Helical retainer, tool for using the helical retainer, and methods

• US 20070083235A1
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ANPA Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ANPA Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Ashley, John, Jervis, James
• Application Number:
  US11/249,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20070083235A1
• 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 17/0487 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 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0443 the shaft being resilient and having a coiled or helical shape in the released state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue

Abstract

The invention relates to helical retainers, particularly helical retainers adapted for use in laparoscopic surgery. One aspect of the invention provides a helical retainer having a sterile coiled body adapted and configured to secure a surgical suture, the coiled body having a plurality of coils and being formed from a strand and an extension of the strand extending from the coiled body adapted to engage a suture or to be grasped by a holding tool. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of using a helical retainer including the steps of placing a helical retainer at a desired location, the helical retainer comprising a plurality of coils, engaging a suture with the helical retainer at a first engagement point, and engaging the suture with the helical retainer at a second engagement point to secure the suture to the helical retainer.

Claims

1. A helical retainer comprising:

a sterile coiled body adapted and configured to secure a surgical suture, the coiled body comprising a plurality of coils and being formed from a strand; and

an extension of the strand extending from the coiled body adapted to engage a suture or to be grasped by a holding tool.

2. The helical retainer according to claim 1 wherein the extension is coiled.

3. The helical retainer according to claim 1 wherein the extension extends tangentially from the coiled body.

4. The helical retainer according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of coils of the coiled body form a lumen and further wherein a first end of the strand is terminated within the lumen.

5. The helical retainer according to claim 1 further comprising a second coiled body joined to the first coiled body.

6. The helical retainer according to claim 1 wherein the coils are pre-tensioned.

7. The helical retainer according to claim 1 wherein the helical retainer is preloaded with a suture.

8. The helical retainer according to claim 1 wherein the helical coil is further adapted to permit a secured suture to be disengaged from the helical retainer without damaging the suture.

9. The helical retainer according to claim 1 further comprising a gap between adjacent coils.

10. The helical retainer according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of gaps between pairs of adjacent coils.

11. The helical retainer according to claim 1 wherein the coiled body is further adapted to be engaged by a surgical suture between at least two pairs of adjacent coils to secure the surgical suture.

12. A helical retainer comprising:

a sterile coiled body adapted and configured to secure a surgical suture, the coiled body comprising a plurality of coils; and

a gap between two adjacent coils.

13. The helical retainer according to claim 12 wherein the helical coil is further adapted to permit a secured suture to be disengaged from the helical retainer without damaging the suture.

14. The helical retainer according to claim 12 wherein the coiled body is further adapted to be engaged by a surgical suture between at least two pairs of adjacent coils to secure the surgical suture.

15. A method of using a helical retainer comprising:

placing a helical retainer at a desired location, the helical retainer comprising a plurality of coils;

engaging a suture with the helical retainer at a first engagement point; and

engaging the suture with the helical retainer at a second engagement point to secure the suture to the helical retainer.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein engaging the suture at the first engagement point comprises engaging the suture at the second engagement point and advancing the suture along the helical element from the second engagement point toward the first engagement point.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the first and second engagement points are between adjacent pairs of coils.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising releasing the suture from the helical retainer.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

applying tension to the suture.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein applying tension comprises applying tension to move one coil of the helical retainer toward another coil of the helical retainer to more tightly engage the suture between the coils.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

engaging the suture with the helical retainer a second time at the second engagement point.

22. A kit for suturing comprising:

a sterile coiled body adapted and configured to secure a surgical suture, the coiled body comprising a plurality of coils and being formed from a strand and an extension of the strand extending from the coiled body adapted to engage a suture or to be grasped by a holding tool; and

a suture secured by the helical body.

23. A tool adapted to engage a suture with a helical retainer comprising:

a proximal end having a handle; and

a distal end adapted to guide a suture into engagement with the helical retainer.

24. The tool according to claim 23 wherein the distal end is retractable with respect to the proximal end.