Meniscus and soft tissue repair device and method of use
First Claim
1. A device for the piercing of a needle through a patient'"'"'s tissue, said device comprising a main body having a distal end, a proximal end and a passageway therethrough, an introducer adapted to pass through said passageway of said main body, said introducer having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end of said introducer having a socket formed therein configured to receive and releasably retain a needle within said socket, said distal end of said introducer adapted to extend outwardly from the distal end of said main body when said introducer is within said passageway, and a means located at the proximal ends of said introducer and said main body to enable a user to grasp and manipulate the movement of said introducer within said main body to pierce the tissue of the patient with a needle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for repairing a meniscus or soft tissue. A needle having a suture strand attached thereto is affixed to the distal end of an introducer. The introducer is adapted to be inserted through a hollow main body to position the needle proximate a damaged portion of the meniscus. At the proximal ends of the introducer and main body, there is a thumb ring and a pair of finger rings that can be manipulated by the user to position the device and to pierce the meniscus with the needle. The needle is frictionally affixed to the introducer and can be removed by the user after piercing the meniscus and the outer skin of the patient. With the device, a pair of needles having a suture strand joining the needles can be inserted through the meniscus and across the damaged area and the strands of the suture affixed together.
56 Citations
21 Claims
- 1. A device for the piercing of a needle through a patient'"'"'s tissue, said device comprising a main body having a distal end, a proximal end and a passageway therethrough, an introducer adapted to pass through said passageway of said main body, said introducer having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end of said introducer having a socket formed therein configured to receive and releasably retain a needle within said socket, said distal end of said introducer adapted to extend outwardly from the distal end of said main body when said introducer is within said passageway, and a means located at the proximal ends of said introducer and said main body to enable a user to grasp and manipulate the movement of said introducer within said main body to pierce the tissue of the patient with a needle.
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11. A method of passing a needle having a suture affixed to a needle through the tissue of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a hollow elongated main body having a distal end and a proximal end, providing an introducer having a distal end and a proximal end and adapted to interfit within the hollow elongated main body, affixing a needle to the distal end of the introducer;
inserting the introducer through the main body such that the distal end retaining the needle extends outwardly from the distal end of the main body, extending the introducer to pass the needle through the tissue of a patient by manipulating the proximal ends of the introducer and the main body with respect to each other, removing the needle from the distal end of the introducer after the needle has passed through the tissue of a patient. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of repairing a tear in the tissue of a patient by passing a first and second needle having a suture affixed between the needles through the tissue of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a hollow elongated main body having a distal end and a proximal end, (b) providing a introducer having a distal end and a proximal end and adapted to interfit within the hollow elongated main body, (c) affixing the one of said needles to the distal end of the introducer;
(d) inserting the introducer through the main body such that the distal end retaining the needle extends outwardly from the distal end of the main body, (e) extending the introducer to pass the needle through the tissue of a patient by manipulating the proximal ends of the introducer and the main body with respect to each other, (f) removing the needle from the distal end of the needle after the needle has passed through the tissue of a patient. (g) repeating steps (a) through (f) with the other of the needles; and
(h) securing together the ends of the suture strands joined to each of said needles to close the tear in a patient'"'"'s tissue. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification