Suture collet

• US 6,200,329 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1998
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC), University Of Massachusetts
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC), University Of Massachusetts
• Inventors: Fung, Leo C. T., Ek, Steven W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, HOA B
• Application Number:
  US09/143,591
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 606/232, 606/144, 606/72, 606/73, 606/74, 606/139, 128/898, 128/899, 241/15.M, 241/36.R, 245/87, 243/99, 244/00
• US Class Current: 606/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 snug fit within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks for applying suture anchors A61B2017/0409; for applying wound clamps A61B17/10; for applying ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/128

Abstract

A suture securing device includes an inner member defining a suture receiving passage extending between a distal end surface of the inner member and a second surface of the inner member. An outer member defines an opening for receiving the inner member such that suture extending from the second surface is secured between the inner member and the outer member. The second surface is a proximal end surface of the inner member, and a slot extends between an outer surface of the inner member and the passage. Suture is threaded through the inner member in a proximal direction, and the outer member is advanced over the inner member to cause the suture to double back in a distal direction. A suture securing cartridge includes a sleeve having an axial bore with the suture securing device disposed in the bore.

Claims

1. A suture securing device, comprising:

an inner member defining a suture receiving passage extending proximally from a distal end surface of the inner member configured to face tissue being sutured to a second surface of the inner member, the inner member defining a slot extending proximally from the distal end surface and radially from the suture receiving passage to an outer surface of the inner member to permit suture to be passed therethrough into the suture receiving passage, and

an outer member defining an opening for receiving the inner member, the opening being sized relative to the inner member to define a gap between the inner member and the outer member for receiving the suture such that a portion of the suture extending from the second surface is secured between the inner member and the outer member.

2. The suture securing device of claim 1 wherein the second surface comprises a proximal end surface of the inner member.

3. The suture securing device of claim 1 wherein the outer member opening comprises a bore and the inner member includes a region having an outer diameter greater than a diameter of the outer member bore.

4. The suture securing device of claim 1 wherein the inner member is cylindrical.

5. The suture securing device of claim 1 wherein the outer member opening comprises a bore extending axially from a proximal end to a distal end of the outer member.

6. The suture securing device of claim 1 wherein the outer member opening comprises a bore tapering distally from a first diameter to a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter.

7. The suture securing device of claim 1 wherein the outer member is cylindrical.

8. The suture securing device of claim 1 wherein the inner member includes a collar having a first diameter and a distal end having a second diameter less than the first diameter.

9. A suture securing cartridge, comprising:

a sleeve having an axial bore, and

a suture securing device including an inner member disposed in the bore at a distal end of the sleeve, the inner member defining a suture receiving passage, and an outer member disposed in the bore proximally of the inner member with a distal-most end surface of the outer member spaced from a proximal-most end surface of the inner member, the outer member configured for advancement over the inner member.

10. The suture securing cartridge of claim 9 wherein the sleeve includes a first suture threading slot extending proximally from a distal end of the sleeve.

11. The suture securing cartridge of claim 10 wherein at least a portion of the first suture threading slot extends along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

12. The suture securing cartridge of claim 10 wherein the sleeve includes a second suture threading slot extending proximally from the distal end of the sleeve.

13. The suture securing cartridge of claim 12 wherein at least a portion of the first and second suture threading slots extend along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

14. The suture securing cartridge of claim 12 wherein the second suture threading slot terminates distally of the first suture threading slot.

15. The suture securing cartridge of claim 9 wherein the sleeve has a distal clamp for limiting distal movement of the inner member.

16. The suture securing cartridge of claim 15 wherein the distal clamp is resilient to permit the inner member to exit the bore in the distal direction.

17. The suture securing cartridge of claim 9, wherein the suture receiving passage extends from a distal end surface of the inner member to a proximal end surface of the inner member, the outer member defining an opening for receiving the inner member;

the opening being sized to allow a portion of the suture that extends from the distal end surface of the inner member to the proximal end surface of the inner member to be looped back along substantially a full length of the outer member between the inner member and the outer member, the opening and the inner member being sized to frictionally secure the portion of suture between the inner member and the outer member when the inner member is received within the opening.

18. The suturing apparatus of claim 17, wherein

the suture receiving passage extends from a distal end surface of the inner member to a proximal end surface of the inner member, the outer member defining an opening for receiving the inner member; the opening being sized to allow a portion of the suture that extends from the distal end surface of the inner member to the proximal end surface of the inner member to be doubled back along substantially a full length of the outer member between the inner member and the outer member, the opening and the inner member being sized to frictionally secure the portion of suture between the inner member and the outer member when the inner member is received within the opening.

