Systems for securing sutures

A suture securement device, comprising:

• a handle;
• an elongated outer shaft having a proximal end portion coupled to the handle and a distal end portion opposite the proximal end;
• an inner shaft movable proximally and distally within the outer shaft;
• a suture holder at the distal end portion of the outer shaft, the suture holder having an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the suture holder is configured to receive sutures, and in the closed position the suture holder is configured to hold sutures and prevent longitudinal movement of held sutures relative to the outer shaft;
• and
• an electrical heating element positioned within the outer shaft;
• wherein actuation of the device causes the inner shaft and the heating element to move distally relative to the outer shaft and the suture holder, such that the distal end portion of the inner shaft causes the suture holder to move from the open position to the closed position, and such that the heating element moves into the proximity of the suture holder to fuse together sutures held by the suture holder;
• and
• wherein the heating element is configured to cut off free ends of the sutures held by the suture holder as the heating elements moves into the proximity of the suture holder.

A suture securement device, comprising:

• a handle;
• an elongated outer shaft having a proximal end portion coupled to the handle and a distal end portion opposite the proximal end;
• an inner shaft movable proximally and distally within the outer shaft;
• a suture holder at the distal end portion of the outer shaft, the suture holder having an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the suture holder is configured to receive sutures, and in the closed position the suture holder is configured to hold sutures and prevent longitudinal movement of held sutures relative to the outer shaft;
• and
• an electrical heating element positioned within the outer shaft;
• wherein actuation of the device causes the inner shaft and the heating element to move distally relative to the outer shaft and the suture holder, such that the distal end portion of the inner shaft causes the suture holder to move from the open position to the closed position, and such that the heating element moves into the proximity of the suture holder to fuse together sutures held by the suture holder;
• and
• wherein the heating element is positioned within the inner shaft and the inner shaft comprises at least two radial openings adjacent to the heating element to vent heat from the heating element.

A suture securement device, comprising:

• a handle;
• an elongated outer shaft having a proximal end portion coupled to the handle and a distal end portion opposite the proximal end;
• an inner shaft movable proximally and distally within the outer shaft;
• a suture holder at the distal end portion of the outer shaft, the suture holder having an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the suture holder is configured to receive sutures, and in the closed position the suture holder is configured to hold sutures and prevent longitudinal movement of held sutures relative to the outer shaft;
• an electrical heating element positioned within the outer shaft;
• and
• a suture collar positioned at the distal end portion of the outer shaft;
• wherein actuation of the device causes the inner shaft and the heating element to move distally relative to the outer shaft and the suture holder, such that the distal end portion of the inner shaft causes the suture holder to move from the open position to the closed position, and such that the heating element moves into the proximity of the suture holder to fuse together sutures held by the suture holder;
• wherein a first portion of the suture holder is fixed to a proximal side of the suture collar and thereby fixed relative to the outer shaft, and a second portion of the suture holder moves relative to the first portion between the open position and the closed position.