# US 2014/0194904 A1 · Suture trimmer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194904 A1 - Document ID: US20140194904A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/083,173 - Filed: 2013-11-18 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2001-12-21 - Assignees: Abbott Laboratories - Applicants: Abbott Laboratories - Inventors: T. Daniel Gross; Maurice Marthaler; Michael Dana; Dawn Ma - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194904A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/0469: {Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery} - A61B 17/0467: {Instruments for cutting sutures (surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32)} - A61B 17/0485: {Devices or means, e.g. loops, for capturing the suture thread and threading it through an opening of a suturing instrument or needle eyelet} - A61B 2017/0474: {Knot pushers} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A suture trimmer including an elongate shaft including an elongate lumen extending proximally from a distal end of the elongate shaft, a transverse through-opening disposed proximal the distal end of the shaft, and a groove extending proximally from the distal end of the shaft to a distal end of the opening. A fitting is disposed within the elongate lumen at the distal end of the shaft and extends distally therefrom. A cutting member is slidably received within the lumen of the shaft and configured to move between a proximal end of the opening and the distal end of the opening and cut a suture disposed within and extending from the opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A suture trimmer having a proximal end and a distal end, the suture trimmer comprising: an elongate shaft comprising an elongate lumen extending proximally from a distal end of the elongate shaft, a transverse through-opening disposed proximal the distal end of the shaft, and a groove extending proximally from the distal end of the shaft to a distal end of the opening, the distal end of the elongate shaft being proximal a distal end of the suture trimmer; a fitting disposed within the elongate lumen at the distal end of the shaft and extending distally therefrom; and a cutting member slidably received within the lumen of the shaft and configured to move between a proximal end of the opening and the distal end of the opening and cut a suture disposed within and extending from the opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The suture trimmer of claim 1, wherein the groove extends through a portion of the elongate shaft to communicate with the lumen. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The suture trimmer of claim 1, wherein the through opening communicates with the lumen from both elongate sides of the elongate shaft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The suture trimmer of claim 1, wherein the fitting tapers distally from the distal end of the elongate shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The suture trimmer of claim 4, wherein the fitting has a cross-sectional size substantially the same as a cross-sectional size of the distal end of the shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The suture trimmer of claim 5, wherein the fitting includes a fitting groove complementary to and in communication with the groove of the shaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The suture trimmer of claim 6, wherein the fitting groove is sized to engage and tighten a knot formed in a suture in cooperation with the groove formed in the side of the elongate shaft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The suture trimmer of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a lever operatively coupled to the cutting member. ### Claim 9 A suture trimmer having a proximal end and a distal end, the suture trimmer comprising: a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending proximally from the distal end of the shaft, the shaft including a transverse through-opening disposed proximal the distal end of the shaft, and a groove extending proximally from the distal end of the shaft to a distal end of the opening, the distal end of the elongate shaft being proximal a distal end of the suture trimmer; a fitting disposed within the lumen at the distal end of the shaft, the fitting having a cross-sectional size substantially the same cross-sectional size as the distal end of the shaft; and a cutting member slidably received within the lumen of the shaft and configured to move between a proximal end of the opening and the distal end of the opening and cut a suture disposed within and extending from the opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The suture trimmer of claim 9, further comprising a loop of suture disposed within the groove and the opening, wherein the loop of suture includes at least one knot and two free ends. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The suture trimmer of claim 9, wherein the suture trimmer further includes a handle, the handle connected to the proximal end of the suture retainer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The suture trimmer of claim 11, wherein the suture trimmer further includes at least one biasing member disposed within a chamber of the handle, the biasing member operatively connected to the shaft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The suture trimmer of claim 12, wherein the suture trimmer further includes at least one lever, the lever operatively connected to the shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The suture trimmer of claim 13, wherein the shaft is configured to be moved relative to the suture retainer, wherein a cutting edge of the cutting member is configured to sever the two free ends of the suture when the two free ends of the suture are disposed through the groove and the opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The suture trimmer of claim 9, wherein the distal end of the shaft and the groove therein are sized to engage and tighten a knot formed in a loop of suture in cooperation with the groove formed in the shaft. ### Claim 16 A method for trimming suture, the method comprising: disposing a suture loop within tissue of a patient, the suture loop including at least one knot and two free ends; positioning the two free ends of suture in a suture trimmer, the suture trimmer having proximal end and a distal end and comprising: an elongate shaft comprising an elongate lumen extending proximally from a distal end of the shaft, a transverse through-opening disposed proximal the distal end of the shaft, and a groove extending proximally from the distal end of the shaft to a distal end of the opening, the distal end of the elongate shaft being proximal a distal end of the suture trimmer; a fitting disposed within the elongate lumen at the distal end of the shaft and extending distally therefrom; and a cutting member slidably received within the lumen of the shaft and configured to move between a proximal end of the opening and the distal end of the opening and cut a suture disposed within and extending from the opening; extending the two free ends of the suture from the opening; and actuating the cutting member within the suture trimmer, the cutting member configured to sever the suture disposed in the opening. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further including positioning the knot with the distal end of the suture trimmer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein activating the cutting member comprises applying a force to a lever in communication with the cutting member, the cutting member being retracted from a shielded position within a shaft of the suture trimmer to an exposed position, the exposed position configured to trim the two free ends of the suture. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein disposing the two free ends of the suture in the suture trimmer comprises advancing the two free ends of the suture through a fitting disposed within the lumen of the shaft, the fitting having a cross-sectional size substantially the same as a cross-sectional size of the distal end of the shaft. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising advancing the suture through a portion of a groove of the fitting toward the opening, the groove of the fitting being in communication with the groove formed in the shaft. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein actuating the cutting member comprises actuating a lever communicating with the cutting member to advance the cutting member from the proximal side of the opening to the distal side of the opening to sever the suture.