SUTURE PASSING INSTRUMENT AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A triangular clip suture shuttle that releasably clips onto the outside of a tissue penetrator of a suture passer, for passing a suture, the suture shuttle comprising:
- a shuttle body having a passage that is configured to releasably secure over the outside of a tissue penetrator having a triangular cross-section proximal to the distal tip of the tissue penetrator; and
a suture attachment element configured to secure a suture to the suture shuttle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a continuous suture passer device may include a first jaw, a second jaw, a tissue penetrator which may penetrate through tissue positioned between the first and second jaws, and a suture shuttle which may be releasably secured to the tissue penetrator and adapted to carry a suture. Further, the device may include an actuator which may manipulate at least one of the first or second jaws and the tissue penetrator, and the second jaw may have a suture shuttle retainer seat on which the suture shuttle may be releasably secured. The tissue penetrator may be movable towards the second jaw such that the suture shuttle carried by the tissue penetrator may be transferred to the shuttle retainer seat on the second jaw. Additionally, the first and second jaws may be substantially parallel to one another at any position to which the at least one jaw is manipulated. Additionally, the tissue penetrator may travel along an arcuate path from a first position, recessed within the first jaw, to a second position where the tissue penetrator extends through the tissue to be positioned in communication with the second jaw. Further, the at least one jaw may be manipulated such that it travels along a path that is substantially the same arcuate path traveled by the tissue penetrator. A method for passing a suture through tissue includes manipulation to transfer a suture shuttle adapted to carry a suture between a tissue penetrator and a second jaw.
138 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A triangular clip suture shuttle that releasably clips onto the outside of a tissue penetrator of a suture passer, for passing a suture, the suture shuttle comprising:
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a shuttle body having a passage that is configured to releasably secure over the outside of a tissue penetrator having a triangular cross-section proximal to the distal tip of the tissue penetrator; and a suture attachment element configured to secure a suture to the suture shuttle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A triangular clip suture shuttle that releasably clips onto the outside of a tissue penetrator of a suture passer, for passing a suture, the suture shuttle comprising:
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an elastically deformable shuttle body having a passage with cross-section that is configured to releasably clip over the outside of a tissue penetrator having a triangular cross-section; a retaining feature on the shuttle body configured to engage a retaining mechanism to secure the shuttle body to the tissue penetrator; and a suture attachment element extending from the shuttle body and configured to secure a suture to the suture shuttle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A triangular clip suture shuttle that releasably clips onto the outside of a tissue penetrator of a suture passer, for passing a suture, the suture shuttle comprising:
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an elastically deformable shuttle body having a passage with a triangular cross-section that is open along the apex of the triangular cross-section, wherein the shuttle body is configured to releasably clip over the outside of a curved tissue penetrator having a triangular cross-section; a retaining feature comprising a dimple on the shuttle body; and a flexible loop extending from the shuttle body to connect a suture to the suture shuttle.
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24. A method for releasably securing a triangular clip suture shuttle to a tissue penetrator, the method comprising:
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inserting a tissue penetrator having a triangular cross-section into an elastically deformable shuttle body of a suture shuttle; and elastically deforming the shuttle body to clip the suture shuttle over the outside of the tissue penetrator. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification