Generallv. a half-circle shaped needle has been utilized in Gambee suturing.

The first problem of the commonly used half-circle needle occurs dring an entire Gambee stitch on the posterior bowel wall from one fixed grasp of the needle holder. Here, the submucosal tissue ipsilateral from the needle's eye can be easilv torn. since the distance between both ends of a half-circle needle is usually longer than the longitudinal length of the submucosal tissue to be sutured.

Furthermore. the second problem of a commonly used half-circle needle occurs during an entire Gambee suture on the anterior bowel wall from one fixed grasp of a needle holder. Here, the submucosa contralateral from the needle holder usually slips off the needle, because the direction of the suturing needle tip changes with each step and is critically reversed from the third step stitch to the fourth step of an entire Gambee suture. This situation can result in an incomplete and inappropriate Gambee suture of the anterior bowel wall.

Consequently, an entire Gambee suture of the posterior or anterior bowel wall needs at least two or three different fixed grasps of the half-circle needle with the needle holder. Thus, the half-circle needle requires of operators much time and effort. as well as complicated actions and skills. For this reason. the Gambee suture is avoided by many surgeons.

Disclosure of Utility] I have devised a half-ellipse-shaped suturing needle and a half-running- track-shaped suturing needle which allow an operator to perform an entire Gambee stitch of the posterior bowel wall from one fixed grasp of the needle holder. The half-ellipse needle (SZT) resembles one half of an ellipse. which is expressed as X2/S2 + y2 =1 (0.5< S <0.75). The half-track needle(U#ZWV) resembles the aforementioned half-ellipse needle on the two convex side quarters. but its two terminal quarters are straightened parallel to its longest diameter (A'- nuis). With both needles, the distance between the ends (ST in half-ellipse. or I JV in half-track) becomes shorter than the longitudinal submucosal lenatl (A- GH) of the posterior bowel wall to be sutured ipsilateral from the needle holder.

Thus, submucosal tearing can be prevented, even in the case of an entire Gambee suture from one fixed grasp of the needle holder.

I have also devised a special fishing hook-style barb feature (W) for all suturing needle tips, which allows an operator to perform an entire Gambee stitch <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> of the anterior bowel wall from one fixed grasp of the needle holder. Herc. the<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> barb keeps the submucosal tissue of the anterior bowel wall contralatera ! to the needle holder from slipping off the needle (N#M). The barb does not interfere with the intended directional movement, but prevents the undesirable slipping-oll of the submucosal tissue. As a result, the submucosal tissue contralatera ! from the needle holder can be stitched firmly.

Brief Description of Drawings] Figure 1 indicates my design for the half-ellipse suturing needle, Figure 2 indicates the modifie design of the half-track suturing needle, Figure 3 indicates the additional barb feature for all suturing needle tips, Figure 4 shows the practical application of the Gambee suture.

Each detailed portion is illustrated as.

SZT Half-ellipse shape, U#ZWV Half-running-track shape.

W Fishing hook-style barb feature for all suture2 needle tips.

ABCDEFGH Sequence of Gambee suture on posterior bowel wall.

IJKLMNOP Sequence of Gambee suture on anterior bowel wall.

A<GH Vulnerable to the submucosal tearing.

NoM Vulnerable to slip-off of the submucosa. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <P> Modes for Carrying Out the Utility]<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> My half-ellipse suturing needle and half-track suturing needle can be used in i Gambee suture for a posterior bowel wall anastomosis (ABCDEFGH). Using these needles, operators can perform all the handling needed for a posterior bowel wall Gambee suture from one fixed grasp of the needle holder without tearing of the submucosa (A+>GH).

A special barb feature on the tip of the half-circle. half-ellipse. or half-track @ needle allows for an entire Gambee stitch of the anterior bowel wall (IJKLMNOP) from one fixed grasp of the needle holder, since this barb can prevent slip-off ol' the submucosa (N#M) contralateral from the needle's eye.

Applicability][Industrial With my half-ellipse needle and half-track needle as well as my barb-tip needle feature, operators can save a lot of time and effort formerly required by other common needles in a Gambee suture. My suturing needles need only one fixed grasp of the needle holder when performino an entire Gambee suture for bowel anastomosis. The half-ellipse needle and half-track needle can provent submucosal tearing of the posterior bowel wall. oing to the short distance between the ends. My barb feature on the suturing needle tips prevents slip-off of the submucosa contnalateral from the needle holder during an entire Gambee <BR> <BR> stitch on the anterior bowel wall. Consequently, my suturing needles allow for un entire Gambee suture from one fixed grasp. while the common half-circle suturing needle requires at least 2 or 3 different grasping positions of the needle holder.