Abstract:
A needle delivery device that has particular application for providing needles for minimally invasive spinal surgical procedures. The device includes an elongated pincher having opposing rails that is slidable within a channel defined in an extended base portion. Widened end portions of the rails hold the needle and push it out of an end of the device where it is released. The pincher is then retracted to a location where the end portions can pick up a next needle to be delivered.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to a surgical device for effectively delivering a suture needle and, more particularly, to a surgical device for effectively delivering a suture needle through a tubular retractor during a minimally invasive spinal surgical procedure to repair a dural tear. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In an attempt to preserve normal anatomical structures during spine surgery, minimally invasive surgical procedures have been devised. One such procedure involves the use of a series of muscle dilators that separate the muscle fibers of the spine to create a pathway to the spine. A Kirschner (K-wire) is initially introduced through a small incision and directed towards the spinal pathology. The position of the K-wire is visualized by a fluoroscopic imaging system to identify its location. An initial narrow diameter muscle dilator is passed over the K-wire, and the K-wire is removed and subsequent larger muscle dilators are continually passed. When the opening is large enough, an access tube or retractor is positioned around the last muscle dilator through which the surgery is performed. The inner sequential muscle dilators are then removed allowing the surgeon to operate through the tubular retractor. The retractors come in a variety of lengths and diameters for different patients and procedures. 
         [0005]    The spinal cord and spinal nerves are covered by a watertight sac of tissue, referred to as the dura. The dura is sometimes injured during spinal surgical procedures, typically referred to a dural tear. A dural tear should be surgically repaired during the surgical procedure to prevent spinal fluid from leaking out of the sac. Because the tubular retractor through which the surgeon is performing the surgical procedure is quite narrow, the ability to perform a delicate suturing process to repair the tear is difficult. Currently no device exists that allows a surgeon to suture a dural tear easily and effectively. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a suture needle delivery device is disclosed that has particular application for providing needles for minimally invasive spinal surgical procedures. The device includes an elongated pincher having opposing rails that is slidable within a channel defined in an extended base portion. Widened end portions of the rails hold the needle and push it out of an end of the device where it is released. The pincher is then retracted to a location where the end portions can pick up a next needle to be delivered. 
         [0007]    Additional features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a suture needle delivery device; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a cut-away, perspective view of a delivery end of the suture needle delivery device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a cut-away, perspective view of an end portion of a pincher used in the suture needle delivery device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cut-away, perspective view of a delivery end of the suture needle delivery device shown in  FIG. 1  with a suture needle partially extended; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cut-away, perspective view of a delivery end of the suture and needle delivery device shown in  FIG. 1  with a suture needle fully extended; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top cut-away, top perspective view of a delivery end of the suture and needle delivery device shown in  FIG. 1  with a suture needle fully extended; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a cut-away, bottom perspective view of a delivery end of the suture needle delivery device shown in  FIG. 1  showing a slot for loading suture needles into the device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    The following discussion of the embodiments of the invention directed to a suture needle delivery device is merely exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to limit the invention or its applications or uses. For example, the suture needle delivery device of the present invention has particular application for suturing the dura in a minimally invasive spinal surgery procedure. However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the suture delivery device of the invention may have application for other surgical and non-surgical procedures. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a suture needle delivery device  10  that effectively delivers a needle or suture to a surgeon who is suturing a wound during a surgical procedure. The device has particular application for delivering a suture needle to the proper location for a surgeon using a minimally invasive surgical tubular retractor during spinal surgery for suturing the dura to repair a dural tear. 
         [0017]    The device  10  includes a handle  12  attached to a body  14  and a trigger  16  extending from the body  14  adjacent to the handle  12 . A needle delivery assembly  18  is attached to and extends from the body  14  and includes most of the operative features of the device  10 , as will be discussed in detail below. The surgeon will squeeze the trigger  16  during the surgical procedure which will cause the device  10  to advance and deliver a needle  20  to the location that requires suturing, where it is released from the device  10 . The surgeon can then grasp the needle  20  with a suitable instrument to place it at the proper location. The needle  20  can be made of any suitable material, such as a deformable element, for example, titanium, or a shape memory alloy, for example, nitanol. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a cut-away, perspective view of the needle delivery assembly  18  including a specially configured base portion  30  having side walls  32  and  34  defining a channel  36  therebetween. An elongated pincher  38  including opposing rails  40  and  42  defining a slot  28  therebetween is positioned and slidable within the channel  36  in the base portion  30  where a top edge of the walls  32  and  34  hold the pincher  38  within the channel  36 , as shown.  FIG. 3  is a cut-away, perspective view of the pincher  38  showing the rails  40  and  42  having widened end portions  44  and  46 , respectively, defining a circular opening  48 . When the pincher  38  is positioned within the channel  36 , the space between the walls  32  and  34  is selected so that the end portions  44  and  46  are pushed together with a spring action provided by the slot  28  so that the diameter of the opening  48  holds the needle  20 . 
         [0019]    Pulling the trigger  16  towards the handle  12  causes the pincher  38  to be advanced through the channel  36  by any suitable manner, such as by a pushing member (not shown), which causes the needle  20  extending therefrom to be pushed through an opening  52  in a barrier  54  formed in the base portion  30 , as shown. As the needle  20  continues to advance, it is pushed against a curved end barrier  56 , which causes the needle  20  to bend upward allowing it to be grasped by the surgeon to be placed through the tissue being sutured.  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  show detailed views of the end of the delivery assembly  18  where the needle  20  is being extended from the device  10 . 
         [0020]    When the end portions  44  and  46  reach an opening  58  between an end of the walls  32  and  34  and the barrier  54  they will slide apart under the spring action provided by the slot  28 , which increases the diameter of the opening  48  and releases the needle  20  so that the surgeon can remove the needle  20  from the device  10 . If the needle  20  is made of shape memory alloy, and is held in a straight configuration where its memory shape is curved, it will readily return to the curved shape when it is released from the pincher  38 . 
         [0021]    Releasing the trigger  16  causes the pincher  38  to retract back to an original location where it can be loaded with another needle to allow the surgeon to continue with the suturing operation. Particularly, the pincher  38  slides back in the channel  36  to a location where the end portions  44  and  46  are positioned within an opening  60  in the walls  32  and  34  that allows the end portions  44  and  46  to slide apart under the spring action provided by the slot  28  so that the opening  48  is again increased. Another needle can be loaded into the pincher  38  between the rails  40  and  42  into the opening  48  through a slot  62  in a bottom plate  64  of the base portion  30  so that when the trigger  16  is pulled again and the pincher  38  is advanced, the pincher  38  grabs the new needle by the closing of the opening  48  and extends it in the manner discussed above.  FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the base portion  30  showing the slot  28 . 
         [0022]    The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.