System for the application of knots in surgical suture material

• US 5,454,821 A
• Filed: 12/08/1993
• Issued: 10/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hinsch, Bernard, Harm, Michael, Walther, Christoph
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHMIDT, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US08/164,046
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/144, 606/145-148, 606/228, 606/230, 112/80.03, 112/169, 289/17
• 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 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 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0474 Knot pushers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0477 with pre-tied sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2901 Details of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 17/105 Polyesters not covered by A61L17/12

Abstract

A system for the application of knots in surgical suture material consists of a pre-knotted surgical suture means (1) and a surgical knot applicator. The pre-knotted surgical suture means (1) has a sleeve (10) open at both ends (12, 13) and a surgical suture material (15) such as thread, cord, etc., which suture material is tied around the sleeve (10) to produce a pre-knotted displaceable knot (18) and has a free end (16). The surgical knot applicator contains a shaft, whose distal end-zone comprises an opening corresponding to the diameter of the sleeve (10). The sleeve (10) inserted with its proximal zone (12) into this opening is pulled back into the interior space of the shaft with a pulling-in device. The suture and the knot (18) are pulled tight by moving the free end (16) of the surgical suture material (15) guided through the sleeve (10) in proximal direction (arrow) with a pulling device.

Claims

1. A device for applying a pre-knotted surgical suture, comprising:

a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal passage therethrough, said tube having an inner surface and an outer surface and an outer diameter;

a surgical suture, said suture tied into a knot about the outer surface of the tube, said suture having a free end;

an applicator cylinder having a proximal end and a distal end, and an interior surface and an exterior surface, said cylinder having a longitudinal passage therethrough for receiving the tube and the free end of the suture;

an end piece mounted to the distal end of the cylinder, said end piece having a proximal end and a distal end, said end piece sloped toward its distal end, and said end piece additionally having a longitudinal passage therethrough in communication with the longitudinal passage of the cylinder, wherein the duameter of the end piece corresponds to the outer diameter of the tube;

means for pulling the tube into the longitudinal passage of the cylinder, said means comprising a clamping part mounted longitudinally displaceable in the longitudinal passage of the cylinder, said clamping part comprising a pair of opposed clamping jaws connected by a biasing spring such that the jaws are biased outwardly against the interior surface of the cylinder, and an operating element extending outwardly from each jaw through a slit in the cylinder; and

,

means for pulling the free end of the suture through the longitudinal passages of the cylinder and the end piece, said means comprising an elongated gripping part extending from the proximal end of the cylinder, the gripping part having a longitudinal passage for receiving the free end of the suture, said passage in communication with the longitudinal passage of the cylinder, a sliding sleeve mounted to the griping part said sleeve having a transverse hole for receiving a suture, a lever mounted to the sleeve next to the transverse hole for engaging the free end of the suture, a tooth rack extending from the gripping part and a pawl mounted to the sliding sleeve for engaging the tooth rack, wherein an adjustable pneumatic pressure cylinder is mounted to the gripping part and the sleeve for adjusting the pulling force.