A device can pierce and hold tissue and then pass suture through tissue. The device can have a shuttle that can removably attach to a suture and jaws that can be rotatably opened and closed with respect to each other. A method for using the device to repeatedly pass the suture through the tissue without removing the suture or device from the target site is also disclosed.

A device can pierce and hold tissue and then pass suture through tissue. The device can have a shuttle that can removably attach to a suture and jaws that can be rotatably opened and closed with respect to each other. A method for using the device to repeatedly pass the suture through the tissue without removing the suture or device from the target site is also disclosed.

A suturing device includes a longitudinal axis member, an operation unit, a grasp portion, a suture needle, a first engaging member, a second engaging member, a first linear member connected to the first engaging member and the operation unit and configured to switch the first engaging member and the engaging portion into an engaged state or a disengaged state, and a second linear member connected to the second engaging member and the operation unit and configured to switch the second engaging member and the engaging portion into an engaged state or a disengaged state, wherein the first and the second linear member intersect a central axis of the longitudinal axis member between the grasp portion and a distal end of the longitudinal axis member and are inserted into an insertion path to be connected to the operation unit.

A loading fixture for use with an endoscopic stitching device includes a needle and a loading portion configured to receive jaws of the endoscopic stitching device. The loading portion includes a shuttle configured to detachably support the needle thereon. The shuttle is transversely slidable such that the needle supported on the shuttle engages at least one of the jaws of the endoscopic stitching device. The loading portion further includes guides to position the jaws of the endoscopic stitching device therebetween and a biasing member configured to bias the shuttle toward one of the guides.

A surgical needle includes a pair of ends, a mid-region extending between the ends, and at least one grasping feature configured for grasping by a suturing instrument. An end of a suture is secured to the mid-region of the needle in a manner such that the end of the suture defines an oblique angle with at least part of the centerline defined by the mid-region of the needle. The end of the suture may be disposed in a hollow portion of the needle. The grasping feature may include a notch such as a scallop. The suture may be pivotally coupled with the needle via a ball or pin. The needle may have one or more sharp points. The sharp point may include three converging cutting edges, at least two planar surfaces bounded by the three cutting edges, and a rounded surface bounded by two of the three cutting edges.

A suture needle driving instrument comprises a shaft and an end effector. The end effector is located at the distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of needle grasping arms. Each grasping arm extends along a respective arm axis. The grasping arms are operable to drive a suture needle along a rotational path about an axis, such as one of the arm axes, that is offset from the central longitudinal axis of the shaft. The rotational path may be perpendicular to the axis of the shaft. A needle driven by the end effector may have an arc radius that is greater than the radius of the shaft. At least one of the needle grasping arms may include a dogleg feature positioning a distal portion of the grasping arm outside the radius of the shaft. The instrument may be used through a trocar during minimally invasive surgery.

A needle and suture assembly is provided for use with an endoscopic suturing device with a needle holder arm. The needle assembly includes a needle tip and a needle body. The needle tip has a sharp end. The needle body is tubular and has first and second ends and flexible tab retainers adjacent the second end for retaining the needle body relative to the needle holder arm. The tab retainers elastically deform to allow the needle body to be released from the needle holder arm upon application of force therebetween. The needle body has a suture opening located between the first end and the retainers. A suture extends into the suture opening of the needle body and is fixed therein.

An elongate shaft assembly for use with a stitching device includes a hub assembly and an end effector. The hub assembly includes insertion and engaging portions. The insertion portion includes a main rod, a rotatable hub operatively coupled with the main rod such that axial displacement of the main rod rotates the rotatable hub, and first and second arms operatively coupled with the rotatable hub such that rotation of the rotatable hub causes reciprocating axial displacement of the first and second arms. The engaging portion is movable relative to the insertion portion between a reload position in which the rotatable hub is in a distal-most position and rotatable independent of axial displacement of the main rod, and a loaded position in which axial displacement of the main rod rotates the rotatable hub.

The invention provides a suture device, a treatment device with the suture device and a treatment system. The treatment system includes an endoscope and the treatment system. The treatment system is used in cooperation with the endoscope and includes an operating handle and the suture device. The suture device comprises a main shell, a suture needle, a needle feeding assembly and a needle anti-backoff assembly. One end of the suture needle is connected to a suture line, and the other end is a tip. The needle feeding assembly is arranged on the main shell and forms a separable engagement relationship with the suture needle so as to control advancing of the suture needle. The needle anti-backoff assembly is arranged on the main shell and forms a separable engagement relationship with the suture needle so as to prevent the withdrawal of the suture needle.

A loader is disclosed that can load a suture and/or a shuttle into a suture device. The loader can have a suture and/or a shuttle that can be moved (e.g., via a loader control) from a non-loaded configuration to a loaded configuration without damaging the suture or the shuttle. The shuttle can be moved from a shuttle first position to a shuttle second position. When the shuttle is in the shuttle first position, a suture device can be positionable in a device space on the loader. When the suture device is positioned in the device space, the shuttle can be moved from the shuttle first position to the shuttle second position. When the shuttle is in the shuttle first position, the shuttle can be outside the suture device. When the shuttle is in the shuttle second position, the shuttle can be inside the suture device.