Stop-cock suture clamping system

• US 20030229361A1
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Inventors: Jackson, Jasper
• Granted Patent: US 7,416,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/144
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks

Abstract

A suture clamping system, comprising a block of material having a hole passing therethrough; and a rotatable element received into the block of material, the rotatable element having a hole passing therethrough, wherein the rotatable element can be positioned such that the hole passing through the block of material and the hole passing through the rotatable element can be placed in alignment forming a passageway through both the block of material and the rotatable element. A method of clamping a suture, comprising passing the suture through a passageway which extends both through a block of material and through a hole in a rotatable element received into the block of material; and turning the rotatable element, and winding the suture pair around the rotatable element within the block of material.

Claims

1. A suture clamping system, comprising:

a block of material having a hole defined therethrough; and

a rotatable element received into the block of material, the rotatable element having a hole defined therethrough, wherein the rotatable element can be positioned such that the hole defined through the block of material and the hole defined through the rotatable element can be placed in alignment forming a passageway through both the block of material and the rotatable element.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotatable element rotates about an axis perpendicular to the direction in which the holes pass through both the block of material and the rotatable element.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotatable element is friction-fit into the block of material.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotatable element comprises a projection which inhibits rotation in one direction.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the projection comprises a curved barb which is disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotatable element.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the block of material is made of silicone.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the block of material is made of polypropylene.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotatable element is made of one of stainless steel and moldable plastic.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein an end of the rotatable element which projects out of the block of material with a plurality of recesses therein.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a rod operatively associated with the rotatable element, the rod having a plurality of distal projections, wherein a projection is received into each of the recesses on the end of the rotatable element.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a rod having a distal end being operatively associated with an end of the rotatable element to turn the rotatable element.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotatable element has a symmetric, non-circular cross section.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the rotatable element has a hexagonal cross section.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the rotatable element has a square cross section.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the rotatable element has a octagonal cross section.

12. The system of claim 91, further comprising:

an elongate d positioning member dimensioned to receive both the rod and the block of material therein.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the bloc k of material is received into a distal end of the elongated positioning member, and wherein the rod is disposed within a chamber passing through the elongated positioning member.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein moving the rod distally pushes the block of material out of the distal end of the positioning member.

19. A suture clamping system, comprising:

a plurality of blocks of material, each defining a hole therethrough; and

a plurality of rotatable elements, wherein each element is received into one of the corresponding blocks of material, each rotatable element defining a hole passing therethrough, wherein the rotatable element can be positioned such that the hole defined through each block of material and the hole defined through the rotatable element received therein can be placed in alignment forming a passageway through both the block of material and the rotatable element.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of blocks of material are separated by thin members.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of blocks and the thin members are formed from a single block of material.

22. A method of clamping at least one suture, comprising:

passing at least one suture through a passageway which extends both through a block of material and through a hole in a rotatable element received into the block of material; and

turning the rotatable element to wind the at least one suture around the rotatable element within the block of material.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein turning the rotatable element comprises rotating a rod having a distal end dimensioned and positioned to mate with an end of the rotatable element.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein both the rod and the block of material are received within an elongated positioning member, further comprising:

distally advancing the rod, pushing the block of material out of a distal end of the elongated positioning member.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein passing the at least one suture through the passageway comprises:

snaring at least one suture with a loop of suture which has been passed through the passageway; and

pulling both the loop of suture and the at least one suture through the passageway.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one suture comprises a suture pair.