Arthroscopic soft tissue plication systems and methods
First Claim
1. A method of repairing soft tissue, comprising:
- introducing an instrument having a shaft and a redirecting curve comprising a curved surface into an operative site;
advancing a flexible cable grasping device distally from said instrument to contact the curved surface of the redirecting curve and to slide along the curved surface as it advances out of the instrument;
opening grasper jaws on said flexible cable grasping device to capture a portion of soft tissue;
retracting said flexible cable grasping device so that the captured tissue lies in a pathway for a needle in said instrument;
advancing the needle along said pathway through the captured tissue;
capturing a portion of suture with an externally disposed suture hook on said needle, distally of said captured tissue;
retracting the needle proximally through the captured tissue, to thereby pass the suture therethrough and plicate the tissue; and
releasing the plicated tissue from said grasper.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for repairing soft tissue comprises introducing an instrument having a shaft into an operative site, such as a human shoulder. Then, a flexible grasper is advanced from the instrument to capture a portion of soft tissue. The flexible grasper is then retracted so that the captured tissue lies in a pathway for a needle in the instrument. The needle is advanced along the pathway through the captured tissue, and then a portion of suture is captured with the needle, distally of the captured tissue. The needle is retracted proximally through the captured tissue, to thereby pass the suture therethrough and plicate the tissue. The plicated tissue is then released from the grasper.
46 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method of repairing soft tissue, comprising:
-
introducing an instrument having a shaft and a redirecting curve comprising a curved surface into an operative site; advancing a flexible cable grasping device distally from said instrument to contact the curved surface of the redirecting curve and to slide along the curved surface as it advances out of the instrument; opening grasper jaws on said flexible cable grasping device to capture a portion of soft tissue; retracting said flexible cable grasping device so that the captured tissue lies in a pathway for a needle in said instrument; advancing the needle along said pathway through the captured tissue; capturing a portion of suture with an externally disposed suture hook on said needle, distally of said captured tissue; retracting the needle proximally through the captured tissue, to thereby pass the suture therethrough and plicate the tissue; and releasing the plicated tissue from said grasper. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification