US 11,986,179 B2
Devices and methods for minimally invasive suturing
Gerald I. Brecher, North Andover, MA (US); John C. Meade, Mendon, MA (US); John Aho, Lunenburg, MA (US); Roger Baske, Old Mill Creek, IL (US); James H. Bleck, Chelmsford, MA (US); John F Carlson, Lake Elmo, MN (US); Thomas Eagan, Chelmsford, MA (US); Michael J. Helander, Somerset, WI (US); James W. Murray, Clear Lake, WI (US); Ashley Perkins, Lowell, MA (US); Wayne A. Shakal, Taylor Falls, MN (US); and Jonathan Towle, Amherst, NH (US)
Assigned to Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed by INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 22, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/100,922.
Application 17/100,922 is a continuation of application No. 16/236,966, filed on Dec. 31, 2018, granted, now 10,881,392.
Application 16/236,966 is a continuation of application No. 15/942,509, filed on Mar. 31, 2018, granted, now 10,792,031, issued on Oct. 6, 2020.
Application 15/942,509 is a continuation of application No. 15/610,277, filed on May 31, 2017, granted, now 9,962,151, issued on May 8, 2018.
Application 15/610,277 is a continuation of application No. 15/377,562, filed on Dec. 13, 2016, granted, now 9,675,339, issued on Jun. 13, 2017.
Application 15/377,562 is a continuation of application No. 13/204,820, filed on Aug. 8, 2011, granted, now 9,775,600, issued on Oct. 3, 2017.
Application 13/204,820 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/909,606, filed on Oct. 21, 2010, granted, now 7,993,354, issued on Aug. 9, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/388,648, filed on Oct. 1, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2021/0161522 A1, Jun. 3, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 17/04 (2006.01); A61B 17/06 (2006.01); A61B 17/062 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0469 (2013.01) [A61B 17/0482 (2013.01); A61B 17/0491 (2013.01); A61B 17/06066 (2013.01); A61B 17/0625 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00407 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0472 (2013.01); A61B 2017/06028 (2013.01); A61B 17/2909 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2927 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A suturing device comprising:
a housing comprising an arcuate needle track, the arcuate needle track being configured to receive an arcuate needle therein, wherein the arcuate needle has a center axis and defines at least one notch therein; and
a filament having a pawl operably coupled thereto, wherein the pawl is biased into a pathway that is traversed by the arcuate needle, wherein the filament traverses a pathway from a proximal end of the housing toward a distal end of the housing and around at least one boss located at a distal end region of the housing to route the filament in a direction that is at least partially proximal to couple to the pawl, and wherein the at least one notch defined in the needle and the pawl engage when the filament translates along a first rotational direction about the center axis along an arcuate path.