Suture retriever

• US 6,517,552 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Inventors: Weber, Robert M., Burkhart, Stephen S., Nord, Keith D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reip, David O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woo, Julian W.
• Application Number:
  US09/590,168
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 606/144, 606/147, 606/148, 606/222, 606/223, 606/205, 606/207, 112/116, 112/224
• US Class Current: 606/144
• 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 2017/00349 Needle-like instruments having hook or barb-like gripping means, e.g. for grasping suture or tissue A61B17/06066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

An instrument for retrieving suture within a patient has a shaft with proximal and distal ends. The distal end terminates in a sharp tip. An opening is provided proximal to the sharp tip. A jaw captures suture slidably within the opening. A hand mechanism disposed on the proximal end of the shaft opens and closes the jaw.

Claims

1. An instrument for retrieving or inserting suture within a patient, the instrument comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the shaft having an opening disposed proximal to the distal end including a distal concave notch facing proximally for retaining captured suture within the opening as the instrument is drawn proximally;

a pivotably operable jaw for capturing suture within the opening, the jaw having a distal end disposed proximal to the distal end of the shaft when the jaw is in the closed position;

a hand mechanism disposed on the proximal end of the shaft for opening and closing the jaw; and

an actuating rod disposed within the shaft and connecting between the hand mechanism and the jaw.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the opening has a size such that when the jaw is closed, captured suture is allowed to slide freely within the opening.

3. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the shaft has a bend proximal to the opening in the shaft.

4. The instrument of claim 3, wherein the opening is disposed on an upper side of the shaft, and the shaft is bent upward.

5. The instrument of claim 4, wherein the shaft is bent upward at a 45°

angle.

6. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the shaft is tapered toward the distal end.

7. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the jaw closes flush with an outer surface of the shaft.

8. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the hand mechanism includes a moveable finger loop and a stationary thumb loop.

9. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism for maintaining the jaw in a fixed position.

10. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism for maintaining the jaw in a closed position.

11. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a hollow tube, and the actuating rod is contained within the shaft.

12. An instrument for retrieving or inserting suture within a patient, the instrument comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having a retrograde tip angling proximally;

an opening disposed proximal to the distal end;

a pivotably operable jaw for capturing suture within the opening, the jaw having a distal end disposed proximal to the distal end of the shaft when the jaw is in the closed position;

a hand mechanism disposed on the proximal end of the shaft for opening and closing the jaw; and

an actuating rod disposed within the shaft and connecting between the hand mechanism and the jaw.

13. The instrument of claim 12, wherein the opening in the shaft includes a notch on a proximal face of the opening for retaining captured suture within the opening.

14. The instrument of claim 12, further comprising a guard disposed on the shaft and movable into a position protecting the distal end.

15. The instrument of claim 14, wherein the guard is slidably movable along the shaft.

16. An instrument for retrieving or inserting suture within a patient, the instrument comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

a pivotably operable jaw disposed on the distal end of the shaft, the jaw closing toward the shaft, the jaw and a distal portion of the shaft being configured such that an opening for capturing suture is formed between the jaw and the distal portion of the shaft when the jaw is closed, the jaw having a distal end disposed proximal to the distal end of the shaft when the jaw is in the closed position;

a hand mechanism disposed on the proximal end of the shaft when the jaw is in the closed position; and

an actuating rod disposed within the shaft and connecting between the hand mechanism and the jaw.

17. The instrument of claim 16, wherein suture is captured slidably within the opening formed by the configuration of the jaw and the distal portion of the shaft when the jaw is closed.

18. The instrument of claim 16, wherein the opening is defined distally by a surface shaped so that suture captured within the opening slides toward a bottom of the opening as the instrument is drawn proximally.

19. The instrument of claim 16, wherein an outer surface of the jaw closes to form a surface contiguous with the outer surface of the shaft.