Suture cutter

• US 6,733,509 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2001
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scarab Technology Services, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sutura Incorporated
• Inventors: Decker, Steven E., Nobles, Anthony A., Peterson, Rod T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Roberts, Paul A
• Application Number:
  US09/940,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20020087178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 606/148, 606/144, 606/167, 606/139, 606/113, 606/138
• US Class Current: 606/138
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0467 Instruments for cutting sutures surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0474 Knot pushers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0477 with pre-tied sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0619 thermoplastic, e.g. for bonding, welding, fusing or cutting the suture by melting it suture cutters A61B17/0467; ultrasonic cutters A61B17/320068; electrically heated instruments A61B18/08

Abstract

Suture cutter embodiments include elements for cutting back the leads of a suture after the suture has been tied into a knot, e.g., as a result of drawing tissue portions together. The suture cutter may include mechanisms which can be used to push and position a knot, so that a single device may be used to both push a knot and trim the excess material therefrom.

Claims

1. An apparatus for severing end portions of a suture, in which the suture extends from a sutured tissue portion, comprising:

an elongate member having a distal end portion, said elongate member sized to be inserted into a tissue tract with said distal end portion of said elongate member adjacent the sutured tissue portion, said distal end portion including;

at least one suture receptacle; and

a suture severing element disposed adjacent to said at least one suture receptacle such that at least one suture end portion within said at least one suture receptacle is severed upon activation of said severing element;

wherein said elongate member includes at least two longitudinal members which are rotatable with respect to each other, said longitudinal members including respective blade members at respective distal end portions of said longitudinal members, said blade members severing the suture upon rotation of one of said at least two longitudinal members with respect to another of said at least two longitudinal members.