System, apparatus, and method for suturing
Inventors
AMANOV, Ernar • ROPELLA, Dominick • NIMMAGADDA, Naren • KAVOUSSI, Nicholas • Dillon, Neal • Hendrick, Richard • HERRELL, Stanley • Webster, Robert
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12544060-B2
Publication Date
2026-02-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
A surgical system, method, and apparatus for suturing a first anatomical structure to a second anatomical structure of a subject includes an endoscope tube for being advanced through a lumen of the first anatomical structure to a surgical site near the second anatomical structure. A manipulator arm extends through the endoscope tube to the surgical site, and includes a first concentric tube manipulator with an end effector configured to grasp and manipulate a suture at the surgical site. A needle arm extends through the endoscope tube to the surgical site, and includes a second concentric tube manipulator with a needle tip configured to pierce the tissue of the first and second anatomical structures. The needle arm is also configured to grasp the suture and to retract and pull the suture through the pierced tissue so that the suture extends through and forms stitching that stitches together the first and second anatomical structures.
Core Innovation
A surgical system for suturing a first anatomical structure to a second anatomical structure is disclosed. An endoscope tube is configured to be advanced through a lumen of the first anatomical structure to a surgical site near the second anatomical structure, and a manipulator arm extends through the endoscope tube to the surgical site with a first concentric tube manipulator and an end effector configured to grasp and manipulate a suture at the surgical site.
A needle arm extends through the endoscope tube and includes a second concentric tube manipulator with a needle tip configured to pierce tissue of the first and second anatomical structures. The needle arm is also configured to grasp the suture and to retract and pull the suture through the pierced tissue so that the suture extends through and forms stitching that stitches together the first and second anatomical structures.
The disclosure further describes multiple needle tip and end effector embodiments for manipulating the suture at the surgical site, including lasso or snare configurations, aligned openings sidewall snare, a chamfered block that is actuatable to extend from and retract into a notch, and other end effector forms such as grasping jaws, tweezers, and a flap grasper. The system is also described with concentric-tube dexterity using rotational and translation telescoping and super-elastic nitinol.
Endoscopic components and visualization support are further described, including guide-tube/endoscope configurations with straight, curved, and helical routing and an adapter supporting multiple channels. Depth or axial extension indicia are described, along with endoscope customization for improved visualization using telescoping optics via a linear actuator and a deformable sleeve together with an articulated optics structure.
Claims Coverage
The disclosure includes two independent claim concepts centered on a suturing system with concentric tube manipulators. The core inventive features are the endoscope tube with a manipulator arm that grasps and manipulates a suture, and a needle arm that pierces tissue, grasps the suture, retracts, and pulls the suture through pierced tissue to form stitching, together with dependent refinements for specific needle-tip and guide-tube structures.
Endoscope tube advanced to a surgical site near a second anatomical structure with concentric-tube manipulator grasping the suture
An endoscope tube configured to be advanced through a lumen of the first anatomical structure to a surgical site near the second anatomical structure, and a manipulator arm extending through the endoscope tube that comprises a first concentric tube manipulator including an end effector configured to grasp and manipulate a suture at the surgical site.
Concentric-tube needle arm that pierces tissue of both anatomical structures and retracts to pull the suture through pierced tissue to form stitching
A needle arm that extends through the endoscope tube to the surgical site, the needle arm comprising a second concentric tube manipulator including a needle tip configured to pierce the tissue of the first and second anatomical structures, wherein the needle arm is also configured to grasp the suture and to retract and pull the suture through the pierced tissue so that the suture extends through and forms stitching that stitches together the first and second anatomical structures.
Snare with aligned openings at the needle tip for grasping the suture
A needle arm in which the needle tip includes a hollow tube with a sidewall having aligned openings, the aligned openings forming a snare configured to grasp a suture.
Actuatable chamfered block and notch at the needle tip for retaining an item
A needle arm having a chamfered block that is actuatable to extend from and retract into a notch at the needle tip, including a retracted position and an extended position to close/open the notch and retractably clamp to retain an item.
Guide tubes with helical internal routing that allow rotation without changing distal-end position at the endoscope tube tip
A surgical system including first and second guide tubes, with portions inside an endoscope tube following a helical path to allow rotation of the guide tubes without changing positions of their respective distal ends at the endoscope tube tip.
Urethra-to-bladder ostium stitching connection
The first anatomical structure is a urethra and the second anatomical structure is a bladder, with stitching configured to connect a lumen of the urethra to an ostium of the bladder.
Endoscopic suture delivery device with a lumened tube that retains a suture by securing an anchor end
An endoscopic suture delivery device including a lumened tube configured to receive and retain a suture by securing an anchor end in a delivery device lumen during delivery to the surgical site.
The claims focus on a suturing system that advances an endoscope tube to a surgical site, uses a first concentric tube manipulator to grasp and manipulate the suture, and uses a second concentric tube manipulator with a needle tip to pierce both anatomical structures, grasp the suture, retract, and pull the suture through pierced tissue to form stitching. Dependent refinements describe specific suture-grasping needle tip structures, an actuated notch mechanism, helical internal routing of guide tubes to enable rotation without distal-end translation, urethra-to-bladder ostium stitching targets, and an endoscopic suture delivery device that retains a suture by securing an anchor end in a delivery device lumen.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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