Method and apparatus for passing a suture through tissue

• US 7,722,630 B1
• Filed: 11/09/2004
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stone, Kevin T, Walters, Troy M
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo; Julian W
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US10/984,608
• Time in Patent Office: 2,023 Days
• Field of Search: 606/144
• US Class Current: 606/144
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0491 Sewing machines for surgery

Abstract

An apparatus and method for passing a suture through tissue includes a first jaw member having a retaining structure to support a portion of the suture proximate a first surface of the tissue. A second jaw member is associated with the first jaw member. The second jaw member is selectively configurable in a first configuration to perform a first stitch or in a second configuration to perform a second stitch.

Claims

1. An apparatus for passing a suture through tissue comprising:

a first jaw member having a retaining structure to support a portion of the suture proximate a first surface of the tissue;

a second jaw member collectively including a plurality of second jaw members that are each selectively and alternatively coupled with said first jaw member, wherein one of the plurality of second jaw members has a distal end that carries a first needle in a first configuration to perform a first stitch and wherein another of said plurality of second jaw members has a distal end that carries said first needle and a second needle in a second configuration to perform a second stitch, wherein said first and second configurations are distinct and said first and second stitches are distinct.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first needle and said second needle are coupled for concurrent movement with said second jaw member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one of said first needle and said second needle pierces through the tissue from a second surface to said first surface as a result of movement of said second jaw member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein at least one of said first needle and said second needle defines a hook that captures said supported portion of the suture upon actuation of one of said first and second jaw members in a first direction and drawing a portion of said suture from said first surface of the tissue, through the tissue and to said second surface of the tissue upon actuation of one of said first and second jaw members in a second direction.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second jaw members are pivotally coupled.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said first jaw member includes a body portion having said retaining structure thereon, said retaining structure defining a groove for locating a portion of the suture thereat, said groove defined along a longitudinal axis of said first jaw member.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said body portion includes a distal portion and a proximal portion, said proximal portion coupled to said second jaw at a pivot joint.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said distal portion and said proximal portion define an upper face opposing said second jaw member, a lower face and a sidewall extending between said upper face and said lower face, said sidewall having said groove therein.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said body portion further includes a bridge extending between and connecting said distal and proximal portions, said bridge defining a stepped in portion offset inboard from said groove.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said second jaw member includes a first barrel portion that receives said first needle and positions said needle in an orientation whereby pivotal actuation of said second jaw member relative to said first jaw member passes said first needle between said bridge and a suture located in said groove.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said bridge includes a first angled engagement surface that slidably engages said first needle and deflects said first needle outward and into engagement with the suture upon actuation of said second jaw member in said first direction.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first needle includes a complementary angled engagement surface that slidably engages said angled engagement surface of said bridge.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further including first and second handle members operably coupled to said first and second jaw member, wherein relative actuation of said handle members influences pivotal movement between said first and second jaw members.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first stitch includes a single stitch and said second stitch includes a mattress stitch.

15. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first needle defines a hook that extends in a first direction in said first configuration and extends in a second direction, distinct from said first direction, in said second configuration.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first direction is opposite said second direction.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the second jaw is formed of a flexible resilient material such that the second jaw flexes during deflection of said first needle.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first needle is formed of a flexible resilient material such that the first needle flexes during deflection by said angled engagement surface.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second jaw member includes a proximal end pivotally coupled to said first jaw member and an intermediate curved portion formed between said proximal and distal ends of said second jaw member, said intermediate curved portion aligning at least one of said first and second needles in a direction toward said first jaw member.

19. An apparatus for passing a suture through tissue comprising:

a first jaw member having a retaining structure to support a portion of the suture proximate a first surface of the tissue and a bridge connecting a distal portion of said first jaw member to a proximal portion of said first jaw member, wherein said bridge includes a first angled engagement surface; and

a second jaw member pivotally coupled to said first jaw member, and having at least one of a first needle and a second needle disposed at a distal end of said second jaw member and fixed for pivotal movement with said second jaw member relative to said first jaw member, said first needle and said second needle including a complementary angled engagement surface that slidably engages said angled engagement surface of said bridge, wherein said angled engagement surface of said bridge deflects said first needle in a first direction and deflects said second needle in a second direction.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said first direction is opposite said second direction.

27. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said second jaw member includes a proximal end pivotally coupled to said first jaw member and an intermediate curved portion formed between said proximal and distal ends of said second jaw member, said intermediate curved portion aligning at least one of said first and second needles in a direction toward said first jaw member.

21. An apparatus for passing a suture through tissue comprising:

a first jaw member having a retaining structure to support a portion of the suture proximate a first surface of the tissue and a bridge connecting a distal portion of said first jaw member to a proximal portion of said first jaw member, wherein said bridge includes a first angled engagement surface and a second angled engagement surface, said first and second angled engagement surfaces sloping generally away from each other from an upper end; and

a second jaw member rotatably coupled to said first jaw member, wherein said second jaw member selectively retains a first needle for concurrent rotation with said second jaw member relative to said first jaw member to perform a first stitch in a first configuration and operable to selectively retain said first needle and concurrently a second needle for concurrent rotation with said second jaw member relative to said first jaw member to perform a second stitch in a second configuration, said first needle and said second needles each including a complementary angled engagement surface that slidably engage respective first and second angled engagement surfaces of said bridge.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said first needle is disposed at a distal end of said second jaw member and pierces through the tissue from a second surface to said first surface.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said first and second needles both define a hook that captures said supported portion of the suture upon actuation of said first and second jaw members in a first direction and drawing a portion of the suture from said first surface of the tissue, through the tissue and to said second surface of the tissue upon actuation of one of said first and second jaw members in a second direction.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said first and second jaw members are pivotally coupled.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said first jaw member includes a body portion having said retaining structure thereon, said retaining structure defining a groove that locates a portion of the suture thereat, said groove defined along a longitudinal axis of said first jaw member.

28. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said second jaw member includes a proximal end pivotally coupled to said first jaw member and an intermediate curved portion formed between said proximal and distal ends of said second jaw member, said intermediate curved portion aligning at least one of said first and second needles in a direction toward said first jaw member.

29. An apparatus for passing a suture through tissue comprising:

a first jaw member including a body portion having a retaining structure thereon to support a portion of the suture proximate a first surface of the tissue, said retaining structure defining a groove for locating a portion of the suture thereat, said groove defined along a longitudinal axis of said first jaw member;

a second jaw member pivotally coupled with said first jaw member and carrying at least one of a first needle and a second needle that extend from a distal end of said second jaw member; and

wherein said second jaw member is selectively configurable in a first configuration to perform a first stitch or in a second configuration to perform a second stitch and wherein said first and second configurations are distinct and said first and second stitches are distinct.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said body portion includes a distal portion and a proximal portion, said proximal portion coupled to said second jaw at a pivot joint.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said distal portion and said proximal portion define an upper face opposing said second jaw member, a lower face and a sidewall extending between said upper face and said lower face, said sidewall having said groove therein.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said body portion further includes a bridge extending between and connecting said distal and proximal portions, said bridge defining a stepped in portion offset inboard from said groove.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said second jaw member includes a first barrel portion that receives said first needle and positions said needle in an orientation whereby pivotal actuation of said second jaw member relative to said first jaw member passes said first needle between said bridge and a suture located in said groove.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said bridge includes a first angled engagement surface that slidably engages said first needle and deflects said first needle outward and into engagement with the suture upon actuation of said second jaw member in said first direction.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said first needle includes a complementary angled engagement surface that slidably engages said angled engagement surface of said bridge.

36. An apparatus for passing a suture through tissue comprising:

a first jaw member having a retaining structure to support a portion of the suture proximate a first surface of the tissue;

a second jaw member movably coupled with said first jaw member and carrying at least one of a first needle and a second needle that extend from a distal end of said second jaw member; and

wherein said second jaw member is selectively configurable in a first configuration to perform a first stitch or in a second configuration to perform a second stitch and wherein said first and second configurations are distinct and said first and second stitches are distinct, wherein said at least one of said first needle and said second needle are coupled for concurrent movement with said second jaw member, wherein said first needle defines a hook that extends in a first direction in said first configuration and extends in a second direction, distinct from said first direction, in said second configuration.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said first direction is opposite said second direction.