WOUND CLOSURE DEVICE

Abstract

A wound closure device for closing a surgical wound in a tissue, wherein the wound closure device includes a first jaw, a second jaw and a handle. The first jaw is arranged for receiving a first cartridge including a plurality of slots for holding wound closers and wherein the second jaw is provided with a plurality of tracks. The plurality of tracks guide a respective one of the male ends and a respective one of the female ends towards each other and to an interlocked state where the respective one of the male ends and the respective one of the female ends are interlocked with each other.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A wound closure device for closing a surgical wound in a tissue, wherein the wound closure device comprises a first jaw, a second jaw and a handle; wherein the first jaw is arranged for receiving a first cartridge, and wherein the first jaw is provided with the first cartridge, wherein the first cartridge comprises a plurality of slots holding wound closers, the slots being distributed along a longitudinal extension of the first cartridge, and wherein each of the plurality of wound closers comprise a male and female end; wherein the second jaw is provided with a plurality of tracks: wherein the tracks are curved and/or linear and wherein the tracks crosses each other; wherein the first and second jaws are adapted to be arranged on a respective side of the tissue; wherein the wound closure device further comprises power transfer means operatively coupled to the one actuation of the handle for transferring power to the first cartridge; wherein the first cartridge further comprises: connection means for connecting the cartridge to the would closure device power receiving means configured to receive power from the power transfer means of the wound closure device; and actuation means operatively coupled to the power receiving means and configured to force the male ends and the female ends to exit the first cartridge and to penetrate the tissue on a respective side of the surgical wound wherein upon one actuation of the handle the first jaw via the actuation means forces the male ends and the female ends to exit the first cartridge, to penetrate the tissue on a respective side of the surgical wound and to enter a respective one of the plurality of tracks, wherein the plurality of tracks are arranged to receive the male and female ends and to guide a respective one of the male ends and a respective one of the female ends of the same wound closure towards each other, and to an interlocked state where the respective one of the male ends and the respective one of the female ends of the same wound closure are interlocked with each other.

18. The wound closure device according to claim 17, wherein the tracks are formed in the second jaw.

19. The wound closure device according to claim 17, wherein the second jaw is provided with a second cartridge, and wherein the tracks are formed in the second cartridge.

20. The wound closure device according to claim 17, wherein the handle comprises two handle portions wherein at least one of the handle portions is an actuating portion.

21. The wound closure device according to claim 17 wherein the c-c distance between two adjacent slots is 1-10 mm along the longitudinal extension of the first jaw.

22. The wound closure device according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of wound closers are adjustable, partly flexible, self-locking, and/or self-penetrating.

23. The wound closure device according to claim 17, wherein the male end of each wound closer comprises one or several protrusions and the female end of each wound closer comprises an opening configured for receiving the male end and wherein the protrusions of the male end are configured to prevent the male end from sliding out of the female end when in the interlocked state.

24. The wound closure device according to claim 17, wherein the tracks are configured to guide the male and female end such that the male end enters through the opening of the female end where the tracks cross each other.

25. The wound closure device according to claim 17, wherein the first and/or the second jaw further comprises at least one fastening pin for partially or fully penetrating the tissue wherein the height of the at least one fastening pin is 1-15 mm.

26. The wound closure device according to claim 17, wherein the length of the first and/or the second jaw is 20-160 mm.

27. The wound closure device according to claim 17, wherein the length of the first and/or the second jaw is 40-140 mm.

28. The wound closure device according to claim 17, wherein the length of the first and/or the second jaw is 50-130 mm.

29. The wound closure device according to claim 17, wherein the distance between a male end and a female end of the same wound closer when mounted in the first cartridge is 3-35 mm.

30. The wound closure device according to claim 17, wherein the distance between a male end and a female end of the same wound closer when mounted in the first cartridge is 3-25 mm.

31. The wound closure device according to claim 17, wherein the distance between a male end and a female end of the same wound closer when mounted in the first cartridge is 5-20 mm.

32. The wound closure device according to claim 17, wherein the length of the first and/or the second jaw is 20-160 mm and the distance between a male end and a female end of the same wound closer when mounted in the first cartridge is 3-35 mm.

33. A cartridge for use with a wound closure device for closing a surgical wound in a tissue according to claim 17, wherein the cartridge comprises: connection means for connecting the cartridge to a wound closure device, power receiving means configured to receive power from the power transfer means of the wound closure device, a plurality of slots holding wound closers, the slots being distributed along a longitudinal extension of the first cartridge, and wherein each of the plurality of wound closers comprise a male and female end, and actuation means operatively coupled to the power receiving means and configured to force the male ends and the female ends to exit the first cartridge and to penetrate the tissue on a respective side of the surgical wound.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0135] The above objects, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0136] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a wound closure device in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention;

[0137] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a wound closure device in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention;

[0138] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the wound closure device of FIG. 1 when in use in accordance to at least one embodiment of the invention;

[0139] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the wound closure device of FIG. 1 when in use in accordance to at least one embodiment of the invention;

[0140] FIG. 5 shows a wound closure device when in use in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention;

[0141] FIG. 6 shows the wound closers being tightened in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention;

[0142] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the wound closure device of at least one embodiment of the invention;

[0143] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the wound closure device of at least one embodiment of the invention;

[0144] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the wound closure device according, to at least one embodiment of the invention;

[0145] FIG. 10 shows a top, a side and a front view of a cartridge for use with a wound closure device according to at least one embodiment of the invention;

[0146] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the second jaw of the wound closure device of at least one embodiment of the invention;

[0147] FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of the wound closure device of at least one embodiment of the invention;

[0148] FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the wound closure device of at least one embodiment of the invention;

[0149] FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the wound closure device of at least one embodiment of the invention;

[0150] FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the wound closure device according to at least one embodiment of the invention;

[0151] FIG. 16 shows a top, a side and a front view of a cartridge for use with a wound closure device according to at least one embodiment of the invention;

[0152] FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of the second jaw of the wound closure device of at least one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0153] In the present detailed description, embodiments of the present invention will be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures. It should be noted that this by no means limits the scope of the invention, which is also applicable in other circumstances for instance with other types or variants of wound closure devices encompassed by the scope of the claims, than the embodiments shown in the appended drawings. Further, that specific features are mentioned in connection to an embodiment of the invention does not mean that those features cannot be used to an advantage together with other embodiments of the invention.

[0154] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the wound closure device 1. The wound closure device 1 comprises a first jaw 2, a second jaw 4 and a handle 6. The handle 6 comprises a first handle portion 6a and a second handle portion 6b which comprises cooperating fastening means 60. The first jaw 2 comprises an arched leading edge portion 24.

[0155] The first jaw 2 is arranged for receiving a first cartridge 12 (not visible in FIG. 1) comprising a plurality of slots 14 for holding wound closers 8 along a longitudinal extension of said first jaw 2. The first 2 and second jaws 4 are adapted to be arranged on a respective side of the tissue, e.g. the muscle fascia.

[0156] In FIG. 1 the first handle portion 6a is connected to the first jaw 2 and the second handle portion 6b is connected to the second jaw 4. The first and the second handle portions 6a, b is here disconnected, but may be connected to each other using the cooperating fastening means 60. The first and the second handle portion 6a, b may be connected such that the first and the second jaw is provided at a certain distance from each other and on a respective side of the tissue, e.g. the muscle fascia. The second handle portion 6b is here the actuation portion. Pushing the second handle portion 6b towards the first handle portion 6a is the single actuation upon which the wound closers 8 penetrates the tissue optionally including that the second handle portion is returned to the starting position for example by being biased e.g. by means of spring action, i.e. a spring is compressed when the handle is moved from the starting position to the end position, which spring forces the handle back to the starting position.

