SUTURE PASSERS
First Claim
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1. A suture passer device for passing a suture, the device comprising:
- an elongate body extending distally and proximally along a long axis;
a first jaw extending from a distal end region of the elongate body wherein the first jaw is bent or bendable at an angle relative to the long axis;
a second jaw having a sharp, tissue penetrating distal tip, wherein the second jaw is configured to slide axially along the long axis distally and proximally relative to the elongate body, further wherein the first jaw and the second jaw form a distal-facing opening when the second jaw is extended distally and wherein the second jaw is retractable proximally so that it does not form the distal-facing opening with the first jaw; and
a tissue penetrator configured to extend across the distal-facing opening between the first jaw and the second jaw to pass a suture there between.
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Abstract
Suture passer devices, including suture passers configured with an axially slideable jaw that includes a tissue-penetrating distal end region. Also described are suture passers including jaws housing tissue penetrating needles to pass suture that are substantially thin. Methods of using such devices to pass a suture through tissue are provided.
23 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A suture passer device for passing a suture, the device comprising:
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an elongate body extending distally and proximally along a long axis; a first jaw extending from a distal end region of the elongate body wherein the first jaw is bent or bendable at an angle relative to the long axis; a second jaw having a sharp, tissue penetrating distal tip, wherein the second jaw is configured to slide axially along the long axis distally and proximally relative to the elongate body, further wherein the first jaw and the second jaw form a distal-facing opening when the second jaw is extended distally and wherein the second jaw is retractable proximally so that it does not form the distal-facing opening with the first jaw; and a tissue penetrator configured to extend across the distal-facing opening between the first jaw and the second jaw to pass a suture there between. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of suturing tissue using a suture passer having an elongate body, a first jaw bent or bendable relative to the elongate body, and a sharp, tissue penetrating axially slideable second jaw, the method comprising:
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positioning the first jaw of the suture passer adjacent a tissue with the second jaw retracted proximally relative to the elongate body; axially sliding the second jaw distally to penetrate the tissue by extending the second jaw distally by relative to the elongate body; extending a tissue penetrator through the tissue between the first and second jaws to pass a suture between the first and second jaws; retracting the tissue penetrator from between the first and second jaws; and sliding the second jaw proximally out of the tissue while leaving the suture in the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification