SUTURING INSTRUMENT WITH DUAL NEEDLES AND METHOD OF PASSING SUTURE

• US 20090062816A1
• Filed: 08/26/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Inventors: Weber, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,663,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/144
• 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 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping channel for multiple instruments A61B2017/3445; instrument channel A61B2017/22072; replaceable heads A61B2017/2931; suction A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0472 Multiple-needled, e.g. double-needled, instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06042 located close to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06095 pliable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2925 Pistol grips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means

Abstract

An apparatus and method for passing suture in tissue repair and other surgical procedures. The apparatus includes a pair of jaws mounted on a distal end of a shaft, a handle assembly mounted on a proximal end of the shaft, and two needles mounted on the handle assembly and through a cannulation of the shaft. A dual-needle actuator communicates with the two needles. A suture is placed at the tip of the lower jaw. By advancing the dual-needle actuator relative to the body of the instrument, the two needles are pushed forward to capture the suture and advance it through the tissue to be sutured.

Claims

1. A suture passing instrument comprising:

a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a transversal axis, a distal end and a proximal end;

a first jaw member integral to the distal end of the shaft, the first jaw member having at least one passage configured to receive two needles and comprising a securing mechanism for securing a suture;

a second jaw member mounted to the distal end of the shaft and pivotally connected to the first jaw member such that the second jaw member is moveable with respect to the first jaw member; and

a handle assembly configured to move the two needles from a first position to a second position, and to move the second jaw member with respect to the first jaw member.

2. The suture passing instrument of claim 1, wherein the securing mechanism comprises two slots at a distal end of the first jaw member, each of the two slots being positioned on sides of the distal end, to allow the needles and the suture to pass therethrough.

3. The suture passing instrument of claim 1, wherein the two needles are provided in a side-by-side configuration.

4. The suture passing instrument of claim 1, wherein, in the first position, the two needles are about parallel to the longitudinal axis of the instrument.

5. The suture passing instrument of claim 1, wherein, in the second position, the two needles are non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the instrument.

6. The suture passing instrument of claim 5, wherein, in the second position, the two needles form an angle of about 10 about 60 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the instrument.

7. The suture passing instrument of claim 5, wherein, in the second position, the two needles form an angle of about 15 about 30 relative to the transversal axis of the shaft.

8. The suture passing instrument of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly comprises a handle and a ratchet-like mechanism, wherein the handle comprises a proximal member and a distal member, and wherein the ratchet-like mechanism comprises a finger lever with a ratchet and a releaser with a hook, the finger lever and the releaser being pivotally connected to the distal member of the handle.

9. The suture passing instrument of claim 1, wherein the two needles have a flat elongated configuration.

10. The suture passing instrument of claim 1, wherein each of the two needles is provided with a sharp tip and a hook.

11. The suture passing instrument of claim 1, wherein each of the two needles is provided with a sharp tip and side barbs.

12. A method of passing suture through tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a suture passing instrument the suture passing instrument comprising;

a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;

a first jaw integral to the distal end of the shaft and configured to receive two side-by-side needles, the first jaw comprising two openings at its distal end to allow the needles to pass therethrough and a groove configured to retain a strand of suture thereon;

a second jaw mounted to the distal end of the shaft and pivotally connected to the first jaw such that the second jaw is moveable with respect to the first jaw; and

a handle assembly comprising a handle and a ratchet-like mechanism, the ratchet-like mechanism including a finger lever with a ratchet and a releaser with a hook;

mounting two needles in the suture passing instrument by sliding the needles through a cannulation in a proximal end of the shaft such that a distal end of the needles is on the distal end of the shaft;

loading a suture onto the first jaw; and

closing the second and first jaws and advancing the suture passing instrument in the vicinity of the tissue.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

opening the second jaw by moving the finger lever subsequent to disengaging the ratchet and the hook, and grasping a desired portion of the tissue using the second and first jaws;

closing the second and first jaws by using the finger lever;

actuating the handle of the handle assembly to advance the two needles and suture through the tissue; and

retracting the needles and retrieving the suture using a retriever or grasper.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the two needles is a nitinol needle.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the two needles have a similar configuration.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the two needles have a different configuration.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of advancing the needles and suture through the tissue further comprises:

advancing the needles by pushing proximal and distal members of the handle toward each other until the needles exit the opening on the first jaw and advance toward the second jaw;

capturing the suture with the needles and firmly holding the suture in the needles; and

advancing the needles and the captured suture through the tissue.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the suture is a braided suture comprising a plurality of high strength fibers.