Suture locking and cutting devices and methods

• US 20060004410A1
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Vakharia, Omar J., Nobis, Rudolph H., Swain, Christopher Paul, Mosse, Charles Alexander, Faux, John A.
• Application Number:
  US11/127,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20060004410A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0467 Instruments for cutting sutures surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• 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 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 snug fit within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0451 Cams or wedges holding the suture by friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks for applying suture anchors A61B2017/0409; for applying wound clamps A61B17/10; for applying ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle hollow suture needles A61B2017/061

Abstract

Suture holding devices and methods are disclosed, including devices and methods useful in performing a transoral surgical procedure, such as a posterior gastropexy procedure. A device is disclosed which can be used by a physician in a medical procedure to automatically lock and cut a suture in one motion and without the need for additional cutting instrumentation, rather than perform separate locking and cutting actions.

Claims

1. A medical device for locking onto suture comprising:

a first endcap, wherein said first endcap includes a hole bored at an oblique angle to a central axis;

a second endcap; and

an extension spring extending from said first endcap to said second endcap.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein first endcap and said second endcap have an outer diameter of no more than about 0.07 inch.

3. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said hole has a diameter of about 0.04 inch, and is bored at an angle of about 45 degrees to the central axis.

4. A medical device for locking onto suture comprising:

an endcap; and

an extension spring associated with said endcap, wherein said spring coils are biased in a compressed state; and

a length of suture held by said spring.

5. The medical device of claim 4 wherein said endcap has an outer diameter of no more than about 0.07 inch.

6. The medical device of claim 4 wherein the suture is monofilament.

7. The medical device of claim 4 wherein the suture is braided.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

spreading the coils apart to loosen tension in said suture.

8. A medical device comprising:

a first endcap, wherein said endcap includes a hole bored at an oblique angle to the central axis of said endcap;

a second endcap;

a spring disposed intermediate the first and second endcaps; and

a suture extending through said hole in said first endcap.

9. A method of holding suture comprising the steps of:

providing a first member having a suture receiving hole;

providing a second member associated with the first member, the second member comprising a plurality of coils;

providing a length of suture;

threading a suture through said hole in said first member;

spreading the coils of said second member; and

holding the suture with coils of the second member.

11. A medical device for locking onto suture comprising:

a body portion, wherein said body portion includes at least one suture channel;

a lock sleeve positioned over an outer surface of said body portion;

wherein said lock sleeve has an inner surface that closely matches the outer surface of said body portion; and

a means for locking said body portion within said lock sleeve.

12. The medical device of claim 11, wherein said locking means comprises a groove in said body portion and a ring projection in said locking sleeve.

13. The medical device of claim 11, wherein there is a clearance of about 0.001 inch or less between the outer surface of said body portion and the inner surface of said locking sleeve.

14. A method of using a medical device to lock onto suture comprising the steps:

providing a device comprising a body portion, wherein said body portion includes at least one suture channel;

a lock sleeve positioned over an outer surface of said body portion, wherein said lock sleeve has an inner surface that closely matches the outer surface of said body portion; and

a means for locking said body portion within said lock sleeve;

threading a suture through said suture channel;

pushing said locking sleeve over said body portion to trap said suture in a tortuous path; and

locking said locking sleeve to said body portion.

15. A medical device for locking onto suture comprising:

a tubular sleeve including an inner channel;

a flap disposed within said inner channel of said tubular sleeve; and

a detent, wherein said detent is positioned within said inner channel such that said flap is biased to press against said detent.

16. A medical device for locking onto suture comprising:

A first gripping surface including a plurality of projections;

a second gripping surface, wherein said second grip surface is not in contact with said first grip surface in a default state; and

a clasp, wherein said clasp holds said first gripping surface against said second gripping surface in a locked state.