Suture retrograder
First Claim
1. A suture grasping device, comprising:
- an elongate housing having a proximal end, a distal end, a sidewall disposed between the proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis;
a hollow introducer needle having a proximal end attached to the distal end of the housing, and an open distal end having a tissue penetrating edge;
a suture grasping element disposed within the open distal end of the introducer needle, the suture grasping element being selectively movable between at least extended and retracted positions; and
an actuator element slidably mounted on the sidewall of the housing, the actuator element being effective to move the suture grasping element between extended and retracted positions;
wherein the actuator element is movable among a first position in which the suture grasping element is fully retracted within the introducer needle, an intermediate position in which the suture grasping element is partially extended from the introducer needle and a second position in which the suture grasping element is fully extended from the introducer needle, and wherein a biased detent means is provided in the housing for releasably locking the actuator in at least the intermediate position.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for grasping sutures includes an elongate housing and a hollow introducer needle attached to a distal end of the housing. The introducer needle has an open distal end having a sharpened, tissue penetrating edge. A suture grasping element is disposed in the open distal end of the introducer needle and is movable at least between first and second positions corresponding to the retracted and extended positions of the suture grasping element, respectively. The suture grasping element may consist of two jaws, one jaw having a pod located on a distal end thereof and one jaw being movable between opened and closed positions. In the closed position, the pod contacts a distal portion of the other jaw in a manner sufficient to retain a suture between the jaws. In additional embodiments, the suture grasping element may also consist of a substantially diamond-shaped wire loop or two wire-like member.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A suture grasping device, comprising:
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an elongate housing having a proximal end, a distal end, a sidewall disposed between the proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis; a hollow introducer needle having a proximal end attached to the distal end of the housing, and an open distal end having a tissue penetrating edge; a suture grasping element disposed within the open distal end of the introducer needle, the suture grasping element being selectively movable between at least extended and retracted positions; and an actuator element slidably mounted on the sidewall of the housing, the actuator element being effective to move the suture grasping element between extended and retracted positions; wherein the actuator element is movable among a first position in which the suture grasping element is fully retracted within the introducer needle, an intermediate position in which the suture grasping element is partially extended from the introducer needle and a second position in which the suture grasping element is fully extended from the introducer needle, and wherein a biased detent means is provided in the housing for releasably locking the actuator in at least the intermediate position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A suture grasping device, comprising:
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a hollow housing having a proximal end, a distal end, a sidewall disposed between the proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis; a hollow introducer needle having an inner bore, a proximal end attached to the distal end of the housing, and an open distal end having a sharpened edge; a suture grasping element disposed within the inner bore and being selectively movable between at least extended and retracted positions, the suture grasping element having first and second jaw components at least one of which includes a pod member on a distal end thereof; and an actuator element slidably mounted on the housing, the actuator being slidable between at least first and second positions to effect retraction and extension of the suture grasping element. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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22. The device of clam 20, wherein the jaws extend about 0.10 to 0.30 inches beyond the distal end of the introducer needle when the actuator is in the intermediate position.
Specification