Method and apparatus for suturing

• US 6,723,107 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2000
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Orthopaedic Biosystems Ltd. Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Orthopaedic Biosystems Ltd. Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Baldwin, Jeffrey P., Hatch, Laird L., Oren, Ran, Gartsman, Gary M., Skiba, Jeffry B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Julian W.
• Application Number:
  US09/550,975
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 606/222-227, 606/139, 606/144, 606/148, 112/222-227, 223/102
• US Class Current: 606/144
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06061 Holders for needles or sutures, e.g. racks, stands hand-held holding instruments A61B17/0483; holders for articles A61B50/20; racks for syringes or for hypodermic or infusion needles A61M5/008
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06066 Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations making needles B21G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06009 having additional means for releasably clamping the suture to the needle, e.g. actuating rod slideable within the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06019 by means of a suture-receiving lateral eyelet machined in the needle lateral opening for attaching suture to suture anchor A61B2017/0414
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06042 located close to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06047 located at the middle of the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06076 helically or spirally coiled for sutures A61B2017/06171
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0608 J-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/061 hollow or tubular suture extending inside a hollow needle A61B2017/06052; hollow sutures A61B2017/06185

Abstract

Devices and techniques for suturing are particularly useful in laparoscopic, arthroscopic, and/or open surgical procedures. A method of delivering a suture includes providing a suture device, releasably coupling a suture to a distal end of a suture device by threading the suture through a first region of a bounded opening of the suture device and moving the suture to a second region of the bounded opening having a dimension smaller than a diameter of the suture to trap the suture in the second region, penetrating a substrate with the distal end of the suture device such that the a portion of the suture passes through the substrate, and releasing the suture from the distal end of the suture device.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a suture comprising:

providing a suture device;

releasably coupling a suture to a distal end of the suture device by threading the suture through a first region of a bounded opening of the suture device and then moving the suture to a second region of the bounded opening having a dimension smaller than a diameter of the suture to trap the suture in the second region;

penetrating a substrate with the distal end of the suture device such that a portion of the suture passes through the substrate; and

releasing the suture from the distal end of the suture device while at least a portion proximal of the distal end of the suture device is penetrating the substrate.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second penetrating through the substrate with the distal end of the suture device prior to the releasing.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the distal end comprises a sharpened tip, a tissue support device is disposed adjacent the sharpened tip, and the penetrating a substrate comprises locating the tissue support device adjacent a selected portion of tissue and moving the sharpened tip relative to the tissue support device to facilitate penetration of the sharpened tip through the selected portion of tissue.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein providing a suture device includes providing the distal end of the suture device with a curved, hook-like shape.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising wedging the suture in the second region to trap the suture.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein releasing the suture comprises pulling the suture from the opening.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a tool configured to assist in releasing the suture from the distal end of the suture device.

8. A method of delivering a suture comprising:

providing a suture device;

releasably coupling a suture to a distal end of the suture device by threading the suture through a first region of a bounded opening of the suture device and then moving the suture to a second region of the bounded opening having a dimension smaller than a diameter of the suture to trap the suture in the second region;

penetrating a substrate with the distal end of the suture device such that a portion of the suture passes through the substrate; and

releasing the suture from the distal end of the suture device;

wherein an orientation of the distal end of the suture device is selectively adjustable relative to an axis of the suture device.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 further comprising a second penetrating through the substrate with the distal end of the suture device prior to the releasing.

10. The method as defined in claim 8 wherein the distal end comprises a sharpened tip, a tissue support device is disposed adjacent the sharpened tip, and the penetrating a substrate comprises locating the tissue support device adjacent a selected portion of tissue and moving the sharpened tip relative to the tissue support device to facilitate penetration of the sharpened tip through the selected portion of tissue.

11. The method as defined in claim 8 wherein providing a suture device includes providing the distal end of the suture device with a curved, hook-like shape.

12. The method as defined in claim 8 further comprising wedging the suture in the second region to trap the suture.

13. The method as defined in claim 8 wherein releasing the suture comprises pulling the suture from the opening.

14. A method of delivering a suture comprising:

providing a suture device;

releasably coupling a suture to a distal end of the suture device by threading the suture through a first region of a bounded opening of the suture device and then moving the suture to a second region of the bounded opening having a dimension smaller than a diameter of the suture to trap the suture in the second region;

penetrating a substrate with the distal end of the suture device such that a portion of the suture passes through the substrate; and

releasing the suture from the distal end of the suture device;

wherein the distal end of the suture device is selectively detachable from a shaft of the suture device.

15. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the distal end of the suture device is replaceable with a differently shaped distal end.

16. The method as defined in claim 14 further comprising a second penetrating through the substrate with the distal end of the suture device prior to the releasing.

17. The method as defined in claim 14 wherein the distal end comprises a sharpened tip, a tissue support device is disposed adjacent the sharpened tip, and the penetrating a substrate comprises locating the tissue support device adjacent a selected portion of tissue and moving the sharpened tip relative to the tissue support device to facilitate penetration of the sharpened tip through the selected portion of tissue.

18. The method as defined in claim 14 wherein providing a suture device includes providing the distal end of the suture device with a curved, hook-like shape.

19. The method as defined in claim 14 further comprising wedging the suture in the second region to trap the suture.

20. The method as defined in claim 14 wherein releasing the suture comprises pulling the suture from the opening.