Automatically reloading suture passer devices and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A suture passer system with a preloaded suture, the system comprising:
- an elongate body extending distally and proximally;
a first jaw coupled to a distal end of the elongate body; and
a second jaw removably coupled to the elongate body, wherein the second jaw comprises;
a tissue penetrator configured to slide distally and proximally within the second jaw;
a suture within the second jaw, the suture comprising a first bight region loaded in a suture engagement region at a distal end region of the tissue penetrator, and a second bight region loaded in a suture holding region within the second jaw; and
a releasable hold on the tissue penetrator configured to cooperate with the suture holding region to adjust tension on a first end portion of the suture such that when the tissue penetrator is advanced distally, tension is reduced and when the tissue penetrator is withdrawn proximally tension is increased so that the second bight region is drawn into the suture engagement region after the first bight region has been removed.
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Abstract
Suture passers and methods of use. Described herein are suture passers preloaded with suture, including cartridges that couple to a suture passer to form a loaded suture passer; the suture passer may be operated to pass one or more lengths of suture without having to be manually reloaded. In particular, described herein are preloaded and automatically reloading apparatuses typically.
357 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A suture passer system with a preloaded suture, the system comprising:
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an elongate body extending distally and proximally; a first jaw coupled to a distal end of the elongate body; and a second jaw removably coupled to the elongate body, wherein the second jaw comprises; a tissue penetrator configured to slide distally and proximally within the second jaw; a suture within the second jaw, the suture comprising a first bight region loaded in a suture engagement region at a distal end region of the tissue penetrator, and a second bight region loaded in a suture holding region within the second jaw; and a releasable hold on the tissue penetrator configured to cooperate with the suture holding region to adjust tension on a first end portion of the suture such that when the tissue penetrator is advanced distally, tension is reduced and when the tissue penetrator is withdrawn proximally tension is increased so that the second bight region is drawn into the suture engagement region after the first bight region has been removed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of operating a suture passer that is preloaded with a suture, the method comprising:
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coupling a jaw cartridge to an elongate body of the suture passer, wherein the suture passer includes a first jaw pivotally coupled to a distal end region of the elongate body, further wherein the jaw cartridge comprises a second jaw, a first bight of the suture, a second bight of suture, a tissue penetrator and a releasable hold configured to adjust tension on the second bight of suture; forming a distal-facing opening between the first jaw and the second jaw by sliding the second jaw distally relative to the elongate body; extending a distal tip of a tissue penetrator from within the second jaw and across the distal-facing opening, wherein the tissue penetrator comprises a suture engagement region that is preloaded with the first bight region of the suture, wherein while extending the tissue penetrator, tension on the second bight of suture is reduced; holding the first bight region with the first jaw and retracting the distal tip of the tissue penetrator into the second jaw; withdrawing the tissue penetrator within the second jaw to increase tension to the first length of suture, so that the second bight region is drawn into the suture engagement region of the tissue penetrator; and extending the distal tip of the tissue penetrator from the second jaw and across the distal-facing opening, wherein the tissue penetrator is carrying the second bight region of the suture. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating a suture passer, the method comprising:
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inserting a keyed region of a replaceable jaw cartridge with an engagement region of an elongate body of the suture passer and sliding the replaceable jaw cartridge proximally, so as to secure the replaceable jaw cartridge with the elongate body, wherein the elongate body includes a first jaw pivotally coupled to a distal end region of the elongate body and the step of sliding positions a distal-most end of the replaceable jaw cartridge proximally from the first jaw;
the replaceable jaw cartridge comprising a second jaw, a first bight region of a suture, a second bight region of the suture, a tissue penetrator and a releasable hold coupled to both the tissue penetrator and to a length of the suture extending from the second bight region;forming a distal-facing opening between the first jaw and the second jaw by sliding the second jaw distally relative to the elongate body; extending the tissue penetrator and the first bight region from within the second jaw across the distal-facing opening, wherein while extending the tissue penetrator, the releasable hold cooperates with the tissue penetrator to reduce tension on the second bight region; holding the first bight region with the first jaw and retracting the distal tip of the tissue penetrator into the second jaw; withdrawing the tissue penetrator within the second jaw to increase tension on the second bight region, so that the second bight region is drawn into a suture engagement region of the tissue penetrator; and extending the tissue penetrator from the second jaw and across the distal-facing opening, wherein the tissue penetrator is carrying the second bight region of the suture. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification