Suture loading

• US 20050165416A1
• Filed: 01/28/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Sikora, George, Bojarski, Ray
• Granted Patent: US 7,662,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/144
• 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 17/06004 Means for attaching suture to needle tipping A61B17/06195; connecting wire to other metallic objects B21F15/00

Abstract

A device includes a body defining a tapered hole for guiding a member, such as a suture thread, into a tube, and a slot communicating with the hole for separating the body and the member. The body defines a bore for receiving the tube. The bore communicates with the tapered hole. The bore has a constant diameter or is tapered. A width of the bore is greater than a width of a narrowest portion of the tapered hole. The slot extends from the tapered hole and the bore to an external surface of the body. A method includes coupling a body to an end of a tube, guiding a member into the tube through a tapered hole, and separating the body and the member by passing the member through a slot.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a body defining a tapered hole for guiding a member into a tube, and defining a slot communicating with the hole for separating the body and the member.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the body defines a bore communicating with the tapered hole.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the bore has a constant diameter.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the bore is tapered.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein a width of the bore is greater than a width of a narrowest portion of the tapered hole.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein the slot extends from the tapered hole and the bore to an external surface of the body.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the member comprises a suture thread.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a handle extending from the body.

9. A device comprising:

a tube; and

a body defining a tapered hole for guiding a member into the tube, and defining a slot communicating with the hole for separating the body and the member.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the body is configured for connection to an end of the tube.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the body defines a bore for receiving the tube, the bore communicating with the tapered hole.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the bore has a constant diameter.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein the bore is tapered.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein a width of the bore is greater than a width of a narrowest portion of the tapered hole.

15. The device of claim 11 wherein the slot extends from the tapered hole and the bore to an external surface of the body.

16. The device of claim 9 wherein the tube defines an opening for receiving the member.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein a width of the opening is substantially the same as a width of the narrowest portion of the tapered hole.

18. The device of claim 9 wherein the member comprises a suture thread.

19. The device of claim 9 further comprising a handle extending from the body.

20. A method comprising:

coupling a body to an end of a tube, the body defining a tapered hole and a slot;

guiding a member into the tube through the tapered hole; and

separating the body and the member by passing the member through the slot.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein coupling comprises receiving the end of the tube in a bore in the body, the bore communicating with the tapered hole.

22. A device comprising:

guide means for guiding a member into a tube, the guide means including means for separating the guide means and the member.