[0157] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a wound closure device 201. As the wound closure device 201 of FIG. 2 comprises the same features as the wound closure device 1 of FIG. 1 (e.g. the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1, with the addition of the value 200 is used for corresponding features in FIG. 2), focus on the description related to FIG. 2 will be on the differences compared to the wound closure device 1 of FIG. 1.

[0158] In FIG. 2 both the first and the second handle portions 206a, b is connected to the first jaw 202. Hence, there is no handle portion connected to the second jaw 204. The first and the second jaw may for example be connected together by the use of cooperating fastening means (not visible in FIG. 2) which may be provided along the first and the second jaws.

[0159] FIG. 3. shows a cross-sectional view of the wound closure device 1 in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3 the first cartridge 12 comprising a plurality of slots 14 for holding wound closers 8 is shown. The wound closers 8 comprises a male end 8a and a female end 8b. In FIG. 3 the wound closer 8 is a doubled armed suture. Hence, both the male end 8a and the female end 8b comprises a respective needle. Moreover, in FIG. 3 it is shown that the first jaw 2 further comprises several locking pins 18a of cooperating fastening means and one or several combs, which comprise a plurality of teeth 16a, b which are arranged to push a respective one of the male 8a and female ends 8b upon activation of the handle 6. In FIG. 3, the teeth are curved teeth. The second jaw is provided with a second cartridge 25 in which a plurality of tracks 10 (in FIG. 3, two of these tracks are shown) are formed, alongside receiving openings 18b of cooperating fastening means 18b and fastening pins 20.

[0160] The first jaw 2 and second jaw 4 are adapted to be arranged on a respective side of the tissue 100, e.g. the muscle fascia. The fastening pins, and/or the locking pins 18a is arranged to position the tissue 100 in between the first and the second jaw 2, 4 such that the edges of the surgical wound 102 is positioned in close proximity to each other. This is to secure that the male end 8a and the female end 8b penetrates the tissue at a predetermined or desired point.

[0161] When in use, upon one actuation of said handle 6 said first jaw 2 forces said male ends 8a and said female ends 8b to exit said first jaw 2, to penetrate said tissue 100 on a respective side of said surgical wound 102 and to enter a respective one of said plurality of tracks 10 in said second jaw 4, wherein said plurality of tracks 10 in said second jaw 4 are arranged to receive said male 8a and female ends 8b and to guide a respective one of said male ends 8a and a respective one of said female ends 8b towards each other and to an interlocked state where said respective one of said male ends 8a and said respective one of said female ends 8b are interlocked with each other.

[0162] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a wound closure device 40L As the wound closure device 401 of FIG. 4 comprises the same features as the wound closure device 1 of FIGS. 1 and 3 (e.g. the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1, with the addition of the value 400 is used for corresponding features in FIG. 4), focus on the description related to FIG. 4 will be on the differences compared to the wound closure device 1 of FIGS. 1 and 3.

[0163] The first jaw 402 of the wound closure device 401 is provided with a first cartridge 426 that comprises one or several combs comprising straight teeth 416a, b arranged to push a respective one of the female 408b and male ends 408a upon activation of the handle 406. The straight teeth 416b may push the female end 408b in a straight path through the tissue and into the second cartridge 427. The needles enter a respective track 410 in the rod 422 when it is in its first state 422a. The rod 422 subsequently rotates both around the axis 424 and around its own axis into a second state 422b. By this rotation, the female ends 408b is aligned over the male end 408a. The straight teeth 416a subsequently pushes the male ends 408a through the tissue and a through a respective opening of the female end 408b and thus into an interlocked state.

[0164] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a wound closure device 501. The wound closure device 501 comprises a first jaw 502, a second jaw 504 and a handle (not visible in FIG. 5). The first jaw 502 is provided with a first cartridge 512 comprising a plurality of slots 514 for holding wound closers 508 along a longitudinal extension of said first jaw 502. The wound closers 508 comprises a male end 508a and a female end 508b. In FIG. 5, the wound closers 508 is single-armed sutures. Hence, only the male end 508a comprises a needle which is pushed through the tissue upon actuation of the handle. The second jaw 504 is provided with a second cartridge 528 that comprises a plurality of tracks 510. The first 502 and second jaws 504 are adapted to be arranged on a respective side of the tissue 500, e.g. the muscle fascia. The first jaw 502 is further arranged to receive said male ends 508a after it has passed said tissue 510 and to guide said male ends 508a to a respective one of said female ends 508b and into an interlocked state where said one of said male ends 508a and one of said female ends 508b are interlocked with each other. The plurality of tracks 510 in said second cartridge 528 are arranged to receive said male ends 508a and to guide said male end 508a to the tissue 500 on said opposite side of said surgical wound.

[0165] When in use, upon one actuation of the handle said first jaw 502 forces the male ends 508a to exit said first jaw 502, to penetrate said tissue 500 on one side of said surgical wound, to enter a respective one of said plurality 510 of tracks 510 in said second jaw 504, to exit said second jaw 504, to penetrate the tissue 500 on the opposite side of said surgical wound and to enter said first jaw 502.

[0166] FIG. 6 shows how the second jaw 204 of wound closure device 201 is used to simultaneously tighten the wound closers 208. The wound closers are tightened by moving the second jaw 204 away from the tissue 602 by hand 604. After tightening the wound closures 208, the second jaw 204 is released from the wound closures 208 by the use of a cutting device such as pair of scissors 606. The cutting device could also be integrated in the second jaw.

[0167] FIGS. 7-11 show the wound closure device according to at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. To prepare the instrument for activation, the first jaw 702 and second jaw 704 are loaded with their respective cartridges; the first jaw with its first cartridge 712 (as can be seen in FIG. 9) and the second jaw 704 with its second cartridge 725, displayed in FIG. 11. Both cartridges 712, 725 are loaded by the same principle shown in FIG. 9, i.e. by moving the cartridges towards the guiding tracks for the cartridge, with the second jaw 704 having substantially identical guiding tracks as the first jaw 702. The cartridges are then held in place by e.g. fastening means 1039 mounted on the cartridges (seen in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10) that connects the cartridges to the respective jaws. To remove the cartridges, these fasteners 1039 are loosened by e.g. releasing a latch on the instrument.

[0168] Upon activation of the instrument, a power or an input momentum from the tool will turn the rotational shaft 838 (seen in FIG. 10) which in turn, through its connection to the disk 735a, will turn 735a as well. The input momentum spins the disk 735a around its centre axis, which will rotate its connected disk 735b accordingly. When said momentum is rotating 735a and 735b, be it clockwise or counter-clockwise, the disks 735a and 735b consequentially moves the transfer shaft 736 that is connected between the disks 735a and 735b. The transfer shaft 736 then transfers said rotational motion to a connection joint 732 that connects the needle support arms 716a and 716b, the transfer shaft 736 and the guiding pin 730, while allowing for a rotational motion around the centre axis of said connection. Consequentially, the rotational motion transferred by the transfer shaft 736 moves the connection joint towards or away from the tissue 100, in a direction perpendicular to said tissue. Because the guiding pin 730 that is connected to the connection joint 732 strictly moves in the guiding tracks 731, the guiding pin 730, and the connection joint 732 and all joints connected follow the same movement consequentially. The motion of said connection joint 732 and said guiding pin 730 in said guiding tacks 731 will move the needle support arms 716a and 716b when said needle support arms 716a and 716b is in contact with the four countering pins 734, two on each of the guiding tracks 731, with one mounted on each side of the needle support arms 716a and 716b in the travelling direction of the connection joint 732. The countering pins 734 will move the needle support arms 716a and 716b, and consequentially also the male 708a and female end 708b needles, towards or away from the tissue 100 depending on the direction of the motion of the connection joint. This is possible due to the guiding pin 730 and the transfer shaft 736 not being hindered by the countering pins 734 which lets the guiding pin 730 and the transfer shaft 736 continue its motion as per the guiding tracks 731. When the connection joint 732 is moving away from the tissue 100, the needle support arms 16a and 16b will be pushed against the set of countering pins 734 farthest away from the tissue 100 on the guiding tracks 731, forcing the needle support arms 716a and 716b and consequentially the male 708a and female 708b end needles towards the tissue 100. This said motion forces the male 708a and female 708b end needles to penetrate the tissue 100 through an opening in the first cartridge 712 and enter the opening in the second cartridge allowing for the needle support arms 716a and 716b along with the male 708a and female 708b end needles to move towards the arch-formed tracks 710. Due to a difference in needle length between the male 708a and female 708b end needles, with the female end 708b being longer, the female end needle 708b will enter the arch-formed tracks 710 first, followed by the male end needle 708a. This sequential movement of the male 708a and female 708b end needles will allow the male end 708a to enter the opening 737 in the suturing thread 708, allowing for the thread 708 to create a connected loop through the tissue 100. The needles will reach the end of the arch-formed tracks 710 and the needle locks 729b will interlock with the needle notches 729a.

[0169] This interlocking is implemented to allow the male 708a and female 708b needle ends to eject from the needle support arms 716a and 716b by the continuous momentum of the disks 735a and 735b and consequentially the movement retracting the needle support arms 16a and 16b once the connecting point of the transfer shaft 736 to the disks 735a and 735b, as well as the disks 735a and 735b themselves have completed half a rotation from their original position. As the needle support arms 716a and 716b retract by said continuous momentum, the support arms 716a and 716b will retract through the tissue and reach their starting position in the first cartridge 712 whilst the suture 708 will stay connected to the male 708a and female 708b end needles in the second cartridge 725 when the disks 735a and 735b as well as the connecting point of the transfer shaft 736 connected to said disks have completed one whole rotation.

[0170] To repeat this process for a plurality of suturing mechanisms, the disk 735b of a first suturing mechanism can be connected to the disk 735a of a following suture mechanism, longitudinally across the first cartridge 712 and the first jaw 702. The disk 735b of said first suturing mechanism and the disk 735a of said following suture mechanism can be connected so that the transfer shafts 736 of the two mechanisms are in the same starting position on the disks 735a and 735b of the two suture mechanisms, allowing for the two mechanisms to produce sutures simultaneously, or at by placing the disk 735b of the first suturing mechanism at an angle in relation to the disk 735a, resulting in different starting positions of the transfer shafts 736 between the two suturing mechanisms, allowing for the two mechanisms to produce sutures sequentially. This can be repeated once again to produce a plurality of sutures through one full rotation of the first disk 735a of the suturing mechanism rotated by the input momentum from the rotational shaft 838 the centre axis of the disk 735a produced by the instrument. The result of the connected mechanisms along the length of the cartridge 712 can be seen in FIG. 10.

[0171] To tighten the sutures, the second cartridge 725 is moved (with or without the second jaw 704) perpendicularly away from the tissue 100 as per FIG. 6. In this movement, the loop created in the suture 708 will be tightened and remain tight due to the suture protuberances 840 the thread opening 737 only allowing movement one direction, therefore only allowing tightening of the suture 708. The suture 708 can then be cut off, separating them from the needles and consequentially the second cartridge as per FIG. 6.

[0172] FIGS. 12-17 show the wound closure device according to at least one example embodiment. To prepare for activation, the instrument is loaded by connecting the cartridge 1212 to the first jaw 1202 as can be seen in FIG. 15. The cartridge 1212 is guided in place by its connecting rails that are guided in the first jaw 1202 through the cut-outs as can be seen in the FIG. 15. The second jaw 1204 does not contain a separate cartridge, as the jaw itself has the guiding tracks 1210, as can be seen in FIG. 17.

[0173] To activate the tools once the first jaw 1202 and the second jaw 1204 is connected and the tissue 100 is in place, the rail button 1550b connected to the push rail 1348b is moved longitudinally away from its starting position, towards the cartridge 1212 that, at this stage, is placed and connected to in the first jaw 1202, as is represented by the dashed line in FIG. 15. The rail button 1550b is allowed this movement by the side openings 1549 in the first jaw 1202. Upon activation and forcing the rail button 1550b and consequentially the push rail 1348b towards and into the cartridge 1212, the process of wound closure begins.

[0174] The view of the internal mechanisms of cartridge 1212 can be seen in FIG. 12. FIG. 12 shows the mechanisms before the push rail 1348b is forced into the cartridge 1212. When the push rail 1348b is forced into the said cartridge (through the opening 1651b as seen in FIG. 16), the pointed tip of the push rail 1348b and the matching shape of the mounting frame 1245 seen in FIG. 12 is forced to upwards, away from its starting position, against the top of the cartridge along the frame guide path 1247. This said movement in turn forces the mounting pin 1244 connected to said mounting frame and consequentially also the female end of the self-interlocking fastening element 1242b towards the top of the cartridge and towards the tissue 100. The mounting pin 1244 is connected to the female end of the self-interlocking fastening element 1242b by a pocket in said end of the self-interlocking mechanism, allowing the mounting pin to provide support while being able to be removed from the female end of the self-interlocking fastening element 1242b when the push rail is retracted to its starting position. Said self-interlocking fastening element then penetrates the tissue 100 with its female end 1242b and is forced into its locking track 1210, as can be seen in FIG. 13, once the pointed end of push rail 1348b has pushed the mounting frame 1245 to sit the top of the push rail 1348b. The female end of the self-interlocking fastening element 1242b is kept in place in its locking track 1210 by the protruding locking mechanisms 1229b and the notches 1229a in the tip of the female end of said self-interlocking fastening element 1242b.

[0175] To connect the male 1242a and female 1242b ends of the self-interlocking fastening element, the second rail button 1550a is forced towards the cartridge 1212, the same way the rail button 15501) is moved. This repeats the process of forcing the push rail 1448a towards and into the cartridge through the opening 1651a, forcing the mounting frame 1245 towards the top of the cartridge, in turn forcing the mounting pin 1244 and the male end of the self-interlocking fastening element 1242a towards and through the tissue, and finally through the tension-adjusting opening 1243b in the female end of the self-interlocking fastening element, into its locking track 1210. Similarly, to the female end of the self-interlocking fastening element, the male end of said self-interlocking fastening element is kept in place by the locking mechanisms 1229b in its locking track 1210.

[0176] Once the push rails 1348b and 1448a are forced to the far end of the guiding paths 1549 (FIG. 15) and all the fastening elements are interlocked all through the length of the cartridge 1212, the push buttons 1550a and 1550b and consequentially the push rails 1448b and 1348a can be retracted to their starting positions. This retracts the mounting frames 1245 and consequentially the connected mounting pins 1244 down to their starting position in the cartridge 1212 as seen in FIG. 12.

[0177] To finish the process, the handle 1504a can be pushed down which moves a cutting blade 1246 connected to the handle and that runs all through the length of the second jaw, that cuts the tip of the female end of the self-interlocking fastening element 1242b, loosening the remaining of the female end that is still connected to the male end of the self-interlocking fastening element 1242a through the opening 1243b. Once the handle 1504a of the second jaw 1204 have been pushed, the second jaw 1204 can be removed from its connection with the first jaw 1202. By moving the second jaw 1204 away from the tissue, in the direction normal to the surface of the tissue, the self-interlocked fastening elements can be tightened in the same fashion displayed in FIG. 6.

[0178] The skilled person realizes that a number of modifications of the embodiments described herein are possible without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims. For instance, the wound closure device may be used with other types of wound closers than what is described above.