Suture passer with tissue reinforcement positioner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10278689-B2
Application number	US-201314137277-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2013
Priority date	Dec 20, 2013
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a suture passer device that includes a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and a suturing head extending from the shaft and configured to engage tissue. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the suture passer device includes a tissue reinforcement member holder configured to retain a tissue reinforcement member relative to the suturing head. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the suture passer device includes a suture carrier secured to the handle and extending through the shaft, and the suturing head includes a first jaw and a second jaw. Methods of using a suture passer device to pass a suture through tissue and to attach soft tissue to bone are also described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A suture passer device comprising:
a handle;
a shaft extending from the handle;
a suturing head extending from the shaft and configured to engage tissue and to pass a suture through the tissue;
a tissue reinforcement member which is separate from and discrete from the suturing head, wherein the tissue reinforcement member is configured to increase the strength of a repair by reinforcing soft tissue; and
a tissue reinforcement member holder configured to retain the tissue reinforcement member relative to the suturing head, the tissue reinforcement member holder including a slot with open lateral sides, the slot configured to receive and hold a tissue reinforcement member in a position such that a suture carrier advances through the tissue reinforcement member, the suturing head further including a suture retaining mechanism located over the slot, the suture retaining mechanism including a flexible flap located over an opening in the suturing head, the flexible flap being biased toward the opening, wherein the flexible flap includes a proximal end coupled to the suture head and a distal end defining a suture engaging portion having a closed position such that the distal end is in contact with the suturing head and an open position such that the distal end is spaced apart from the suturing head such that a suture is sandwiched between and in contact with the distal end of the flexible flap and the suturing head.

2. The suture passer device of claim 1 wherein the suture passer device is configured to pass the suture through the tissue reinforcement member and the tissue substantially simultaneously upon retaining the tissue reinforcement member relative to the suturing head with the tissue reinforcement member holder.

3. The suture passer device of claim 1 wherein the suturing head includes a first jaw and a second jaw, and the first jaw includes the tissue reinforcement member holder.

4. The suture passer device of claim 3 wherein the tissue reinforcement member holder includes teeth disposed on the first jaw and configured to hold the tissue reinforcement member.

5. The suture passer device of claim 3 wherein the tissue reinforcement member holder includes the slot defined in the first jaw and configured to receive the tissue reinforcement member.

6. The suture passer device of claim 5 wherein the slot has an open distal end, and a closed proximal end.

7. The suture passer device of claim 5 wherein the first jaw defines a suture carrier receptacle for receiving a suture carrier, and the second jaw defines a suture carrier channel for directing the suture carrier to the suture carrier receptacle in the first jaw.

8. The suture passer device of claim 7 wherein the suture carrier receptacle extends through portions of the first jaw disposed on opposite sides of the slot defined in the first jaw.

9. A suture passer device comprising:
a handle;
a shaft coupled to the handle;
a suture carrier secured to the handle and extending through the shaft;
a tissue reinforcement member which is separate from and discrete from the suturing head, wherein the tissue reinforcement member is configured to increase the strength of a repair by reinforcing soft tissue; and
a suturing head disposed at a distal end of the shaft, the suturing head including a first jaw and a second jaw, the handle being operable to actuate at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw to retain tissue between the first and second jaws, the handle also being operable to advance the suture carrier to pass a suture through tissue retained between the first and second jaws, at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw including a tissue reinforcement member holder for holding the reinforcement member such that the suture carrier passes through the tissue reinforcement member as the suture carrier is advanced through the suturing head, the tissue reinforcement member holder including a slot with open lateral sides, the slot configured to receive and hold a tissue reinforcement member in a position such that the suture carrier advances through the tissue reinforcement member, the suturing head further including a suture retaining mechanism located over the slot, the suture retaining mechanism including a flexible flap located over an opening in the suturing head, the flexible flap being biased toward the opening, wherein the flexible flap includes a proximal end coupled to the suture head and a distal end defining a suture engaging portion having a closed position such that the distal end is in contact with the suturing head and an open position such that the distal end is spaced apart from the suturing head such that a suture is sandwiched between and in contact with the distal end of the flexible flap and the suturing head.

10. The suture passer device of claim 9 wherein the tissue reinforcement member holder includes teeth disposed on the first jaw and configured to grip the tissue reinforcement member.

11. The suture passer device of claim 9 wherein the tissue reinforcement member holder includes the slot defined in the first jaw and configured to retain the tissue reinforcement member.

12. The suture passer device of claim 11 wherein the first jaw includes teeth configured to retain tissue when the tissue is positioned between the first jaw and the second jaw and the one of the first jaw and the second jaw is actuated toward the other one of the first jaw and the second jaw.

Assignees

• Biomet Mfg Llc

Inventors

• Palese Christopher
• Stone Kevin T

Classifications

• A61B17/0401

  Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811) · CPC title

• A61B2017/0495

  Reinforcements for suture lines · CPC title

• A61B17/062

  Needle manipulators · CPC title

• A61B2017/0409

  Instruments for applying suture anchors · CPC title

• A61B2017/06042

  located close to needle tip · CPC title