# US 2013/0158570 A1 · Suture passer and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158570 A1 - Document ID: US20130158570A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/766,685 - Filed: 2013-02-13 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-08 - Assignees: MTP Solutions, LLC - Inventors: M. Mary Sinnott; T. Wade Fallin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158570A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/0491: {Sewing machines for surgery} - A61B 17/0482: {Needle or suture guides (guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; guides for puncturing needles A61B17/3403)} - A61B 17/0483: {Hand-held instruments for holding sutures (A61B17/0469 takes precedence; other holders for needles or sutures A61B17/06061; surgical forceps A61B17/28; surgical pincettes A61B17/30)} - A61B 17/06004: {Means for attaching suture to needle (tipping A61B17/06195)} - A61B 17/0469: {Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery} - A61B 2017/0496: {for tensioning sutures} - A61B 2017/06042: {located close to needle tip} - A61B 2090/034: {abutting on parts of the device itself} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Instruments and techniques to pass a suture are presented. The instruments and techniques are particularly useful where access to confined spaces and the ability to pass a suture through difficult to penetrate materials are needed. The instruments and techniques are particularly useful in surgery of the hands and feet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A suture passer comprising: a housing defining a motion axis extending proximally to distally; a needle mounted for movement along the motion axis between a first proximal position and a second distal position; and a foot mounted to the housing, the foot having a distal portion defining a proximal facing surface forming an angle relative to the motion axis, the distal portion including an opening in the proximal facing surface aligned with the motion axis and able to receive the needle in the second position, the proximal facing surface having first and second lateral borders opposing one another on opposite sides of the opening and defining a foot profile projected normal to the proximal facing surface, the foot including a suture path able to positively receive a suture wrapped around a portion of the distal portion such that the suture does not extend outside of the foot profile. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The suture passer of claim 1 wherein the foot defines a foot side plane in which the foot projects a hook shape having a hook interior, the suture path being able to receive a suture such that the suture does not extend into the hook interior as viewed normal to the foot side plane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The suture passer of claim 1 wherein the foot further includes a proximal portion with a distal facing surface extending along a proximal portion axis diverging from the motion axis, the proximal portion axis forming a proximal angle relative to the motion axis, the distal portion being connected to the proximal portion, the proximal facing surface of the distal portion extending along a distal portion axis converging distally with the motion axis, the distal portion axis forming a distal angle relative to the motion axis, the distal angle being in the range of 25 to 65 degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The suture passer of claim 2 wherein the proximal angle diverges distally away from the motion axis and is in the range of 25 to 65 degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The suture passer of claim 1 wherein the proximal facing surface has a length generally defining a length direction and a width generally defining a width direction, the length being greater than the width, the proximal facing surface defining a longitudinal axis in the length direction, the suture path being coplanar with the motion axis and the longitudinal axis of the proximal facing surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The suture passer of claim 1 wherein the proximal facing surface has a length generally defining a length direction and a width generally defining a width direction, the length being greater than the width, the proximal facing surface defining a longitudinal axis in the length direction, the motion axis and the longitudinal axis of the proximal facing surface defining a plane, the suture path including a groove in the proximal facing surface able to receive a portion of a suture such that the portion of the suture in the groove is covered when viewed normal to the plane defined by the motion axis and the longitudinal axis of the proximal facing surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The suture passer of claim 1 wherein the proximal facing surface of the foot defines a proximal facing surface plane and the needle has a shaft and a notch formed in the shaft, the notch crossing the plane of the proximal facing surface when moved from the first position to the second position, the notch opening toward one of the first and second lateral borders. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The suture passer of claim 1 wherein the distal portion further includes a distal facing surface opposite the proximal facing surface and the distal portion terminates in a distal end, the suture path including a suture passage through the distal portion between the distal facing surface and the proximal facing surface proximal to the needle receiving opening, a groove extending from the needle receiving opening to the distal end, and a notch in the distal end in communication with the groove. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The suture passer of claim 1 wherein the suture path includes a first suture capture feature and a second suture capture feature for constraining a suture under tension to a linear suture path at an angle converging with the linear motion axis, wherein the first suture capture feature fully encloses the suture and the second suture capture feature partially encloses the suture. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The suture passer of claim 1 wherein the distal portion further comprises a distal facing surface opposite the proximal facing surface and wherein the suture path includes a groove able to receive a suture such that the portion of the suture in the groove is covered when viewed normal to the proximal facing surface and when viewed normal to the distal facing surface. ### Claim 11 A suture passer comprising: a housing defining a motion axis extending proximally to distally; a needle mounted for movement along the motion axis between a first proximal position and a second distal position; and a foot mounted to the housing, the foot having a distal portion defining a proximal facing surface forming an angle relative to the motion axis, the distal portion including an opening in the proximal facing surface aligned with the motion axis and able to receive the needle in the second position, the proximal facing surface having first and second lateral borders opposing one another on opposite sides of the opening and defining a foot profile, the foot including a suture path extending between a first suture turning point and a second suture turning point and able to receive a portion of a suture such that the suture turning points are located inside the foot profile. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The suture passer of claim 11 wherein the needle includes a shoulder that abuts a portion of the foot when the needle is in the second position to limit the travel of the needle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The suture passer of claim 11 wherein the suture path includes a groove in the proximal facing surface able to receive a portion of a suture such that the portion of the suture in the groove is covered when viewed normal to each of the lateral borders. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The suture passer of claim 11 wherein the distal portion further comprises a distal facing surface opposite the proximal facing surface and wherein the suture path includes a groove able to receive a suture such that the portion of the suture in the groove is covered when viewed normal to the proximal facing surface and when viewed normal to the distal facing surface. ### Claim 15 A suture passer comprising: a housing defining a motion axis extending proximally to distally; a needle mounted for translation along the motion axis between a first proximal position and a second distal position; and a foot mounted to the housing, the foot having a distal portion with a proximal facing surface, the distal portion including a needle receiving opening in the proximal facing surface aligned with the motion axis and able to receive the needle in the second position, the proximal facing surface being defined by a plurality of proximally projecting members. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The suture passer of claim 15 wherein the proximally projecting members are ridges separated by grooves. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The suture passer of claim 15 wherein the suture passer contains no member movable relative to the proximal facing member in opposing clamping relationship to the plurality of projecting members. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The suture passer of claim 15 wherein the foot further includes a proximal portion with a distal facing surface extending along a proximal portion axis diverging from the motion axis, the proximal portion axis forming a proximal angle relative to the motion axis, the distal portion being connected to the proximal portion, the proximal facing surface of the distal portion extending along a distal portion axis converging distally with the motion axis, the distal portion axis forming a distal angle relative to the motion axis, the distal angle being in the range of 25 to 65 degrees. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The suture passer of claim 15 wherein the foot defines a foot side plane in which the foot projects a hook shape having a hook interior, the foot including a suture path able to receive a suture such that the suture does not extend into the hook interior as viewed normal to the foot side plane. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The suture passer of claim 15 further comprising a suture path including opposed lateral grooves formed into opposed lateral sides of the foot, each lateral groove being bounded on three sides. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The suture passer of claim 20 wherein the distal portion further comprises a distal facing surface opposite the proximal facing surface and wherein each lateral groove is able to receive a suture such that the portion of the suture in the groove is covered when viewed normal to the proximal facing surface and when viewed normal to the distal facing surface.