Flexible suture guide and holder
First Claim
1. A combination comprising:
- a biocompatible freely flexible surgical suture guide of predetermined length;
a substantially annular rigid holder defined by opposed outer and inner annular surfaces, and a groove provided in the inner annular surface for holding the suture guide in a taut fashion along the length of the suture guide; and
releasable retaining means associated with the holder for releasably holding the freely flexible suture guide in the taut fashion;
wherein, upon release of the suture guide from the holder by the releasable retaining means, the suture guide resumes flexibility.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An assembly for holding a substantially flexible suture guide of predetermined length in a substantially taut position used to achieve a suture line having a dimension equal to the length of the suture guide, such as the circumference about a heart valve annulus. The assembly includes a rigid suture guide holder having a surface against which the length of suture guide is releasably positioned. The guide holder can have a shape or geometry, such as a circumference or circumferential segment, equivalent to the shape or geometry of the intended suture line. The shape of the guide holder can therefore be selected to hold the suture guide in the shape most advantageous to placing the desired suture line. The assembly further includes a mechanism for releasably binding the suture guide to the surface of the holder and a detachable handle extendibly attached to the holder by means of a lanyard so that the handle can be detached to afford an unobstructed view of the surgical site, but cannot be removed from the surgical site until the holder has also been removed.
204 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A combination comprising:
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a biocompatible freely flexible surgical suture guide of predetermined length; a substantially annular rigid holder defined by opposed outer and inner annular surfaces, and a groove provided in the inner annular surface for holding the suture guide in a taut fashion along the length of the suture guide; and releasable retaining means associated with the holder for releasably holding the freely flexible suture guide in the taut fashion; wherein, upon release of the suture guide from the holder by the releasable retaining means, the suture guide resumes flexibility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A combination comprising:
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a biocompatible freely flexible surgical suture guide of predetermined length; a rigid holder for holding the suture guide in a taut fashion along the said length; a handle coupled to the holder; releasable retaining means associated with the holder for releasably holding the freely flexible suture guide in the taut fashion, wherein the releasable retaining means comprises at least a first thread having two opposing ends, each selectively affixed to the holder, with a portion of the thread being passed through a portion of the suture guide; a spool of a length of filamentous material secured at one end to the holder and at an opposite end to the handle wherein the spool is housed within a cavity in the handle; and wherein the holder further comprises a cutting guide through which the first thread passes, wherein a cutting tool may be inserted through the cutting guide to cut the first thread to release the suture guide from the holder. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification