Suture capture device

• US 20040236353A1
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Opus Medical, Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Gordon, Norman S., Bain, Gregory H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,879,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0485 Devices or means, e.g. loops, for capturing the suture thread and threading it through an opening of a suturing instrument or needle eyelet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06066 Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations making needles B21G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0472 Multiple-needled, e.g. double-needled, instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06009 having additional means for releasably clamping the suture to the needle, e.g. actuating rod slideable within the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06019 by means of a suture-receiving lateral eyelet machined in the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06042 located close to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws

Abstract

A suturing instrument for placing mattress stitches in soft tissue, such as a rotator cuff, includes an elongate shaft with both a stationary jaw and a movable jaw disposed at the distal end thereof. The shaft is coupled to a handle grip at the proximal end, which is configured to manipulate the jaws into open and closed positions. The jaws are configured to allow for atraumatic grasping of soft tissues. The stationary jaw may include a molded tip that holds and positions opposite ends of a single strand of suture material. The serrated upper jaw is configured to grasp and immobilize the tissue to be sutured. Hooked needles are movably positioned to pierce the grasped and immobilized tissues, and to engage and retrieve the opposite ends of the single strand of suture material. The handle is released to open the moveable jaw, whereupon the instrument may be withdrawn, trailing the suture, and leaving a mattress stitch in the grasped tissue.

Claims

1. A suturing device, comprising:

a distal portion which is engaged with a length of suture;

a needle which is axially movable distally and proximally;

a soft tissue receiving portion disposed proximally of said distal portion; and

a ramp portion for moving said needle radially inwardly and outwardly as the needle moves axially over said ramp portion.

2. The suturing device as recited in claim 1, wherein said soft tissue receiving portion comprises a clamping mechanism.

3. The suturing device as recited in claim 2, wherein said clamping mechanism comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein one of said jaws is movable relative to the other of said jaws to grasp soft tissue therein.

4. The suturing device as recited in claim 1, wherein said distal portion comprises a suture cartridge.

5. The suturing device as recited in claim 4, wherein said suture cartridge comprises a molded tip having a groove for accommodating said suture therein.

6. The suturing device as recited in claim 1, wherein said ramp portion comprises a radially outwardly sloping entrance ramp for moving said needle radially outwardly as the needle moves axially in a distal direction.

7. The suturing device as recited in claim 6, wherein said ramp portion further comprises a radially inwardly sloping retraction ramp for moving said needle radially inwardly as the needle moves axially in a proximal direction.

8. The suturing device as recited in claim 1, wherein said needle comprises a distal point, a proximal shaft, and a hook defining a suture holding area.

9. The suturing device as recited in claim 8, and further comprising a terminus of said hook, said hook terminus being cantilevered proximally from a distal end of said needle.

10. The suturing device as recited in claim 9, and further comprising a bump on said needle in a location opposed to said hook terminus.

11. The suturing device as recited in claim 10, wherein said hook terminus and said bump together provide a tactile sensation to a user when suture passes thereover into said suture holding area.

12. The suturing device as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a second needle.

13. The suturing device as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a sleeve for selectively covering said needle.

14. A needle for a suturing device, comprising:

a distal point;

a proximal shaft; and

a hook defining a suture holding area.

15. The needle as recited in claim 14, and further comprising a terminus of said hook, said hook terminus being cantilevered proximally from a distal end of said needle.

16. The needle as recited in claim 15, and further comprising a bump on said needle in a location opposed to said hook terminus.

17. A method of suturing soft tissue using a suturing device, said method comprising:

retaining a portion of soft tissue to be sutured;

moving a needle having a hook which defines a suture holding area distally, so that said hook is disposed in a location past said portion of soft tissue and past a length of suture which is retained on a distal portion of said suturing device;

moving said needle proximally and capturing said suture so that it is retained in said suture holding area; and

moving said needle a further distance proximally, so that said needle draws said suture through said portion of soft tissue, thereby suturing said soft tissue.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein when said needle is moved distally, it is also moved radially outwardly in order to avoid contacting said length of suture.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein when said needle is moved proximally, it is also moved radially inwardly in order to ensure proper capture of said suture.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, and further comprising a step of covering said needle with a sheath prior to retracting the needle proximally through said soft tissue.