Suturing breakaway anchor strip
AssigneeAurora Medical Technologies Corp
InventorScott Dowd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention includes a single molded strip of suture anchors frangibly connected to each other that can be preloaded with a suture and then deployed at the site of use inside the body. This configuration eliminates the need to reload an anchor when multiple anchors are required. Further, this molded strip of anchors can include different variations of a suture anchor or locking device all in the same single strip. The strip would typically be molded from plastic or metal and would offer the additional advantage of being injection molded in a one piece shot which would not only save on cost per anchor but would offer assembly advantages as well.
Claims17
A suture anchor system, comprising:
- a hypodermic needle;
- an anchor strip of linear disposition formed from a single continuous section of material, comprising:
- a plurality of suture anchors with breakaway sections between adjacent suture anchors;
- a suture connected to the plurality of suture anchors;
- a drive hub, configured to advance the suture anchors out of the hypodermic needle when pushed;
- a handle configured to allow manual operation of the suture anchor system;
- and
- a ball plunger that protrudes from the handle and allows manual operation of the suture anchor system.
A method of suturing an opening in a subject's flesh, comprising:
- preparing a suture anchor system by:
- threading a length of a suture through an anchor strip, the anchor strip having a linear disposition and formed from a continuous section of material, the anchor strip comprising a plurality of suture anchors joined by breakaway sections between adjacent suture anchors;
- and
- loading a hypodermic needle with the anchor strip;
- deploying a primary suture anchor into a primary suture anchor point in a subject's flesh by:
- inserting the hypodermic needle loaded with the anchor strip into the subject's flesh;
- grasping a handle allowing manual operation of the suture anchor system;
- pushing a drive hub to advance the primary suture anchor out of the hypodermic needle, a ball plunger protruding from the handle and engaging the drive hub;
- and
- retracting the hypodermic needle;
- moving the hypodermic needle to a second suture anchor point;
- deploying a secondary suture anchor in the second suture anchor point by:
- inserting the hypodermic needle into the subject's flesh;
- pushing the drive hub to advance the secondary suture anchor out of the hypodermic needle, the plurality of suture anchors comprising at least the primary and the secondary suture anchors;
- and
- retracting the hypodermic needle;
- repeating deploying suture anchors of the plurality of suture anchors as needed;
- and
- cinching the suture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.