Suture hook tool

#The present application relates generally to a surgical tool, and more particularly, to a vascular hook for use in placing sutures around a small vessel during a surgical procedure.

#In order to conduct a variety of preclinical research, it is necessary to perform small animal surgical procedures. In certain procedures, it is necessary to tie off portions of the animal's vasculature in order to perform the necessary experiments and surgical procedures. Because of the small size and delicate nature of the vascular system of small rodents, damage such as puncturing can result to veins or arteries when suture material is attempted to be inserted or poked into the desired location within the animal.

#Given the disadvantages of potentially puncturing delicate vessels of such small animals, a safer, easier and faster system for tying off such vessels during surgery is needed.

#FIG. 1 shows a perspective side view of the new suture tool of this application, showing the internal diameter openings of the hook portion, with a length of suture material extending through the internal passage of the hollow, U-shaped hook portion, and from each end of the hook portion.

#FIG. 2 shows a back view of the tool of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 shows a right side view of the tool if FIG. 1.

#The new surgical suture hook tool 10 of this application is shown in FIGS. 1-5. Reference numerals with a prime designation are used throughout to indicate alternate but similar structural features or embodiments of the tool 10. The tool 10 is preferably manufactured of medical grade stainless steel, but could be manufactured of any suitable material for a surgical tool that may be economically sterilized for reuse. The tool 10 includes a handle portion 12 and a hook portion 20. The handle portion 12 has a central axis 13 and is preferably a solid shaft of metal material enabling handling by the surgeon, and potentially including a surface texture for ease of handling. An outside surface 21 of the hook portion 20 is interconnected to one end 14 of the handle portion 12, whether by a weld or weld joint 18, or other appropriate permanent connection.

#The hook portion 20 comprises an open ended, hollow tube 22 of medical grade stainless steel having a U-shaped, C-shaped or semicircular configuration with one leg 27 and a second free leg 28. An internal passage 24 within the hollow tube 22 has a central axis 25 provided within a plane P. The hook portion 20 may be secured to the handle portion 12 at any location and at any desirable angle, but is preferably secured with one end 14 of the handle portion near an open end 26 of one leg 27 of the U-shaped tube 22. The angle of attachment of the hook portion 20 to the handle portion 12 is such that the central axis 13 of the handle portion is preferably at an angle A of approximately 45 degrees or less with respect to the plane P of the central axis 25 of the internal passage 24 of the hook portion 20, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7.

#As shown in FIG. 10, the dimensions of the U-shaped tube 22 of the hook portion 20 are preferably provided with an internal diameter ID of approximately 0.2 mm, but the internal diameter may also range from between approximately 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm. As shown, an external diameter ED is preferably provided of approximately 0.4 mm, but may range from approximately 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm. It should be understood that the internal diameter ID of the internal passage 24 of the hook portion 20 may be of any internal diameter sufficient to accommodate suture material S readily passing through the tube 22. Additionally, a spacing S of approximately 4-7 mm may be provided between the legs 27, 28 of the U-shaped tube 22, and a height h from a base or valley 29 of the U-shaped tube 22 to the top of the legs 27, 28 of approximately 2-3 mm. While the preferred embodiment of the tube 22 is illustrated as a semicircle, it should be understood that a crescent, or other similar shape having legs of different lengths or sizes may also be provided, for example, as shown in FIG. 14.