Abstract: A therapeutic instrument for the ergonomic, effective and safe opening and closing of targeted remote tissue sites; includes a pistol grip style handle with a hand activated lever for needle deployment and, optionally, with features to control tissue cutting and guide wire installation; also incorporates a specialized elongated rigid or flexible instrument shaft, which enables vacuum assisted holding of tissue at a uniquely contoured distal tip, where placement of a suture in a purse string configures occurs along with, if desired, tissue cutting and guide wire passage.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic instrument for the ergonomic effective and safe harvesting of specimen at targeted remote tissue sites includes a pistol grip style handle with a hand activated lever and a specialized elongated flexible double tube needle shaft inside of a protective sheath for use, in a preferred embodiment, within an endoscope. The length of needle shaft is adjusted using locking buttons. Moving another set of buttons sets the needle penetration depth. With a squeeze of the lever, a novel thin band drive mechanism advances the needle shaft out of its sheath, through adjacent tissue and into the targeted site. The double tube needle shaft incorporates a pointed distal tip attached to an innermost “grater” needle, which has sharp edged tissue cutting holes or “grating” features that are exposed by retracting back an overlying cover tube. Sliding back the cover tube is achieved via a cam. The sharp cutting surfaces of the grater tube communicate directly with a vacuum source attached near the handle.

Abstract: An instrument (10) is provided having a shaft (12) extending to a distal end (16). The distal end (16) has a distal tip member (40) having a cavity (42, 83), and a passageway (44, 80) extending to the cavity through which a first suture end (48A) of a loop of suture (48) extends from a tissue site to facilitate a user looping a second suture end (48B) around the first suture end (48A) between the distal tip member (40) and the tissue site to form a knot (48C). Advancing of the distal tip member (40) while drawing the first suture end (48A) through the passageway (44, 80) pushes the knot (48C) for placement at the tissue site. The distal tip member (79) of another embodiment provides an additional open-sided passageway (81) through which the second suture end (48B) is passed to assist in forming and pushing a knot at to the tissue site.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical obturator which includes a sleeve having a longitudinal bore between a proximal end and a distal end. The longitudinal bore of the sleeve is configured to receive at least a portion of an endoscope or like image transferring system. An image passing member, such as an optical window is positioned at the distal end of the sleeve and is provided to permit optical images to pass into the longitudinal bore of the sleeve and to permit illumination light to pass to the surgical site. An automatically retracting blade is positioned distal to the image passing member to facilitate penetration of body tissue.

Abstract: A system for endoscopic suturing is provided having an endoscope, such as a gastroscope, with a distal end locatable in the body of a patient and a flexible shaft extending to the distal end, a flexible accessory tube coupled to the endoscope to be movable relative to the endoscope's shaft, and a tip coupled to the shaft of the endoscope having an opening through which one end of the accessory tube is received. A tissue suturing instrument is provided having a partially flexible shaft locatable through the accessory tube, and a tissue engaging end coupled to the shaft. The tissue engaging end has a vacuum sleeve enabling suction to be selectably applied at the tissue engaging end to capture tissue through an opening in the vacuum sleeve. Two needles are provided which extend through the shaft of the suturing instrument. Each needle is separately actuated into a gap in the instrument's tip, through tissue suctioned into the opening of the vacuum sleeve and into a ferrule at each end of a loop of suture.

Abstract: An instrument and method for suturing wound closures is provided having a handle, shaft and suture engagement mechanism. The instrument provides for multiple placements or “bites” of suture in tissues to enable a wide variety of suturing techniques, including the ability to “run” a suture. The instrument further facilitates suture knot tying. The method of this instrument provides for rapid and effective remote suture placement and knot tying.

Abstract: An instrument and method for suturing wound closures is provided having a handle, shaft and suture engagement mechanism. The instrument provides for multiple placements or “bites” of suture in tissues to enable a wide variety of suturing techniques, including the ability to “run” a suture. The instrument further facilitates suture knot tying. The method of this instrument provides for rapid and effective remote suture placement and knot tying.