Future trends in endoscopic suturing.

This paper deals with future as pects a nd developments in en­ doscopic sutures, needles, needle drivers, and sewing devices. Shape memory alloys such as superelasti c nickel-titanium can be used for surgical needles and hingcJess needle drive rs. A sewing device consists or a T-Need le which can be shuttled between the j aws of specially designcd instruments. The jaws possess small elements th at grip the needle tips. The " Needle Rotor" facilitates intracorporeal swivellin g and positio nin g of the needle because one jaw can be moved longilUdinaJly ove r the other. A new "cutting knot pusher" permits immedi­ a te cutting of a slip knot subsequent to ti ghtening.