Methods of meniscus repair
First Claim
1. A method of repairing or reconstructing a tissue with a suture passer, wherein the suture passer has an elongate body with a proximal to distal long axis, a distal first arm and a distal second arm, wherein the first arm is configured to slide in the long axis to form a distal-facing opening with the second arm, the method comprising:
- positioning the second arm of the suture passer on one side of the tissue, with the first arm retracted so that the first arm does not form the distal-facing opening with the second arm;
sliding a distal end of the first arm of the suture passer distally in the long axis relative to the second arm, after positioning the second arm, so that the tissue is positioned within the distal-facing opening formed between the first and second arms; and
passing a suture through the tissue between the first arm and the second arm by extending a tissue penetrator through the tissue so that the tissue penetrator spans the distal-facing opening between the first arm and the second arm, and retracting the tissue penetrator back through the tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of repairing knee meniscus tears are described which use suture passer devices and suture shuttles. These methods may be used with continuous suture passing, so that the suture passer device may remain on or in the tissue while passing a suture shuttle, and therefore a suture, back and forth from one side of the tissue to the other. These methods may be used minimally invasively for repairing meniscus tissue while avoiding further damage to the meniscus.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of repairing or reconstructing a tissue with a suture passer, wherein the suture passer has an elongate body with a proximal to distal long axis, a distal first arm and a distal second arm, wherein the first arm is configured to slide in the long axis to form a distal-facing opening with the second arm, the method comprising:
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positioning the second arm of the suture passer on one side of the tissue, with the first arm retracted so that the first arm does not form the distal-facing opening with the second arm; sliding a distal end of the first arm of the suture passer distally in the long axis relative to the second arm, after positioning the second arm, so that the tissue is positioned within the distal-facing opening formed between the first and second arms; and passing a suture through the tissue between the first arm and the second arm by extending a tissue penetrator through the tissue so that the tissue penetrator spans the distal-facing opening between the first arm and the second arm, and retracting the tissue penetrator back through the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of repairing or reconstructing a meniscus of a knee with a suture passer, wherein the suture passer has an elongate body with a proximal to distal long axis, a first arm and a second arm, and wherein the first arm is configured to slide in the long axis to form a distal-facing opening with the second arm, the method comprising:
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positioning the second arm of the suture passer on one side of the meniscus with the first arm retracted so that the first arm does not form the distal-facing opening with the second arm, and the second arm angles away from the long axis; sliding the first arm of the suture passer distally in the long axis, after positioning the second arm, to form the distal-facing opening between the first and second arms wherein the meniscus is within the distal-facing opening; and passing a suture through the meniscus by extending a tissue penetrator across the distal-facing opening between the first and second arms so that the tissue penetrator spans the distal-facing opening, and retracting the tissue penetrator back through the meniscus. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of repairing or reconstructing a tissue with a suture passer, wherein the suture passer has an elongate body with a proximal to distal long axis, a distal first arm and a distal second arm, wherein the first arm is configured to slide in the long axis to form a distal-facing opening with the second arm, the method comprising:
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positioning the second arm, wherein the second arm is angled away from the long axis of the suture passer, on one side of the tissue with the first arm retracted so that the first arm does not form the distal-facing opening with the second arm; sliding a distal end of the first arm distally in the long axis, after positioning the second arm, to form the distal-facing opening, so that the tissue is positioned within the distal-facing opening between the first and second arms; and passing a suture through the tissue between the first arm and the second arm by extending a tissue penetrator through the tissue so that the tissue penetrator spans the distal-facing opening between the first arm and the second arm, and retracting the tissue penetrator back through the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of repairing or reconstructing a meniscus of a knee with a suture passer, wherein the suture passer has an elongate body with a proximal to distal long axis, a slideable distal first arm and distal second arm configured to be angled away from long axis of the elongate body, further wherein the first arm is configured to slide in the long axis to form a distal-facing opening with the second arm, the method comprising:
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positioning the second arm on the superior side of the meniscus with the first arm retracted so that the first arm does not form the distal-facing opening with the second arm, wherein the second arm is angled away from the long axis of the elongate body; sliding the distal end of the first arm distally in the long axis and under the inferior side of the meniscus, after positioning the second arm, so that the meniscus is within the distal-facing opening formed between the first and second arms; and passing a suture through the tissue between the first and second arms by extending a tissue penetrator from the first arm and through the meniscus to the second arm so that the tissue penetrator spans the distal-facing opening, and retracting the tissue penetrator back through the meniscus from the second arm to the first arm. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification