Expandable needle suture apparatus and associated handle assembly with rotational suture manipulation system

Abstract

A surgical suturing device () having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end is operable to move a suture () through body tissue (). A handle assembly () is coupled to an elongated shaft () having a hollow configuration. An actuating rod () is disposed to extend between the handle assembly () and the shaft (). A thumb actuation assembly is coupled to a proximal end of the actuating rod () for moving the rod both axially and rotationally. A needle assembly () at the distal end of the actuating rod () is movable with the actuating rod () between an extended state and a retracted state and at various angular orientations. Bifurcated portions () of the needle assembly () define a suture slot (), the bifurcated portions having a proximate relationship when the needle assembly () is in the retracted state and having a separated relationship when the needle assembly () is in the extended state. The needle assembly () is biased to the retracted state and the bifurcated portions () are biased to the separated relationship. A handle assembly () is operable to move the needle assembly () between a free suture state and a captured suture state. In an associated method of use, the needle is bifurcated to form at least one pair of arms (or) to define a suture slot ().