SUTURE PASSERS ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONSTRAINED REGIONS

• US 20150297215A1
• Filed: 04/08/2015
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher P Bender, Mark Y. Hirotsuka, Michael J. Hendricksen, Michael Murillo, Stephen J. Peter
• Original Assignee: Mark Y. Hirotsuka, Michael J. Hendricksen, Michael Murillo, Stephen J. Peter
• Inventors: HENDRICKSEN, Michael J., MURILLO, Michael, BENDER, Christopher P., HIROTSUKA, Mark Y., PETER, Stephen J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,537,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/0483 Hand-held instruments for holding sutures A61B17/0469 takes precedence; other holders for needles or sutures A61B17/06061; surgical forceps A61B17/28; surgical pincettes A61B17/30
• 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 17/0625 the needle being specially adapted to interact with the manipulator, e.g. being ridged to snap fit in a hole of the manipulator A61B17/06109 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00371 Multiple actuation, e.g. pushing of two buttons, or two working tips becoming operational
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0475 using sutures having a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06042 located close to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06047 located at the middle of the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0646 for insertion into cartillege, e.g. meniscus

Abstract

Described herein suture passer apparatus (devices and systems) that may be used to suture tissue within a narrow, confined space. In particular, described herein are suture passers having an elongate body and a lower jaw member that houses a tissue penetrator that is adapted to extend laterally from the lower jaw member and be deflected by a second jaw member? The second jaw member typically deflects the tissue penetrator either distally or proximally.

Claims

1. A suture passer apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

an elongate body having a proximal end connected to a proximal handle and a distal end, wherein the elongate body extends in a long axis;

a lower jaw member extending from the distal end region of the elongate body;

an upper jaw member configured to retract and extend from within the distal end region of the elongate body, wherein the upper jaw member curves away from the long axis of the elongate body as it is extended from the distal end of the elongate body; and

a tissue penetrator housed within the lower jaw member and configured to slide distally within the lower jaw member and extend laterally from the lower jaw member to carry a suture from the lower jaw member and be deflected against the upper jaw member to extend distally or proximally.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower jaw member is fixed relative to the elongate body.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower jaw member is configured to pivot relative to the elongate body.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower jaw member is adapted to slide axially in a direction of the long axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper jaw member comprises a suture capture to hold the suture on the upper jaw when the tissue penetrator is retracted proximally after contacting the upper jaw member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper jaw comprises a suture capture comprising a clamping member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower jaw member comprises a deflection surface within the lower jaw to deflect the tissue penetrator laterally out of the lower jaw member when the tissue penetrator is extended distally in a direction of the long axis.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower jaw member is bent or curved relative to the long axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower jaw is narrower than it is thick.

10. A method of suturing tissue, the method comprising:

positioning a first jaw of a suture passer adjacent a target tissue, wherein the lower jaw of extends distally from a distal end of an elongate body of the suture passer;

sliding a second jaw of the suture passer distally from the distal end of an elongate body to position the target tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw;

passing a suture from the first jaw to the second jaw by laterally extending a tissue penetrator from the first jaw, though the target tissue, and deflecting the tip of the tissue penetrator from the second jaw distally or proximally, wherein the suture is carried by the tissue penetrator.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising securing the suture on a suture capture of the second jaw.