Surgical purse string suturing instrument and method

Claim 2

A surgical needle, comprising: an elongated needle shaft; a needle head having a sharp point; and a frangible neck, having a reduced cross-section, joining said needle shaft and said needle head, said neck permitting said needle head to broken away from said needle shaft, wherein a recess is formed in a longitudinal direction in said needle shaft and said needle head for at least partially receiving a suture thread.

Claim 3

A surgical needle according to claim 1, wherein said needle head includes a plurality of cutting edges extending radially outward from said sharp point.

Claim 4

A surgical needle according to claim 2, wherein three cutting edges are provided on said needle point spaced substantially 120° from each other.

Claim 5

A surgical needle according to claim 1, wherein said needle head includes securing means for securing a suture thread thereto.

Claim 6

A surgical needle according to claim 1, further comprising pushing means at one end of said elongated needle shaft for pushing the surgical needle.

Claim 7

A surgical needle, comprising: an elongated needle shaft; a needle head having a share point; a frangible neck, having a reduced cross-section, joining said needle shaft and said needle head, said neck permitting said needle head to broken away from said needle shaft; and pushing means at one end of said elongated needle shaft for pushing the surgical needle, wherein said pushing means comprises a portion of said needle shaft at said one end bent at an angle with respect to a longitudinal direction of said needle shaft.

Claim 8

A surgical needle, comprising: an elongated needle shaft; a needle head having a share point; a frangible neck, having a reduced cross-section, joining said needle shaft and said needle head, said neck permitting said needle head to broken away from said needle shaft; and pushing means at one end of said elongated needle shaft for pushing the surgical needle, wherein said pushing means comprises a portion of said needle shaft at said one end bent at an angle with respect to a longitudinal direction of said needle shaft.

Claim 9

A medical suturing device, comprising: first and second surgical needles, each comprising an elongated needle shaft and a needle head, having a sharp point, connected to said needle shaft; each said needle head having means for securing one end of a suture thread thereto; and a suture thread having first and second ends, said first end being secured to said first needle head and said second end being secured to said second needle head, wherein each surgical needle further comprises a frangible neck portion joining said needle shaft and said needle head.

Claim 10

A medical suturing device, comprising: first and second surgical needles, each comprising an elongated needle shaft and a needle head, having a sharp point, connected to said needle shaft; each said needle head having means for securing one end of a suture thread thereto; and a suture thread having first and second ends, said first end being secured to said first needle head and said second end being secured to said second needle head, wherein each surgical needle further comprises a frangible neck portion joining said needle shaft and said needle head.

Claim 11

A medical suturing device according to claim 7, wherein each said needle head includes a plurality of cutting edges extending radially outward from said sharp point.

Claim 12

A medical suturing device according to claim 8, wherein three cutting edges are provided on each said needle point spaced substantially 120° from each other.

Claim 13

A surgical suturing device according to claim 7, further comprising pushing means at one end of each said extended needle shaft for pushing said surgical needles.

Claim 14

A medical suturing device according to claim 7, wherein said means for securing one end of the suture thread is provided at an intermediate portion between said needle head and said needle shaft.

Claim 15

A medical suturing device, comprising: first and second surgical needles, each comprising an elongated needle shaft and a needle head, having a sharp point, connected to said needle shaft, with each said needle head having means for securing one end of a suture thread thereto; and a suture thread having first and second ends, said first end being secured to said first needle head and said second end being secured to said second needle head, wherein each surgical needle further comprises a frangible neck portion joining said needle shaft and said needle head, said frangible neck portion having a reduced cross-section thereby permitting said needle head to be broken away from said needle shaft.

Claim 16

A medical suturing device, comprising: first and second surgical needles, each comprising an elongated needle shaft and a needle head, having a sharp point, connected to said needle shaft, with each said needle head having means for securing one end of a suture thread thereto; and a suture thread having first and second ends, said first end being secured to said first needle head and said second end being secured to said second needle head, wherein each surgical needle further comprises a frangible neck portion joining said needle shaft and said needle head, said frangible neck portion having a reduced cross-section thereby permitting said needle head to be broken away from said needle shaft.

