Endoscopic suture system

Claim 3

A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of retracting said deployment mechanism back into said chamber of said cannular body member.

Claim 4

A suture device comprising: a first needle and a second needle attached to opposite ends of a length of suture material contained within a tubular body member; and a needle deployment means contained within said tubular body member for moving said first and second needles along first and second substantially semi-circular paths which traverse regions external to said body member and return to a catch mechanism on said body member, said needle deployment means further comprising substantially semi-circular shaped first and second needle guides which define the substantially semi-circular shape of said first and second substantially semi-circular paths traversed by said first and second needles.

Claim 5

A suture device comprising: a first needle and a second needle attached to opposite ends of a length of suture material contained within a tubular body member; and a needle deployment means contained within said tubular body member for moving said first and second needles along first and second substantially semi-circular paths which traverse regions external to said body member and return to a catch mechanism on said body member, said needle deployment means further comprising substantially semi-circular shaped first and second needle guides which define the substantially semi-circular shape of said first and second substantially semi-circular paths traversed by said first and second needles.

Claim 6

A suture device as defined in claim 3 wherein said needle deployment means further comprises first and second needle carrier means for holding said first and second needles.

Claim 7

A suture device as defined in claim 3 wherein said needle deployment means further comprises a first elongate flexible means for pushing said first needle through said first needle guide.

Claim 8

A suture device comprising: an elongate cannular body member having an internal chamber; and a first needle carrier means having a needle mount for holding a first needle, said first needle carrier means movably mounted within said internal chamber and having a retracted configuration wherein said first needle carrier means and said first needle are contained within said internal chamber and a deployed configuration wherein a substantial portion of said first needle is located outside of said internal chamber, wherein said first needle carrier means includes means for moving said first needle along a path traversed by said first needle from the retracted configuration to the deployed configuration wherein the first needle path has an initial direction away from said cannular body member followed by a direction toward said cannular body member; and a second needle carrier means having a needle mount for holding a second needle, said second needle carrier means movably mounted within said internal chamber and having a retracted configuration wherein said second needle carrier means and said second needle are contained within said internal chamber and a deployed configuration wherein a substantial portion of said second needle is located outside of said internal chamber, wherein said second needle carrier means includes means for moving said second needle along a path traversed by said second needle from the retracted configuration to the deployed configuration wherein the second needle path has an initial direction away from said cannular body member followed by a direction toward said cannular body member, wherein said initial direction created by said second needle carrier means is substantially in opposition to said initial direction of said first needle carrier means.

Claim 9

A suture device comprising: an elongate cannular body member having an internal chamber; and a first needle carrier means having a needle mount for holding a first needle, said first needle carrier means movably mounted within said internal chamber and having a retracted configuration wherein said first needle carrier means and said first needle are contained within said internal chamber and a deployed configuration wherein a substantial portion of said first needle is located outside of said internal chamber, wherein said first needle carrier means includes means for moving said first needle along a path traversed by said first needle from the retracted configuration to the deployed configuration wherein the first needle path has an initial direction away from said cannular body member followed by a direction toward said cannular body member; and a second needle carrier means having a needle mount for holding a second needle, said second needle carrier means movably mounted within said internal chamber and having a retracted configuration wherein said second needle carrier means and said second needle are contained within said internal chamber and a deployed configuration wherein a substantial portion of said second needle is located outside of said internal chamber, wherein said second needle carrier means includes means for moving said second needle along a path traversed by said second needle from the retracted configuration to the deployed configuration wherein the second needle path has an initial direction away from said cannular body member followed by a direction toward said cannular body member, wherein said initial direction created by said second needle carrier means is substantially in opposition to said initial direction of said first needle carrier means.

Claim 10

A suture device as defined in claim 6 wherein said first needle carrier means is movably mounted to said elongate cannular body member at a point within said internal chamber on a pivot.

Claim 11

A suture device as defined in claim 6 wherein said first needle carrier means is movably mounted to said elongate cannular body member at a point within said internal chamber by a cam mechanism.

Claim 12

A suture device as defined in claim 6 further comprising a needle catch attached to said cannular body at a location which intercepts said first needle near the end of its path in said direction toward said cannular body member.

Claim 13

A surgical suture device for applying a suture to approximate tissue surrounding a trocar puncture wound in a body cavity wall, said suture device comprising: a first needle and a second needle attached to opposite ends of a length of suture material; a needle deployment means for moving said first and second needles along first and second paths which terminate in a needle catch, said needle deployment means further comprising: first and second substantially semi-circular needle carrier means for holding said first and second needles; and first and second substantially semi-circular needle guide means for directing said first and second needle carrier means and needles along said first and second paths into said needle catch; and a cannular body means having an internal cavity for containing said first needle, said second needle, and said needle deployment means and for inserting said first needle, said second needle, said suture material, said needle catch and said needle deployment means into a body cavity through a puncture wound in a wall of the body cavity, wherein said needle deployment means transports said needles to regions outside of said cannular body means internal cavity into the body cavity wall and back towards said cannular body means, thereby forming a loop of said suture which approximates tissue on opposing sides of the puncture wound when said cannular body means, along with said first needle, said second needle, said suture material, said needle catch and said needle deployment means are extracted from the body cavity.

Claim 14

A surgical suture device for applying a suture to approximate tissue surrounding a trocar puncture wound in a body cavity wall, said suture device comprising: a first needle and a second needle attached to opposite ends of a length of suture material; a needle deployment means for moving said first and second needles along first and second paths which terminate in a needle catch, said needle deployment means further comprising: first and second substantially semi-circular needle carrier means for holding said first and second needles; and first and second substantially semi-circular needle guide means for directing said first and second needle carrier means and needles along said first and second paths into said needle catch; and a cannular body means having an internal cavity for containing said first needle, said second needle, and said needle deployment means and for inserting said first needle, said second needle, said suture material, said needle catch and said needle deployment means into a body cavity through a puncture wound in a wall of the body cavity, wherein said needle deployment means transports said needles to regions outside of said cannular body means internal cavity into the body cavity wall and back towards said cannular body means, thereby forming a loop of said suture which approximates tissue on opposing sides of the puncture wound when said cannular body means, along with said first needle, said second needle, said suture material, said needle catch and said needle deployment means are extracted from the body cavity.

Claim 15

A surgical suture device as defined in claim 10 wherein said needle deployment means further comprises a first flexible means for pushing said first needle through said first substantially semi-circular needle guide means.

Claim 16

A suture device comprising: a first needle having a suture attachment point; a second needle having a suture attachment point; a suture having a first end attached to said first needle suture attachment point and a second end attached to said second needle suture attachment point; a needle deployment means for: a) moving said first needle along a first path which initially diverges away from a needle capture system and subsequently converges toward said needle capture system; and b) moving said second needle along a second path which initially diverges away from said needle capture system and subsequently converges toward said needle capture system, said needle deployment means further comprising: first and second substantially semi-circular needle carrier means for holding said first and second needles; and first and second substantially semi-circular needle guide means for directing said first and second needles along said first and second paths; and a cannular body means having an internal chamber for containing said first and second needles; said suture; said needle deployment means; and said needle capture system.

Claim 17

A suture device comprising: a first needle having a suture attachment point; a second needle having a suture attachment point; a suture having a first end attached to said first needle suture attachment point and a second end attached to said second needle suture attachment point; a needle deployment means for: a) moving said first needle along a first path which initially diverges away from a needle capture system and subsequently converges toward said needle capture system; and b) moving said second needle along a second path which initially diverges away from said needle capture system and subsequently converges toward said needle capture system, said needle deployment means further comprising: first and second substantially semi-circular needle carrier means for holding said first and second needles; and first and second substantially semi-circular needle guide means for directing said first and second needles along said first and second paths; and a cannular body means having an internal chamber for containing said first and second needles; said suture; said needle deployment means; and said needle capture system.

Claim 18

A suture device as defined in claim 12 wherein said needle deployment means further comprises a first elongate flexible means for pushing said first needle through said first needle guide means.