Meniscal suturing instrument and method

• US 7,118,583 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2002
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Quinn, Philip S., Weber, Robert M., Schmieding, Reinhold
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anhtuan T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Erezo, Darwin P.
• Application Number:
  US10/277,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/144, 606/148, 606/223
• US Class Current: 606/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• 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 2017/00946 malleable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0477 with pre-tied sutures
• 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 2017/0646 for insertion into cartillege, e.g. meniscus

Abstract

An instrument for surgical suturing includes a shaft, and a needle disposed slidably for longitudinal travel with respect to the shaft. A prong formed on one end of the shaft projects across a longitudinal axis of the needle and has an opening formed through the prong that provides a clearance through which a tip portion of the needle passes when it is advanced. Slots formed on a surface of the prong facing the shaft releasably hold suture across the opening. Advancing the needle through the clearance allows a hook formed on the tip of the needle to capture the suture. Once withdrawn, the needle draws the suture back through tissue pierced during advancement. The suture is released from the slots and drawn back through the tissue for further knot tying and suturing to effect the tissue repairs.

Claims

1. An instrument for surgical suturing of a meniscal tear, comprising:

a shaft;

a needle disposed slidably for longitudinal travel with respect to the shaft;

a curved prong on one end of the shaft, the prong projecting across a longitudinal axis of the needle and having an opening formed through the prong that provides a clearance through which a tip portion of the needle passes when it is advanced;

open slots formed on an inner side of the prong, said open slots facing the end of the shaft and retaining a loop of suture on the inner surface of the prong facing the end of the shaft such that the suture extends across the opening formed through the prong; and

a suture channel formed on a top outer surface of the prong and extending longitudinally with respect to the shaft,

wherein the suture loop is retained in the open slots of the prong by passing suture strands extending from said loop separately around respective opposite sides of the prong and together through the suture channel formed on the top outer surface of the prong.

2. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising a handle, wherein the shaft is fixed nonslidably to the handle.

3. A hand instrument for suturing a mensical tear, the hand instrument comprising:

a tubular shaft having proximal and distal ends;

a needle disposed slidably within the tubular shaft;

a prong formed on the distal end of the tubular shaft including open slots for holding a length of suture on a proximal face of the prong in a sliding path of the needle, such that a hook formed on the needle captures the length of suture and, upon proximal movement of the needle, the suture is released from the proximal face prong; and

a suture channel formed on a top outer surface of the prong and extending longitudinally with respect to the shaft;

wherein the length of suture is retained in the open slots of the prong by passing opposite strands of said suture separately around respective opposite sides of the prong and together through the suture channel formed on the top outer surface of the prong.

4. A method for suturing meniscal tears using a hand instrument having a tubular shaft, a needle slidably disposed in the tubular shaft and having a hook formed on the distal end, and a prong formed on a distal end of the tubular shaft holding a length of suture in open slots formed on a proximal face of the prong, said open slots facing the end of the shaft, the suture being held in the slots by passing opposite strands of the suture separately back around respective opposite sides of the prong, then together up through a longitudinal channel formed on a top outer surface of the prong above the slots, the method comprising the steps of:

proximating a meniscal tear with the hand instrument;

advancing the needle through meniscal tissue on opposite side of the tear;

engaging the length of suture extending through the open slots with the hook in the needle; and

sliding the needle proximally such that the length of suture engaged by the hook is released from the open slots formed on the proximal face of the prong and drawn back away from the prong and through the meniscal tissue on opposite sides of the tear.