DEVICES AND METHODS FOR REMOTE SUTURE MANAGEMENT

• US 20090082797A1
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SentreHeart, LLC (Atricure, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SentreHEART Incorporated (Atricure, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seiber, Russell A., Garcia, Maria, Sager, Eduardo, Miller, Gary H., Fung, Gregory W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/170
• 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 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00876 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself

Abstract

Described here are devices and methods for suture management. In some variations, the devices comprise an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen therebetween, a cantilever blade positioned near the distal end of the elongate tubular member, and an expandable member positioned adjacent the cantilever blade for actuating the cantilever blade. Also described are devices comprising an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen at least partially therebetween, and an aperture in a wall thereof for passage of a suture therethrough. These devices further comprise a blade connected to a blade housing disposed within the lumen, where the blade is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lumen. The blade and blade housing may be slidable within the lumen, or an inner shaft for may be slidable within the lumen. Methods of using the devices are also described.

Claims

1. A device for severing a portion of a suture comprising:

an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween, the lumen configured for the passage of a suture at least partially therethrough;

a cantilever blade positioned near the distal end of the elongate tubular member; and

an expandable member positioned adjacent the cantilever blade for actuating the cantilever blade.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the expandable member is inflatable.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the expandable member is a balloon.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the expandable member comprises a pair of jaws.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a retractable guide.

6. A device for severing a portion of a suture comprising:

elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween, the lumen configured for the passage of a suture at least partially therethrough;

opposed cutting blades near the distal end; and

an actuator for actuating the opposed cutting blades, wherein the actuator is disposed at least in part about the outer surface of the cutting blades.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the actuator comprises an expandable member.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the actuator is inflatable.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the actuator is a balloon.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the actuator comprises actuation jaws configured to actuate the opposed blades when pulled proximally or pushed distally.

11. The device of claim 6, further comprising a retractable guide.

12. A device for severing a portion of a suture comprising:

an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen at least partially therebetween, the elongate tubular member comprising an aperture in a wall thereof for passage of a suture therethrough; and

a blade connected to a blade housing and disposed within the lumen, wherein the blade is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lumen, and the blade and blade housing are slidable within the lumen.

13. The device of claim 12 further comprising an actuator configured to actuate the slidable blade.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the actuator is an expandable member.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the actuator is a pull wire.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the actuator is one or more magnets.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the actuator is a plunger.

18. The device of claim 12, further comprising an inner elongate member slidably disposed within the elongate tubular member.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the handle comprises one or more safety features.

20. The device of claim 12, further comprising a retractable guide.

21. A device for severing a suture comprising:

a first elongate tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen at least partially therebetween, the first elongate tubular member having a substantially closed distal end having an aperture therein, the aperture having at least one cutting edge; and

a second elongate tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen at least partially therebetween, the second elongate tubular member having a substantially closed distal end having an aperture therein, the aperture having at least one cutting edge;

wherein the first and second elongate tubular members are rotatable relative to one another such that upon rotation, the cutting edge of the first elongate tubular member and the cutting edge of the second elongate tubular member are brought toward one another.

22. A method for severing a suture comprising:

advancing a cutting assembly over a suture, the cutting assembly comprising

a first elongate tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen at least partially therebetween, the first elongate tubular member having a substantially closed distal end having an aperture therein, the aperture having at least one cutting edge and

a second elongate tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen at least partially therebetween, the second elongate tubular member having a substantially closed distal end, having an aperture therein, the aperture having at least one cutting edge, the suture passing through the distal end of the cutting assembly when the apertures of the first and second elongate tubular members are aligned; and

rotating the first elongate tubular member with respect to the second elongate tubular member, whereby rotation of the first elongate tubular member with respect to the second elongate tubular member causes the cutting edges of the first and second elongate tubular members to be brought toward one another.

23. A method for severing a suture comprising:

retracting a blade assembly within an elongate tubular member to contact and sever a suture, the elongate tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen at least partially therethrough, the blade assembly comprising a blade and a blade housing, the blade assembly being slidably disposed within the lumen of the elongate tubular member, and wherein the blade is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lumen.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein retracting the blade assembly comprises retracting the blade assembly using one or more magnets.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein retracting the blade assembly comprises retracting the blade assembly using a shaft slidably disposed within the tubular member.