MENISCAL REPAIR DEVICE

• US 20100228271A1
• Filed: 03/16/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hubbard, Dennis, Marshall, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,876,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/144
• 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 17/0485 Devices or means, e.g. loops, for capturing the suture thread and threading it through an opening of a suturing instrument or needle eyelet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0472 Multiple-needled, e.g. double-needled, instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0474 Knot pushers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0475 using sutures having a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0477 with pre-tied 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0646 for insertion into cartillege, e.g. meniscus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion

Abstract

A meniscal repair device includes a handle with a thumbslide and a needle cartridge extending therefrom, the needle cartridge having distal tips having a specific directional orientation suited for a particular procedure. The meniscal repair device includes a needle rack and an obturator rack. A quantity of suture material is included in the meniscal repair device. The distal ends of the needle cartridge are adapted for penetrating soft tissue.

Claims

1. An apparatus for suturing tissue, comprising:

a housing including a longitudinal axis and a distal end; and

a needle assembly disposed at the distal end of the housing, the needle assembly including;

a first needle including a lumen defined therein, and having first and second members disposed with the lumen, the first and second members being translatable through the lumen of the first needle; and

a second needle including a lumen defined therein, and having a third member disposed within the lumen of the second needle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a length of suture material that is loaded into and retained within the first member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second member is adapted and configured to eject the length of suture material from within the first member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second needle further includes a window defined within an outer surface of the second window, the window being adapted and configured to receive a length of suture therethrough.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the third member is adapted and configured to engage the length of suture and to frictionally secure the length of suture within the window.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the needle assembly is releasably secured to the distal end of the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second needle include distal ends that are adapted and configured to penetrate tissue.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first needle is a suture feed needle.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second needle is a suture catch needle.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first member is a shape memory needle.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second member is an ejector wire.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third member is an obturator.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first member is a shape memory needle, and the second member is an ejector wire, the ejector wire being disposed within the shape memory needle.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an actuator, the actuator being slidably coupled to the housing along the longitudinal axis of the housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein distal movement of the actuator along the longitudinal axis of the housing urges the first and second members through the first needle, and urges the third member through the second needle.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein in response to the distal movement of the actuator, the first and second members move distally through the first needle, and the third member moves proximally through the second needle.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second member is disposed within the first member, and the first member travels a first distance and the second member travels a second distance, the second distance being different from the first distance.

18. A method of repairing a meniscal tear comprising the steps of:

providing a meniscal repair device including a first needle and a second needle;

passing the first needle including a length of suture material at least partially through a tissue;

moving the first needle along with the suture material closer to the second needle;

securing the suture material to the second needle; and

withdrawing the meniscal repair device from the tissue, thereby forming a loop passing at least partially through the tissue.