Apparatus and method for placing sutures in the lacerated end of a tendon and similar body tissues

• US 6,322,571 B1
• Filed: 04/05/1999
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brian D. Adams
• Original Assignee: Brian D. Adams
• Inventors: Adams, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): REIP, DAVID OWEN
• Application Number:
  US09/286,198
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 609/151, 609/139, 609/160, 609/148, 609/153, 609/157, 609/158, 623/11, 623/12, 623/13, 623/14, 623/15, 623/16
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1146 of tendons
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments

Abstract

A suture repair system is provided for releasably holding the lacerated end of a tendon, ligament, and similar types of body tissues and precisely guiding placement of one or more sutures therein. The suture repair system preferably provides one or more suture guide paths for placing respective sutures having a selected configuration in the lacerated end. The system preferably includes a single use, disposable holder or clamp assembly. The clamp assembly may also be used as a guide to accurately trim, when necessary, the lacerated end. Once suture placement is completed the clamp assembly may be removed and may be discarded.

Claims

1. A tendon suture-repair device comprising:

an enclosure for releasably holding a lacerated end of a tendon within a channel having a longitudinal axis and a generally oval shaped cross section to accommodate the tendon;

the enclosure having at least one slot and at least one hole which forms an acute angle with respect to said longitudinal axis for guiding placement of a suture strand exiting from the lacerated end of the tendon; and

a manipulator for opening and closing portions of the enclosure.

2. A tendon repair system comprising:

a clamp assembly having a longitudinal axis for releasably holding a lacerated end of a tendon;

at least one suture guide path defined in part by a slot formed in the clamp assembly for placement of a suture in the lacerated end and a hole which forms an acute angle with respect to said longitudinal axis to direct placement of a suture strand exiting from the lacerated end of the tendon; and

a manipulator for opening and closing the clamp assembly.

3. The tendon repair system of claim 2 wherein the clamp assembly further comprises:

a pair of jaws with each jaw having a channel formed therein and extending generally longitudinally therethrough;

the clamp assembly having a first position with the jaws spaced from each other to allow placement of the lacerated end of the tendon within one of the channels; and

the clamp assembly having a second position with the jaws disposed immediately adjacent to each other to releasably hold the lacerated end within the channels.

4. The tendon repair system of claim 2 wherein the clamp assembly further comprises:

a pair of jaws with each jaw having a channel formed therein and extending longitudinally therethrough; and

at least one of the channels having a plurality of spikes disposed therein for engagement with the lacerated end.

5. The tendon repair system of claim 2 wherein the clamp assembly further comprises:

a pair of jaws with a hinge attached thereto and extending along one side of the clamp assembly; and

the hinge cooperating with the manipulator for opening and closing the clamp assembly.

6. The tendon repair system of claim 2 wherein the clamp assembly further comprises:

a pair of jaws with each jaw having a channel formed therein and extending longitudinally therethrough;

each channel having a cross section corresponding approximately with one half of an oval; and

the channels cooperating with each other to form a passageway having a generally oval shaped cross section extending longitudinally through the clamp assembly when the clamp assembly is in its closed position.

7. The tendon repair system of claim 2 further comprising:

a first jaw and a second jaw which cooperate with each other to form a longitudinal passageway for releasably holding the lacerated end of the tendon when the clamp assembly is closed; and

a locking mechanism for releasably engaging the first jaw with the second jaw when the clamp assembly is closed.

8. The tendon repair system of claim 7 wherein the locking mechanism further comprises:

a pair of flexible collets attached to and extending from the first jaw; and

a pair of recesses formed in the second jaw aligned with and sized to respectively receive one of the collets.

9. The tendon repair system of claim 2 further comprising:

a longitudinal passageway for releasably holding the lacerated end of the tendon when the clamp assembly is closed;

the manipulator having a position extending generally normal to the longitudinal passageway during opening and closing of the clamp assembly; and

the manipulator having another position extending generally parallel with the longitudinal passageway during placement of the suture in the lacerated end.

10. A suture repair device comprising:

a clamp assembly having a longitudinal passageway formed therein for releasably holding a lacerated end of a fibrous body tissue;

a first suture guide path defined in part by at least one hole which forms an acute angle with respect to said longitudinal passageway and one slot formed in the clamp assembly for use in directing placement of a first suture strand exiting from the lacerated end; and

a second suture guide path defined in part by at least one hole and one slot formed in the clamp assembly for use in directing placement of a second suture strand through said fibrous body tissue.

11. The suture repair device of claim 10 wherein the first suture guide path further comprises:

a first slot and a second slot formed in the clamp assembly;

the first slot and the second slot generally aligned with each other and intersecting the longitudinal passageway; and

each slot having a generally trapezoidal configuration.

12. The suture repair device of claim 10 further comprising the longitudinal passageway sized to releasably hold fibrous body tissue selected from the group consisting of a tendon and a ligament.

13. The suture repair device of claim 10 further comprising:

the clamp assembly having a first jaw and a second jaw;

the manipulator having a first arm and a second arm;

the first arm having a first segment rotatably attached to the first jaw; and

the first arm having a second segment rotatably attached to both the first segment and the second arm whereby movement of the first segment and the second segment of the first arm relative to each other and relative to the second arm will open and close the clamp assembly.

14. A suture repair device comprising:

a clamp assembly having a longitudinal passageway formed therein for releasably holding a lacerated end of a fibrous body tissue;

at least one suture guide path formed in the clamp assembly for directing placement of a suture in the lacerated end;

a manipulator for opening and closing the clamp assembly;

the manipulator aligned generally normal to the longitudinal passageway while opening and closing the clamp assembly; and

the manipulator aligned generally parallel with the longitudinal passageway when the clamp assembly is in the closed position during placement of at least one suture in the lacerated end.

15. Apparatus for releasably holding one end of a lacerated fibrous body tissue and guiding placement of at least one suture therethrough comprising:

a clamp assembly having a longitudinal passageway formed therein for releasably holding the lacerated end of the fibrous body tissue;

at least one suture guide path formed in the clamp assembly for placement of a suture in the lacerated end;

a manipulator for opening and closing the clamp assembly; and

the clamp assembly having a first jaw and a second jaw;

the manipulator having a first arm and a second arm; and

one end of the first arm pivotally attached to the first jaw and one end of the second arm pivotally attached to the second jaw whereby the manipulator is moved from a position extending generally normal to the longitudinal passageway to another position extending generally parallel with the longitudinal passageway when said clamp assembly is in the closed position.

16. Apparatus for releasably holding one end of a lacerated fibrous body tissue and guiding placement of at least one suture therethrough comprising:

a clamp assembly having a longitudinal passageway formed therein for releasably holding the lacerated end of the fibrous body tissue;

at least one suture path formed in the clamp assembly for placement of a suture in the lacerated end;

a manipulator for opening and closing the clamp assembly;

the longitudinal passageway having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;

a second suture guide path formed in the clamp assembly for use in directing placement of a second suture in the lacerated end; and

said at least one suture guide path intersecting with the second suture guide path at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees with respect to the longitudinal center line of the longitudinal passageway.

17. A suture repair device comprising:

a clamp assembly having a longitudinal passageway formed therein for releasably holding a lacerated end of a fibrous body tissue;

at least a first suture guide path formed in the clamp assembly for use in directing placement of at least one suture strand exiting from the lacerated end;

the first suture guide path defined in part by a first slot and a second slot formed in the clamp assembly;

the first slot and the second slot generally diametrically aligned with each other and extending in the direction of the longitudinal passageway;

a plurality of holes extending through the first slot and the second slot and the holes sized to allow a needle to pass therethrough; and

the dimensions of the first slot and the second slot selected to allow movement of the suture therethrough and to prevent movement of the needle therethrough.

18. The suture repair device of claim 17 further comprising;

at least a second suture guide path formed in the clamp assembly for use in directing placement of a second suture strand exiting from the lacerated end of the fibrous body tissue;

the second suture guide path having a configuration corresponding generally with the first suture guide path; and

the second suture guide path intersecting the longitudinal passageway at an angle offset from the first suture guide path.

19. A tendon repair system comprising:

a clamp assembly for releasably holding a lacerated end of a fibrous body tissue;

the clamp assembly having a pair of jaws with each jaw including a channel extending longitudinally therethrough;

at least one of the channels having a plurality of spikes disposed therein for engagement with the lacerated end;

a manipulator for opening and closing the clamp assembly;

the manipulator having a position extending generally normal to the longitudinal passageway; and

the manipulator having another position extending generally parallel with the longitudinal passageway.

20. Apparatus for releasably holding one end of a lacerated fibrous body tissue, trimming the lacerated end and guiding placement of at least one suture therethrough comprising:

a clamp assembly having a generally longitudinal passageway formed therein for releasably holding the lacerated end of the fibrous body tissue;

the longitudinal passageway having a generally oval shaped cross-section sized to accommodate the fibrous body tissue;

a plurality of spikes disposed within the longitudinal channel for engagement with the fibrous body tissue;

a manipulator for opening and closing the clamp assembly; and

one end of the clamp assembly having a generally smooth, flat surface which serves as a cutting guide to allow efficient, accurate, trimming of the lacerated end of the fibrous body tissue to remove any oblique, jagged or crushed portions.