Suture knot making device and method for use

• US 5,334,200 A
• Filed: 03/02/1993
• Issued: 08/02/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Lanny L. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Lanny L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHMIDT, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US08/024,749
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/139, 606/144, 606/148
• US Class Current: 606/148
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0474 Knot pushers

Abstract

A suture knot making device is provided including a cylindrical member having distal and proximal portions. The distal portion has a convexly curved end from which first and second bores are disposed through the cylindrical member. Each bore has a distal open end disposed substantially adjacent a transition area where the convexly curved end merges with the cylindrical surface of the device. The distal open ends are disposed approximately 180° apart. Each of the first and second bores extends at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical member whereby the bore cross within the member without intersecting. When a suture is formed into a loop and at least one of its ends is passed through a bore from the distal end of the device and is held taut at the proximal end, the suture is tightly forced against the convexly curved end of the device to thereby permit a tight knot to be formed at the surgical site.

Claims

1. A suture knot making device for positioning a loop of suture at a surgical site remote from an opening to the site, the device comprising:

a cylindrical member having distal and proximal portions, said distal portion having a convexly curved end face, first and second bores disposed in said cylindrical member, each said bore having a distal open end disposed substantially adjacent a transition area where said convexly curved end face merges with a cylindrical surface of said member, said distal open ends being disposed approximately 180°

apart, said first and second bores being non-intersecting and extending at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said member, whereby the bores cross one another within said member.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical member has a length of approximately 230 mm.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a diameter of said cylindrical member is approximately 5.4 mm.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a diameter of each said bore is approximately 1.5 to 2.0 mm.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said acute angle is approximately 30°

.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said bore has a proximal open end located intermediate opposite ends of the cylindrical member.

5. The device as claimed in 1, wherein said cylindrical member is formed from plastic material.

8. A method for forming a suture knot at a remote surgical site, comprising the steps of:

positioning a length of suture in engagement with tissue at the remote site;

delivering ends of the suture through an opening to the remote site;

creating a loop in the delivered ends of the suture;

threading ends of the suture loop through respective first and second bores formed in a cylindrical member of the type having distal and proximal portions, said distal portion being provided with a convexly curved end face which merges with a cylindrical surface of the member at a transition area where distal ends of said bores are disposed approximately 180°

apart, said bores extending through the member at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said member and crossing one another within the member;

drawing the suture ends through the bores until said loop is positioned against the convexly curved end face of the member;

inserting the member into said opening while maintaining the suture ends taut until the convexly curved end face is located adjacent the surgical site;

applying additional force to the suture ends to tighten the loop against the suture which engages the tissue at the remote surgical site; and

releasing the suture ends and withdrawing said member from the opening.

9. A method for forming a suture knot in tissue at a remote surgical site, comprising the steps of:

positioning a length of suture in engagement with tissue at the remote site;

creating a loop in first and second ends of the suture;

threading the first end of the suture loop through a bore formed in a cylindrical member of the type having distal and proximal portions, said distal portion being provided with a convexly curved end face which merges with a cylindrical surface of the member at a transition area, said bore extending through the member at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said member;

moving the member past the surgical site in a direction substantially parallel to said tissue, said member being oriented during movement so that a portion of said suture is positioned against the convexly curved end face of the member;

applying tension to the first and second suture ends in a plane substantially parallel to the tissue so as to tighten the loop; and

releasing the suture ends and removing the member from the remote site.