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A suture needle has a unique structure for reducing impalement
resistance. The suture needle is formed with a base end portion
formed at an end of the suture needle for engaging a suture thread,
a tip portion formed at another end of the suture needle for impaling
a tissue, and a tapered portion extending to the tip portion. The
tapered portion has a cross-section without a cutting edge and a
plurality of roughened regions formed in stripes extending in a
substantially axial direction of the tapered portion. The roughened
regions are provided solely on the tapered portion of the suture
needle. The surface roughness of the roughened regions on the suture
needle is about 2 .mu.m-15 .mu.m.
In a device for inserting a surgical suture needle into an endoscopic
suture apparatus wherein the device includes two legs which are
movable relative to each other, one of the legs has a front end
with means for receiving a jaw of an endoscopic suturing apparatus
and the other leg has needle engagement means for holding a surgical
needle in a predetermined position such that one needle tip enters
a needle support of the surgical suturing apparatus jaw when the
other leg holding the needle is moved toward the one leg while the
one leg is disposed on the surgical suturing apparatus jaw.
A suture needle holder includes a hollow holder portion which is
preferably molded from a clear plastic, and a base portion coupled
to a lower portion of the holder portion. A lower side of the base
portion is provided with an adhesive. The holder portion is provided
with at least one needle park which can be integrally molded with
the holder portion. The holder portion also includes an opening
through which used suture needles can be disposed into the hollow
holder portion. The surgeon is able to see into the clear holder
portion and make an accurate count of how many suture needles have
been used. The adhesive on the base member enables the holder to
be positioned on the surgical drape and prevents unintentional movement
of the holder, and further facilitates single-handed use of the
holder. In a preferred embodiment, the hollow holder portion is
shaped like a hexagonal frustum and includes a needle park on each
of its six sloped faces. Each needle park is formed by two inwardly
angled walls, the walls able to frictionally engage the shaft of
a suture needle. The holder portion is provided with a raised portion
around which suture material may be thread to assist a physician
in tying off suture. The opening is provided on the raised portion
and includes a tapered entryway which prevents disposed needles
from exiting the opening.
A laparo-suture needle and method for use thereof. A medical suturing
instrument employs an outer, hollow shaft having a laterally-disposed,
elongate handle at a proximal end and an elongate, inner shaft disposed
within the outer shaft. The inner shaft has a cutting edge at the
distal end and extends out of the outer shaft at the proximal end,
terminating in a spring-loaded push button. A lateral notch is formed
in the inner shaft proximal of the cutting edge. The spring forces
the inner shaft rearwardly so as to pull the notch within the outer
shaft. By gripping the handle and placing pressure on the push button,
the inner shaft is moved forward so as to expose the notch. A suture
may then be placed in the notch so that the instrument grips the
suture between the outer shaft and the inner shaft when the push
button is released. The instrument is used for suturing muscle at
an incision by gripping the end of a suture, forcing the distal
end of the instrument beneath the epidermis within an incision,
into the fatty tissue and through the muscle adjacent one side of
the incision to force the suture through the muscle.
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