Transvaginal suture spacer devices and methods of use

• US 6,679,896 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gellman, Barry N., Sater, Ghaleb A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse; David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pellegrino; Brian E
• Application Number:
  US10/109,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20020099391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 606/148,139,228,232,144 600/29,30 289/1.5
• US Class Current: 606/148
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to suture spacers and methods for their use. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices which permit a surgeon to create a consistent amount of suture slack in a suture line when tying sutures under very tight space constraints including procedures such as bladder neck stabilization and treatment of hypermobility or intrinsic sphincter deficiency. Further, the present invention relates to methods of tying sutures using the disclosed devices in such procedures.

Claims

1. A method of spacing a suture in a surgical procedure, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a suture spacer comprising;

(i) a first member including a proximal end and a distal end;

(ii) a second member including a proximal end and a distal end, a distal portion of the second member comprising a cross-sectional area, the first and second members having a thickness dimension; and

(iii) a pivot disposed between the first and second members such that the application of a compressive force upon the proximal ends of the first and second members results in movement of the distal ends away from each other;

b. placing a suture between the first and second members;

c. tying the suture around the spacer so as to traverse the thickness dimension and the cross-sectional area, the thickness dimension and the cross-sectional area cooperating to create a predetermined amount of slack in the suture; and

d. compressing the proximal ends and removing the suture from between the first and second members, the suture retaining the predetermined amount of slack.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first member further comprises two opposing substantially parallel sides, the sides being separated by the thickness dimension, the distal portion of the first member having a first width substantially perpendicular to the thickness dimension;

the second member further comprises two opposing substantially parallel sides, the sides being separated by the thickness dimension, the distal portion of the second member having a second width substantially perpendicular to the thickness dimension, the second width being greater than the first width of the first member; and

the cross-sectional area is substantially defined by the thickness dimension and the second width.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second member further comprises a substantially planar exterior surface that is substantially perpendicular to the sides of the second member.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the substantially planar exterior surface further comprises a ridge for retaining the suture.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the first member, the second member, and the pivot are integrally formed as a single piece of material.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the suture spacer further comprises a protuberance for limiting movement of the distal ends of the first and second members away from each other.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein

the proximal end and distal end of the second member of the suture spacer define a longitudinal axis, and the second member further comprises a surface substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the surface having a length, the length being greater than the thickness dimension, such that the cross-sectional area is substantially defined by the length and the thickness dimension,

and the suture spacer further comprises a border for retaining the suture when placed between the first and second members.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the suture spacer further comprises a protuberance for limiting movement of the distal ends of the members away from each other.