Suturing instrument and method for passing multiple sutures

US8460318B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ARTHREX, INC. · US

Inventors

• R. Pepper Murray · Bountiful, US
• Jonathan Decker · Berlin, DE
• Robert M. Weber · Chino Hills, US
• Thomas Dooney, JR. · Naples, US
• Jacob L. Powell · Swampscott, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 6, 2009
• Grant date: Jun 11, 2013
• Expiry date: Nov 29, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2017/2926
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for passing multiple sutures in tissue repair and/or other mini-open procedures. The apparatus includes a pair of jaws mounted on a distal end of a shaft, a hand assembly mounted on a proximal end of the shaft, and a needle mounted on the hand assembly and passing through a cannulation of the shaft. The pair of jaws includes a lower jaw and an upper jaw, the lower jaw being provided with a slot configured to sequentially engage multiple sutures inserted into the instrument. The handle assembly has a cam mechanism and a finger lever with a ratchet and a releaser with a hook, the handle assembly being designed to move the needle from a first position to a second position, and to thereby sequentially capture, in the needle, each of the multiple sutures inserted in the instrument, for subsequent passing through tissue.