  9 A-D depict a surgical method for treating hypermobility in women. The surgical method includes positioning the distal tip  900  of a surgical device  905  (partially shown) against the surface of the pelvic floor  910  (FIG. 9A) and deploying the device so that the needle carrier  915 , which is carrying a needle tip (not shown) with an attached suture  920 , moves in the direction of the arrow and pierces the pelvic floor  910  (FIG. 9B). The path of motion of the needle carrier makes two passages of the tissue of the pelvic floor  910 . The needle carrier  915  carries a needle tip into the needle catch  925  in the distal tip  900 . In FIG. 9C the needle carrier  915  is retracted into the distal tip  900 , the needle tip is retained in the needle catch  925  and the distal tip  900  is retracted from the surface of the pelvic floor  910 . The suture  920  remaining in the pelvic floor  910  (FIG. 9C) is tightened and tied thus causing the buckling an effective shortening of the pelvic floor  910  (FIG. 9D).  
         [0043]    FIGS.  10 A-F depict a surgical method for treating hypermobility in women involving the passing of two sutures into the pelvic floor. The surgical method includes placing the distal tip  1000  of a surgical device  1005  (partially shown) against the surface of the pelvic floor  1010  and deploying the device so that the needle carrier  1015 , which is carrying a needle tip  1020  with an attached suture  1025 , moves in the direction of the arrow and pierces the pelvic floor  1010  (FIG. 10A). The needle carrier  1015  carries a needle tip  1025  into the needle catch  1030  in the distal tip  1000 . In FIG. 10B the needle carrier  1015  is retracted into the distal tip  1000 , and while the needle tip is retained in the needle catch  1030  the distal tip  1000  is retracted from the surface of the pelvic floor  1010 . The needle tip  1020  is extracted from the needle catch  1030  (FIG. 10B) and reloaded into the needle carrier  1015  (FIG. 10C). In FIG. 10D the suture  1025  is placed in the pelvic floor  1010  in a second location a certain distance from the first suture placement. In FIG. 10E the needle carrier  1015  is retracted into the distal tip  1000 , and the needle tip is retained in the needle catch  1030 . The retention of the needle tip  1020  in the needle catch  1030  allows for the retention and control of the leading end of the suture  1025  while the distal tip  1000  is retracted from the surface of the pelvic floor  1010  (FIG. 10E). In FIG. 10F the suture  1025  remaining in the pelvic floor  1010  is tightened and tied thus causing the buckling and effective shortening of the pelvic floor  1010 . The distance between the two suture placements is directly proportional to the degree to which the pelvic floor  1010  can be shortened. The degree to which the pelvic floor  1010  is shortened can also be controlled by how tightly the suture  1025  is drawn in and tied.  
         [0044]    Having described certain embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments incorporating the concepts disclosed herein can be used without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.