Suturing and repairing tissue using in vivo suture loading
First Claim
1. A method of suturing tissue using a suture passer that is loaded with a suturing element while positioned within a patient, the method comprising:
- positioning the suture passer within the patient;
coupling a suture to a loadable end of the suture passer while the loadable end of the suture passer and the suture are within the tissue;
passing the suture through a target tissue within the patient using the suture passer;
de-coupling the suture from the suture passer while the loadable end of the suture passer is within the tissue; and
coupling the same or a different suture to the suture passer after de-coupling the suture.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein are methods of repairing tissue using a suture passer configured to relasably couple to a suturing element to pass the suturing element (and therefore a suture) through the tissue so that that the suture may be loaded and/or unloaded while the suture passer is positioned within the tissue. Thus, the methods described herein may allow the suture passer to be loaded without requiring that the suture passer be removed from within the patient or in some variations from off of the target tissue. The same suture or multiple sutures may thus be loaded and/or unloaded onto the suture passer, allowing the formation of complex suture patterns without requiring the extra steps of withdrawing the suture passer from the patient (or target tissue). Knotless suture anchors are also described.
291 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of suturing tissue using a suture passer that is loaded with a suturing element while positioned within a patient, the method comprising:
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positioning the suture passer within the patient; coupling a suture to a loadable end of the suture passer while the loadable end of the suture passer and the suture are within the tissue; passing the suture through a target tissue within the patient using the suture passer; de-coupling the suture from the suture passer while the loadable end of the suture passer is within the tissue; and coupling the same or a different suture to the suture passer after de-coupling the suture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of suturing tissue using a suture passer that is loaded with a suturing element while positioned within a patient'"'"'s knee, the method comprising:
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positioning the suture passer within the patient'"'"'s knee; coupling a suture to a loadable end of the suture passer while the loadable end of the suture passer and the suture are within the patient'"'"'s knee; passing the suture through a meniscus tissue within the patient using the suture passer; de-coupling the suture from the suture passer while the loadable end of the suture passer is within the patient'"'"'s knee; and coupling the same or a different suture to the suture passer after de-coupling the suture.
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Specification