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Suture passers adapted for use in constrained regions

  • US 10,524,778 B2
  • Filed: 04/27/2015
  • Issued: 01/07/2020
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A suture passer apparatus adapted for insertion into a knee joint, the apparatus comprising:

  • an elongate body having a proximal end connected to a proximal handle and a distal end region, wherein the elongate body extends in a long axis;

    a lower jaw member extending from the distal end region of the elongate body wherein the lower jaw member is axially fixed relative to the elongate body, the lower jaw member including a bend relative to the long axis of the elongate body at a proximal end of the lower jaw member, wherein a bottom surface of the lower jaw member from the bend to a rounded distal end region of the lower jaw member is flat and extends in a straight line to the rounded distal end region;

    an upper jaw member extending from the distal end region of the elongate body, the upper jaw member having an arc-shaped profile that is biased to curve away from the long axis of the elongate body in a same direction as the bend, and wherein the upper jaw member has a retracted configuration in which the upper jaw member is entirely within the elongate body; and

    a tissue penetrator housed within the lower jaw member configured to slide distally in the lower jaw member beyond the bend and extend laterally out of the lower jaw member to transfer a loop of suture from the lower jaw member through the upper jaw member.

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