Angled suture passer and method of use thereof

US11452521B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SMITH & NEPHEW, INC. · US

Inventors

• Robert LaPrade · Chanhassen, US
• David R. Diduch · Charlottesville, US
• David Gregoire · Laguna Beach, US
• Jeffrey Wyman · Naples, US
• George W. White · Corona, US
• Carmel Ilka Bijoux · Boston, US
• Jennifer Ng · San Francisco, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 29, 2018
• Grant date: Sep 27, 2022
• Expiry date: Oct 31, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2017/06095
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A suture passer which is sized and shaped to be inserted through the femoral notch during a meniscal repair. The suture passer includes upper and lower jaws that may be straight or that may have an angled offset in relation to the common axis of the suture passer in order to gain an indirect access to meniscal tissue in a constricted space. The jaws of the suture passer may be angled, either to the left or to the right, up to 45 degrees from the central axis of the shaft. The suture passer is also able to grasp meniscal tissue prior to suture passing. A nitinol needle housed within one of the jaws can then be deployed to pass a preloaded suture through the tissue to be captured on the opposite side of the tissue.