Method and Apparatus for Passing a Suture

• US 20090306684A1
• Filed: 08/11/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walters, Troy M., Stone, Kevin T., Kaiser, Ryan A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,057,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/145
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0625 the needle being specially adapted to interact with the manipulator, e.g. being ridged to snap fit in a hole of the manipulator A61B17/06109 takes precedence

Abstract

A suture pushing device includes a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and a suturing head at the distal end of the shaft. The suturing head includes a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw and/or the second jaw have a tissue cutting edge adapted to cut an opening in a tissue. A blunt suture pushing member advances from within the shaft, through the suturing head, and through the cut opening in the tissue to place a suture.

Claims

1. A suture pushing device to push a suture through tissue, comprising:

a handle;

a shaft extending from the handle;

a suturing head at the distal end of the shaft, the suturing head comprising;

a first jaw;

a second jaw coupled to the first jaw; and

a cutting edge associated with at least either of the first jaw

or the second jaw to cut an opening in the tissue; and

a blunt suture pushing member adapted to push the suture through the cut opening in the tissue.

2. The suture pushing device according to claim 1, further comprising a suture pushing member receptacle to receive the blunt suture pushing member.

3. The suture pushing device according to claim 2, further comprising a retention mechanism to maintain the suture at the suturing head.

4. The suture pushing device according to claim 1, wherein the blunt suture pushing member contains a plurality of roughened surface features on the distal end of the suture pushing member to push the suture.

5. The suture pushing device according to claim 4, wherein the roughened surface features are non-piercing.

6. The suture pushing device according to claim 1, wherein the blunt suture pushing member is made of a flexible material.

7. The suture pushing device according to claim 6, wherein the flexible material comprises Nitinol.

8. The suture pushing device according to claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a trigger and a hammer.

9. The suture pushing device according to claim 8, wherein the trigger is actuable to move at least one of the second jaw or the first jaw with respect to the other jaw.

10. The suture pushing device according to claim 9, wherein the hammer is actuable to advance the blunt suture pushing member through the cut opening in the tissue.

11. The suture pushing device according to claim 1, wherein the second jaw includes a ramp for the blunt suture pushing member.

12. The suture pushing device according to claim 11, further comprising a suture pushing member receptacle, wherein the ramp is in communication with the suture pushing receptacle to guide the suture.

13. The suture pushing device according to claim 1, further comprising a suture delivery channel adapted to arrange the suture for contact with the suture pushing member.

14. The suture pushing device according to claim 1, wherein the first jaw includes a cutting edge and the second jaw includes a cutting edge.