MENISCAL REPAIR SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A device for repairing a tear in a portion of tissue, comprising:
- a proximal actuator portion;
a transfer needle extending distally from the proximal actuator portion and having a distal tip for piercing tissue;
a catch needle extending distally from the proximal actuator portion and having a distal tip for piercing tissue;
a suture needle disposed within a lumen in said transfer needle, said suture needle being extendable from said transfer needle toward said catch needle and retractable from said catch needle toward said transfer needle; and
a window disposed on said transfer needle, through which said suture needle may be deployed, said window having two substantially parallel sides and a bearing surface which is disposed substantially perpendicularly to a path of the suture needle as the suture needle traverses into and out of said window;
wherein said window has a length that is shorter than required to permit free translation of the suture needle into and out of the window, so that an interfering contact is created between a first surface of the suture needle and the edge of the transfer needle window.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for repairing a tear in a portion of tissue comprises a proximal actuator portion, a transfer needle extending distally from the proximal actuator portion and a catch needle extending distally from the proximal actuator portion. A suture needle is disposed in the transfer needle, and is extendable from the transfer needle toward the catch needle and retractable from the catch needle toward the transfer needle. An extendable catch plunger is disposed in the catch needle for capturing suture therein when it is transferred from the transfer needle. A retractable insertion sheath is provided for covering the transfer needle and the catch needle when the device is inserted into a procedural site. A depth limiting apparatus limits the depth of insertion of the needle into the procedural site.
86 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A device for repairing a tear in a portion of tissue, comprising:
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a proximal actuator portion; a transfer needle extending distally from the proximal actuator portion and having a distal tip for piercing tissue; a catch needle extending distally from the proximal actuator portion and having a distal tip for piercing tissue; a suture needle disposed within a lumen in said transfer needle, said suture needle being extendable from said transfer needle toward said catch needle and retractable from said catch needle toward said transfer needle; and a window disposed on said transfer needle, through which said suture needle may be deployed, said window having two substantially parallel sides and a bearing surface which is disposed substantially perpendicularly to a path of the suture needle as the suture needle traverses into and out of said window; wherein said window has a length that is shorter than required to permit free translation of the suture needle into and out of the window, so that an interfering contact is created between a first surface of the suture needle and the edge of the transfer needle window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A device for repairing a tear in a portion of tissue, comprising:
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a proximal actuator portion; a transfer needle extending distally from the proximal actuator portion and having a distal tip for piercing tissue; a catch needle extending distally from the proximal actuator portion and having a distal tip for piercing tissue; and a suture needle disposed within a lumen in said transfer needle, said suture needle being extendable from said transfer needle toward said catch needle and retractable from said catch needle toward said transfer needle; wherein an oxide layer infused with tungsten disulfide is formed between the suture needle and the transfer needle to reduce friction therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A device for repairing a tear in a portion of tissue, comprising:
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a proximal actuator portion; a needle for dispensing suture into the tissue to be repaired; a retractable insertion sheath for covering the needle when the device is inserted into a procedural site; and a cleat disposed within said proximal actuator portion which is attached to a length of suture extending from the proximal actuator portion and having a pre-tied knot thereon, the cleat being configured to selectively apply tension to the suture. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method for repairing a tear in a portion of tissue, comprising:
inserting a device comprising a proximal actuator portion and a distal needle portion into a procedural site; retracting a sheath covering said needle proximally to expose the distal end of the needle; advancing the needle into the tissue to be repaired; creating a suture loop in the tissue to repair the tear; withdrawing the needle proximally from the procedural site and using the withdrawing action to simultaneously move a pre-tied knot distally along the suture to the site of the repair; and tensioning the suture using a cleat within the proximal actuator portion to cinch the suture loop and thereby complete the tissue repair.
Specification