METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING A HIP JOINT, INCLUDING THE PROVISION AND USE OF A NOVEL SUTURE PASSER

• US 20170014123A1
• Filed: 02/19/2016
• Published: 01/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pivot Medical, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Skinlo, David, Heneveld, Scott, Weisel, Thomas, Pisarnwongs, Roger
• Granted Patent: US 10,278,690 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0483 Hand-held instruments for holding sutures A61B17/0469 takes precedence; other holders for needles or sutures A61B17/06061; surgical forceps A61B17/28; surgical pincettes A61B17/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0485 Devices or means, e.g. loops, for capturing the suture thread and threading it through an opening of a suturing instrument or needle eyelet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06004 Means for attaching suture to needle tipping A61B17/06195; connecting wire to other metallic objects B21F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06042 located close to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle hollow suture needles A61B2017/061
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 Translation of jaw members

Abstract

A suture passer comprising:

• • a shaft having an axis;
  • a first jaw mounted to the shaft in alignment with the axis, the first jaw being configured to releasably support a length of suture thereon;
  • a second jaw movably mounted to the shaft; and
  • a needle movably mounted to the shaft, the needle having a hook and being configured to reciprocate in alignment with the axis so that the hook can selectively pass by the second jaw and engage suture releasably supported on the first jaw;
  • wherein the first jaw comprises a spring for selectively binding the suture to the first jaw.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A suture passer comprising:

a shaft having an axis;

a first jaw mounted to the shaft in alignment with the axis, the first jaw being configured to releasably support a length of suture thereon;

a second jaw movably mounted to the shaft; and

a needle movably mounted to the shaft, the needle having a hook and being configured to reciprocate in alignment with the axis so that the hook can selectively pass by the second jaw and engage suture releasably supported on the first jaw;

wherein the first jaw comprises a spring for selectively binding the suture to the first jaw.

23. A suture passer according to claim 22 wherein the spring comprises a cantilever.

24. A suture passer according to claim 23 wherein one portion of the cantilever is mounted to the shaft and another portion of the cantilever moves relative to the first jaw.

25. A suture passer according to claim 22 wherein the spring comprises an inclined surface for engagement by the needle.

26. A suture passer according to claim 22 wherein the spring comprises a pathway for receiving the needle.

27. A suture passer according to claim 22 wherein the first jaw comprises a suture slot sized to receive the suture therein.

28. A suture passer according to claim 27 wherein the spring selectively binds the suture in the suture slot.

29. A suture passer according to claim 28 wherein the spring selectively binds the suture against a side wall of the suture slot.

30. A suture passer according to claim 27 wherein the suture slot extends substantially parallel to the axis.

31. A suture passer according to claim 27 wherein the suture slot extends transverse to the axis.

32. A suture passer according to claim 27 wherein the suture slot comprises a first portion which extends substantially parallel to the axis and a second portion which extends transverse to the axis.

33. A suture passer according to claim 22 wherein the spring is configured to releasably capture the suture thereto.

34. A suture passer according to claim 33 wherein the spring comprises a groove for releasably capturing the suture to the spring.

35. A suture passer according to claim 22 wherein the second jaw is configured to reciprocate in alignment with the axis so as to advance toward, and retract from, the first jaw.

36. A suture passer according to claim 22 wherein the second jaw is configured to move in an angular motion relative to the axis of the shaft.

37. A suture passer according to claim 22 further comprising a second needle movably mounted to the shaft in coaxial disposition with the needle.

38. A suture passer according to claim 37 wherein the second needle is closely sized relative to the needle so as to provide column strength to the needle.

39. A suture passer according to claim 37 wherein the second needle is configured so as to selectively capture suture to the hook.

40. A suture passer according to claim 39 wherein the hook comprises a distally-extending portion, a base connected to the distally-extending portion and extending transverse to the distally-extending portion, and a proximally-extending portion connected to the base and spaced from the distally-extending portion, and further wherein the second needle advances relative to the needle so as to capture the suture against the base of the hook.

41. A suture passer according to claim 22 wherein the first jaw comprises a suture slot sized to receive the suture therein.

42-44. -44. (canceled)

45. A method for passing suture through tissue, the method comprising:

releasably supporting a length of suture on a distal jaw;

longitudinally advancing a proximal jaw toward the distal jaw so as to releasably clamp tissue therebetween;

advancing an inner needle supported by an outer needle through the tissue so that a hook on the inner needle engages the suture releasably supported on the distal jaw; and

retracting the inner needle and outer needle back through the tissue, with the inner needle carrying the suture therewith.

46-56. -56. (canceled)