19. A suturing apparatus comprising:

a suture securing cartridge that includes

a sleeve having an axial bore, and

a suture securing device including an inner member disposed in the bore at a distal end of the sleeve, the inner member defining a suture receiving passage, and an outer member disposed in the bore proximally of the inner member with a distal-most end surface of the outer member spaced from a proximal-most end surface of the inner member, the outer member configured for advancement over the inner member,

a drive tool that includes

an outer sheath which fits over the sleeve, an intermediate tube which engages the sleeve to secure the cartridge to the drive tool, and a movable element located within the intermediate tube for advancing the outer member over the inner member.

20. The suturing apparatus of claim 19 wherein the sleeve has a circumferential groove in the bore, and the intermediate tube has a grasper which engages the groove to secure the cartridge to the drive tool.

21. A method of securing a Suture, comprising:

passing a first suture strand through a first suture threading slot in a sleeve,

passing the first suture strand through a passage in an inner member positioned within the sleeve, the passage extending between a distal end surface of the inner member and a second surface of the inner member, and

advancing an outer member over the inner member such that suture extending from the second surface is secured between the inner member and the outer member, the outer member being positioned within the sleeve proximally of the inner member with a distal-most end surface of the outer member spaced from a proximal-most end surface of the inner member.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein threading includes threading the suture in a proximal direction, and advancing the outer member over the inner member causes the suture to double back in a distal direction.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein threading further includes passing the first suture strand through a slot in the inner member to the passage.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising advancing an outer sheath over the sleeve to at least partially cover the first suture threading slot.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising passing a second suture strand through a second suture threading slot in the sleeve.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising passing the second suture strand through a slot in the inner member to the passage.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising advancing the outer sheath over the sleeve to at least partially cover the second suture threading slot.

28. The method of claim 21 further comprising, after advancing the outer member over the inner member, expelling the inner member and the outer member from a sleeve containing the inner member and the outer member.

29. A method of using a suture securing device, comprising:

providing a preassembled suture securing cartridge including a sleeve having an axial bore and a suture securing device, the suture securing device including an inner member disposed in the bore at a distal end of the sleeve, the inner member defining a suture receiving passage, and an outer member disposed in the bore proximally of the inner member with a distal-most end surface of the outer member spaced from a proximal-most end surface of the inner member, the outer member configured for advancement over the inner member,

inserting the preassembled cartridge into a drive tool that includes an outer sheath which fits over the sleeve, an intermediate tube which engages the sleeve to secure the cartridge to the drive tool, and a movable element located within the intermediate tube for advancing the outer member over the inner member, and

advancing the movable element to advance the outer member over the inner member.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising, after advancing the outer member over the inner member, expelling the inner member and the outer member from the sleeve.

31. A suture securing device, comprising:

an inner member defining a suture receiving passage extending from a distal end surface of the inner member to a second surface of the inner member, and

an outer member defining an opening for receiving the inner member such that suture extending from the second surface is secured between the inner member and the outer member, the outer member opening tapering distally from a first diameter to a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter, the outer member being sized for dwelling within a patient'"'"'s body.

32. A suture securing device, comprising:

an inner member defining a suture receiving passage extending from a distal end surface of the inner member to a proximal end surface of the inner member, and

an outer member defining an opening for receiving the inner member, the opening being sized to allow a portion of the suture that extends from the distal end surface of the inner member to the proximal end surface of the inner member to be looped back along substantially a full length of the outer member between the inner member and the outer member, the inner member and the outer member sized to be secured together by a friction fit with the portion of suture therebetween when the inner member is received within the opening.

33. The suture securing device of claim 32 wherein the inner member further defines a slot extending from the distal end surface to the proximal end surface and radially from the suture receiving passage to an outer surface of the inner member.

34. The suture securing device of claim 32 wherein the outer member opening comprises a bore and the inner member includes a region having an outer diameter greater than a diameter of the outer member bore.

35. The suture securing device of claim 32 wherein the outer member opening comprises a bore extending axially from a proximal end to a distal end of the outer member.

36. The suture securing device of claim 32 wherein the outer member opening comprises a bore tapering distally from a first diameter to a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter.

37. A method of securing a suture, comprising:

passing a first suture strand through a first suture threading slot in a sleeve containing an inner member and an outer member,

passing the first suture strand through a slot in the inner member to a passage in the inner member extending from a distal end surface of the inner member to a proximal end surface of the inner member,

advancing an outer sheath over the sleeve to at least partially cover the first suture threading slot in the sleeve,

passing a second suture strand through a second suture threading slot in the sleeve,

passing the second suture strand through the slot in the inner member to the passage, and

further advancing the outer sheath over the sleeve to at least partially cover the second suture threading slot in the sleeve.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising advancing the outer member over the inner member such that the suture extending from the proximal end surface of the inner member loops back along substantially a full length of the outer member and is frictionally secured between the inner member and the outer member.