Claim 17

A medical suturing device, comprising: first and second surgical needles, each comprising an elongated needle shaft and a needle head, having a sharp point, connected to said needle shaft, with each said needle head having means for securing one end of a suture thread thereto; and a suture thread having first and second ends, said first end being secured to said first needle head and said second end being secured to said second needle head, wherein a recess is formed in a longitudinal direction of each said needle shaft and needle head for at least partially receiving the thread.

Claim 18

A medical suturing device, comprising: first and second surgical needles, each comprising an elongated needle shaft and a needle head, having a sharp point, connected to said needle shaft, with each said needle head having means for securing one end of a suture thread thereto; and a suture thread having first and second ends, said first end being secured to said first needle head and said second end being secured to said second needle head, wherein a recess is formed in a longitudinal direction of each said needle shaft and needle head for at least partially receiving the thread.

Claim 19

A medical suturing device, comprising: first and second surgical needles, each comprising an elongated needle shaft and a needle head, having a sharp point, connected to said needle shaft, with each said needle head having means for securing one end of a suture thread thereto; a suture thread having first and second ends, said first end being secured to said first needle head and said second end being secured to said second needle head; and pushing means at one end of each said extended needle shaft for pushing said surgical needles, wherein said pushing means comprises a portion of each said needle shaft at said one end bent at an angle with respect to a longitudinal direction of said needle shaft.

Claim 20

A medical suturing device, comprising: first and second surgical needles, each comprising an elongated needle shaft and a needle head, having a sharp point, connected to said needle shaft, with each said needle head having means for securing one end of a suture thread thereto; a suture thread having first and second ends, said first end being secured to said first needle head and said second end being secured to said second needle head; and pushing means at one end of each said extended needle shaft for pushing said surgical needles, wherein said pushing means comprises a portion of each said needle shaft at said one end bent at an angle with respect to a longitudinal direction of said needle shaft.

Claim 21

A medical suturing cartridge, comprising: first and second surgical needles each including an elongated needle shaft and a needle head connected to said needle shaft and having a sharp point, said needle shaft and said needle head of each said needle defining a first cross-sectional shape; and needle cartridge means for defining a needle guide; said cartridge means including an elongated body formed with two substantially parallel guideways, each having a second cross-sectional shape substantially congruent to the first cross-sectional shape, for receiving one said surgical needle for sliding movement therein; and an open channel joining said guideways throughout their length, wherein each surgical needle further comprises a frangible neck portion joining said needle shaft and said needle head.

Claim 22

A medical suturing cartridge, comprising: first and second surgical needles each including an elongated needle shaft and a needle head connected to said needle shaft and having a sharp point, said needle shaft and said needle head of each said needle defining a first cross-sectional shape; and needle cartridge means for defining a needle guide; said cartridge means including an elongated body formed with two substantially parallel guideways, each having a second cross-sectional shape substantially congruent to the first cross-sectional shape, for receiving one said surgical needle for sliding movement therein; and an open channel joining said guideways throughout their length, wherein each surgical needle further comprises a frangible neck portion joining said needle shaft and said needle head.

Claim 23

A medical suturing cartridge according to claim 15, wherein each said needle head includes a plurality of cutting edges extending radially outward from said sharp point.

Claim 24

A medical suturing cartridge according to claim 16, wherein three cutting edges are provided on each said needle point spaced substantially 120° from each other.

Claim 25

A medical suturing cartridge according to claim 15, wherein each said needle head includes securing means for securing a suturing thread thereto.

Claim 26

A medical suturing cartridge according to claim 18, further comprising a suturing thread having first and second ends, said first end being secured to said securing means in said first needle head and said second end being secured to said securing means in said second needle head.

Claim 27

A medical suturing cartridge according to claim 15, further comprising pushing means at one end of each said elongated needle shaft for pushing said surgical needles.

Claim 28

A medical suturing cartridge according to claim 15, wherein said needle cartridge means includes a longitudinal axis, with the two substantially parallel guideways in said elongated body extending along the longitudinal axis.

Claim 29

A medical suturing cartridge, comprising: first and second surgical needles each including an elongated needle shaft and a needle head connected to said needle shaft and having a sharp point, said needle shaft and said needle head of each said needle defining a first cross-sectional shape; and needle cartridge means for defining a needle guide, said cartridge means including an elongated body formed with two substantially parallel guideways, each having a second cross-sectional shape substantially congruent to the first cross-sectional shape, for receiving one said surgical needle for sliding movement therein, and an open channel joining said guideways throughout their length, wherein each needle further comprises a frangible neck portion joining said needle shaft and said needle head, said frangible neck portion having a reduced cross-sectional shape relative to the first cross-sectional shape.

Claim 30

A medical suturing cartridge, comprising: first and second surgical needles each including an elongated needle shaft and a needle head connected to said needle shaft and having a sharp point, said needle shaft and said needle head of each said needle defining a first cross-sectional shape; and needle cartridge means for defining a needle guide, said cartridge means including an elongated body formed with two substantially parallel guideways, each having a second cross-sectional shape substantially congruent to the first cross-sectional shape, for receiving one said surgical needle for sliding movement therein, and an open channel joining said guideways throughout their length, wherein each needle further comprises a frangible neck portion joining said needle shaft and said needle head, said frangible neck portion having a reduced cross-sectional shape relative to the first cross-sectional shape.

Claim 31

A medical suturing cartridge, comprising: first and second surgical needles each including an elongated needle shaft and a needle head connected to said needle shaft and having a sharp point, said needle shaft and said needle head of each said needle defining a first cross-sectional shape; and needle cartridge means for defining a needle guide, said cartridge means including an elongated body formed with two substantially parallel guideways, each having a second cross-sectional shape substantially congruent to the first cross-sectional shape, for receiving one said surgical needle for sliding movement therein, and an open channel joining said guideways throughout their length, wherein each said needle head includes securing means for securing a suturing thread thereto; and a suturing thread having first and second ends, said first end being secured to said securing means in said first needle head and said second end being secured to said securing means in said second needle head, wherein a recess is formed in a longitudinal direction in each said needle shaft and needle head for at least partially receiving the thread.

Claim 32

A medical suturing cartridge, comprising: first and second surgical needles each including an elongated needle shaft and a needle head connected to said needle shaft and having a sharp point, said needle shaft and said needle head of each said needle defining a first cross-sectional shape; and needle cartridge means for defining a needle guide, said cartridge means including an elongated body formed with two substantially parallel guideways, each having a second cross-sectional shape substantially congruent to the first cross-sectional shape, for receiving one said surgical needle for sliding movement therein, and an open channel joining said guideways throughout their length, wherein each said needle head includes securing means for securing a suturing thread thereto; and a suturing thread having first and second ends, said first end being secured to said securing means in said first needle head and said second end being secured to said securing means in said second needle head, wherein a recess is formed in a longitudinal direction in each said needle shaft and needle head for at least partially receiving the thread.

Claim 33

A medical suturing cartridge, comprising: first and second surgical needles each including an elongated needle shaft and a needle head connected to said needle shaft and having a sharp point, said needle shaft and said needle head of each said needle defining a first cross-sectional shape; needle cartridge means for defining a needle guide, said cartridge means including an elongated body formed with two substantially parallel guideways, each having a second cross-sectional shape substantially congruent to the first cross-sectional shape, for receiving one said surgical needle for sliding movement therein, and an open channel joining said guideways throughout their length; and pushing means at one end of each said elongated needle shaft for pushing said surgical needles. wherein said pushing means comprises a portion of said needle shaft at said one end bent at an angle with respect to a longitudinal direction of said needle shaft.

Claim 34

A medical suturing cartridge, comprising: first and second surgical needles each including an elongated needle shaft and a needle head connected to said needle shaft and having a sharp point, said needle shaft and said needle head of each said needle defining a first cross-sectional shape; needle cartridge means for defining a needle guide, said cartridge means including an elongated body formed with two substantially parallel guideways, each having a second cross-sectional shape substantially congruent to the first cross-sectional shape, for receiving one said surgical needle for sliding movement therein, and an open channel joining said guideways throughout their length; and pushing means at one end of each said elongated needle shaft for pushing said surgical needles. wherein said pushing means comprises a portion of said needle shaft at said one end bent at an angle with respect to a longitudinal direction of said needle shaft.