SUTURE AND RETAINER ASSEMBLY AND SULU

• US 20110178536A1
• Filed: 01/19/2010
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kostrzewski, Stanislaw
• Granted Patent: US 8,313,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/144
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0491 Sewing machines for surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06066 Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations making needles B21G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0462 One way system, i.e. also tensioning the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0472 Multiple-needled, e.g. double-needled, instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06042 located close to needle tip

Abstract

A suturing system for receiving and retaining a suture is disclosed and includes a suture, at least one retainer, and at least one needle. Each needle is able to receive and removably retain the suture within a groove located in a tapered end. The retainer has a body that defines an aperture therethrough. The shape of the aperture is formed by a central passageway, and a pair of diametrically opposed slots extending radially outward from the central passageway. The central passageway is sized to allow passage of the needle therethrough. Each slot defines a tortured path section that permits passage of the suture in a first direction and inhibits passage of the suture in a second direction.

Claims

1. A suturing system for receiving and retaining a suture, comprising:

a suture;

at least one needle having a tapered end and a groove across the tapered end that receives and removably retains a portion of the suture; and

at least one retainer having a body defining an aperture, the shape of the aperture being defined by a central passageway and a pair of diametrically opposed slots extending radially outward from the central passageway, the central passageway being sized to allow passage of the needle therethrough, each slot defines a tortured path section, the tortured path section permits passage of the suture in a first direction and inhibits passage of the suture in a second direction.

2. The suturing system of claim 1, wherein the aperture forms a cross-sectional Φ

-shaped hole in the body defined by a substantially circular center and two opposed rectangles extending radially outward therefrom.

3. The suturing system of claim 1, wherein each retainer is constructed of a biocompatible material that is absorbable.

4. The suturing system of claim 1, wherein the tortured path section is defined by at least one protrusion extending from a sidewall of the slot.

5. The suturing system of claim 4, wherein the at least one protrusion has a distal surface, a proximal surface, and an apex, the distal surface having an area larger than an area of the proximal surface.

6. The suturing system of claim 1, wherein the tortured path section is defined by two protrusions, each protrusion having an apex, the apices being located adjacent each other.

7. The suturing system of claim 6, wherein the adjacent apices are in immediate proximity.

8. The suturing system of claim 1, wherein the tortured path section is defined by two protrusions, each protrusion having an apex, the apices being offset from each other.

9. The suturing system of claim 1, wherein each retainer has an outer perimeter in a shape selected from the group consisting of an oval, a circle, a triangular, and a rectangular.

10. The suturing system of claim 1, wherein the central passageway has a substantially conical shape.

11. The surgical fastener of claim 1, wherein the suture has a series of tapered sections configured to aid in the retention of the suture within the tortured path section of the suture retainer.

12. A suture cartridge for use with a surgical stapling-type of device, comprising:

a body;

a suture; and

a series of needles extending from the body, each of the needles having a tapered proximal end and a groove across the tapered proximal end, the groove being sized to removably secure a portion of the suture within the tapered proximal end of the needle, the series of needles arranged such that the groove is in alignment with the groove of at least one other needle located in an adjacent position.

13. The suture cartridge of claim 12, wherein the suture has a series of tapered sections.

14. The suture cartridge of claim 12, wherein the suture is made of a biocompatible material that is absorbable.

15. A suture retainer cartridge for use with a surgical stapling-type of device, comprising:

a cartridge body; and

at least one suture retainer configured to be removably secured within the cartridge body, the retainer having a body defining an aperture, the shape of the aperture being defined by a central passageway defining a longitudinal axis and a pair of diametrically opposed slots extending radially outward from the central passageway, the central passageway being sized to allow passage of the needle therethrough, each slot defines a tortured path section, the tortured path section permits passage of the suture in a first direction and inhibits passage of the suture in a second direction.

16. The suture retainer cartridge of claim 15, wherein the suture retainer is constructed of a biocompatible material that is absorbable.

17. The suture retainer cartridge of claim 15, wherein the cartridge body is configured to removably secure a plurality of suture retainers therein.

18. A surgical suturing instrument, containing:

a handle assembly;

an elongate member extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis and a distal end;

an end effector attached to the distal end of the elongate member, the end effector having a first jaw and a second jaw;

an actuation mechanism operatively connected through the elongate member to the end effector;

a suture being removably secured in the first jaw of the end effector; and

a suture retainer being removably secured in the second jaw of the end effector, the suture retainer having at least one aperture configured to receive the suture in a first direction and inhibit the removal of the suture in a second direction.

19. The surgical suturing instrument of claim 21, wherein the first jaw further comprising a suture cartridge that is replaceable and removably secures the suture within the first jaw, the suture cartridge comprising a series of needles, each of the needles having a groove for receiving and removably retaining the suture.

20. The surgical suturing instrument of claim 21, wherein the second jaw further comprises a suture retainer cartridge that is replaceable and removably secures the suture retainer within the second jaw.