Snared suture trimmer

A device for advancing a suture knot, the device comprising:

• a flexible shaft having a first end, a second end, and a lumen extending therebetween, the flexible shaft having an opening formed in a side adjacent the first end;
• a fitting disposed on the first end of the flexible shaft, the fitting having a channel formed therethrough, the channel axially aligned with the lumen of the flexible shaft adjacent the first end and in communication with the opening formed in the flexible shaft, the fitting further including a flexible protrusion extending through the lumen of the flexible shaft and connected to a housing;
• and
• a cutting member slidably disposed within the lumen of the flexible shaft, the cutting member being configured to be moved between a first position and a second position, such that when disposed in the second position the cutting member closes the opening formed in the side of the flexible shaft.
• an actuating device in communication with a cutting member and operable to move the cutting member between the first position and the second position.

A method for closing a suture loop placed through a vascular tissue, the method comprising:

• tensioning a suture loop disposed within a vascular tissue of a patient and having two free ends and a knot disposed on one of the free ends;
• disposing the two free ends of the suture through a suture snare comprising a snare, the snare extending through an opening of a shaft of a suture trimmer, the shaft having a first end, a second end and a lumen extending therebetween, the opening being formed in a side adjacent the first end, the suture trimmer further comprising an actuating device in communication with a cutting member slidably disposed within the lumen of the shaft, the cutting member configured to be moved between a first position and a second position, such that when disposed in the second position the cutting member closes the opening formed in the side of the shaft;
• advancing the snare through the opening of the shaft so as to pull the two free ends of the suture through the opening of the suture trimmer;
• advancing the first end of the shaft to contact the knot and advance the knot to close the suture loop while holding at least one end of the suture;
• and
• activating the cutting member to cut the two free ends of the suture adjacent to the knot.