US 11,666,325 B2
Automated sewing and thread management
Wei Nee Koh, Singapore (SG); Ping-Yang Shih, Santa Ana, CA (US); Marius Tomas Petrulis, Long Beach, CA (US); and Sam Nicolas Sarian, Glendale, CA (US)
Assigned to EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed by Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 24, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/938,814.
Application 16/938,814 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2020/036752, filed on Jun. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0378663 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 17/04 (2006.01); A61F 2/24 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0491 (2013.01) [A61B 17/0482 (2013.01); A61F 2/2409 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0075 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated suturing system comprising:
a first automated fixture comprising a plurality of actuator devices and a holder, the first automated fixture being configured to adjust an orientation of a target device when mounted to the holder;
a second automated fixture comprising a first needle gripper and a second needle gripper that are configured to pass a needle back and forth through a surface of the target device to form stitches with a thread coupled to the needle, the first needle gripper configured to trace a needle path; and
a thread management system comprising a thread movement device having a support pin and configured to move the thread orthogonal to the needle path, the needle path being horizontal, and a tensioning device having a tensioning pin that is configured to push on the thread vertically to apply a tension to the thread to form a stitch in the target device, the thread configured to contact the support pin while the tensioning pin applies tension to the thread, the tensioning device configured to apply a first tension to the thread to secure the thread out of the needle path in conjunction with the thread movement device and to apply a second tension to pull the thread taut to form the stitch.