Abstract: A device for placing sutures through thick and/or moving tissue such as the wall of a beating heart. The device includes a tissue welting tip having a trough for forming a welt in a tissue section, an alignment guide having an opening receiving a guide wire and pivotally mounted in the distal end adjacent to the trough, and an elongated sleeve slidably engagable with the guide wire. The device also includes one or more expandable tissue engaging member(s) on the sleeve expandable from a collapsed configuration having a diameter small enough to pass through the opening in the tip to an expanded configuration having a diameter large enough to engage a tissue section and urge it into the trough to form a welt in the tissue section and a retractable needle extendable through at least two portions of a tissue section while the tissue section is engaged with the trough.

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 flex 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. Tissue suturing and suture securing instruments are provided each having a sufficiently flexible shaft locatable through the accessory tube.

Abstract: A device for placing one or more sutures through a section of tissue, especially a section of thick and/or moving tissue such as the wall of a beating heart. The device includes a tissue welting tip having a trough for forming a welt in a tissue section, an alignment guide pivotally mounted in the distal end adjacent to the trough, and having an opening receiving a guide wire and an elongated sleeve slidably engagable with the guide wire there through. The device also includes one or more expandable tissue engaging member(s) on the sleeve selectively expandable from a collapsed configuration having a diameter small enough to pass through the opening in the tip to an expanded configuration having a diameter large enough to engage a tissue section and urge it into the trough to form a welt in the tissue section and a retractable needle extendable through at least two portions of a tissue section while the tissue section is engaged with the trough.

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.

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. The system further includes a tissue suturing instrument and a suture securing instrument. Each of these instruments has a distal end coupled to a partially flexible shaft locatable through the accessory tube.

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.

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 flex 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. Tissue suturing and suture securing instruments are provided each having a sufficiently flexible shaft locatable through the accessory tube.

Abstract: A tissue manipulation apparatus and method of use is provided to enable remote holding and multidirectional movement of tissue, such as the prostate gland to aid in its surgical removal during prostatectomy. The apparatus has a housing and a shaft extending from the housing which curves to a distal end. The shaft is insertable through a natural or surgical opening or channel in the body of a patient, such as the urethra of a male patient to access the patient's prostate gland. Tissue engaging members in the distal end are actuated by a longitudinal drive mechanism through the shaft from their retracted position at the distal end to extend into the tissue. The distal end is rotatable by a rotational drive mechanism extending through the shaft to the distal end. The longitudinal and rotational drive mechanisms are independently operated at the housing.

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: A tagging device for marking the location of lesions within the body prior to a surgical procedure such as excision or biopsy. The device includes an elongated tube having one end supported on a housing and a second end extending distally therefrom. An anchor is positioned within the distal end of the elongated tube and has an elongated member extending proximally therefrom. An actuation assembly including a plunger is movable within the tube to engage and push the anchor from the distal end of the tube. The anchor and the actuation assembly are positioned and configured such that the anchor is pivoted from a position parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube to a position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube as it as being pushed from the tube.

Abstract: A trocar wound closure device includes an elongated body having a distal end for insertion through a trocar puncture wound, a proximal end, and a first and second retractable needle holders disposed at the distal end of the body. The needle holders are movable between a retracted position and an extended position. An actuator disposed at the proximal end of the body moves the needle holders from the retracted position to the extended position, so that the needle holders can be retracted to allow the device to be inserted through a trocar wound preferably through a cannula inserted into the wound, and extended to position the needles adjacent the wound, to allow the wound to be sutured.

Abstract: An obturator assembly for penetrating body tissue, includes a handle assembly having a finger-actuated trigger member, a sleeve member connected to and extending from the handle assembly, an obturator shaft at least partially positioned within the sleeve member and engageable with the finger-actuated trigger member of the handle assembly and a cutting mechanism supported by the distal end portion of the obturator shaft. The cutting mechanism is deployable for cutting action upon movement of the trigger member. A method of using the obturator assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided for the morcellation of bodily tissue or bodily organ parts during an endoscopic surgical procedure. The instrument includes a handle assembly and a tubular body portion extending from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis. A tool assembly is associated with a distal end of the tubular body including cooperating jaw members and a cutting member. A first mechanism is for effectuating remote actuation of the cooperating jaw members and a second mechanism is for effectuating remote reciprocal movement of the cutting member with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus, method of use and instrumentation kit are provided for suturing body tissue. The apparatus includes a handle assembly and an elongated body assembly detachably engaged to the handle assembly. The elongated body assembly includes an actuating mechanism for sequentially pulling the first and second ferrule portions of a length of suture material through body tissue. The length of suture material and the first and second ferrule portions are releasably retained in the elongated body assembly. The instrumentation kit includes the surgical apparatus and at least one additional elongated body assembly in an enclosure.