# US 2019/0167256 A1 · Suture repair device

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- Number: US 2019/0167256 A1
- Document ID: US20190167256A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/218,984
- Filed: 2018-12-13
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-11-20
- Assignees: Dura Tap LLC
- Applicants: Dura Tap LLC
- Inventors: Mark F. Kurd; David Greg Anderson; Jaime E. Sarabia; Eric Buehlmann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167256A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/0469: {Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery}
- A61B 17/062: Needle manipulators
- A61B 2017/0023: {disposable}
- A61B 2017/00367: {Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like}
- A61B 2017/00393: {with means for switching between functions}
- A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable}
- A61B 2017/047: {having at least one proximally pointing needle located at the distal end of the instrument, e.g. for suturing trocar puncture wounds starting from inside the body}
- A61B 2017/0472: {Multiple-needled, e.g. double-needled, instruments}
- A61B 2017/0474: {Knot pushers}
- A61B 2017/0479: {Packages or dispensers for MIS suturing instruments}
- A61B 2017/0608: {J-shaped}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An apparatus includes a handle, a cartridge configured to removably couple to the handle, an actuator movably coupled to the handle, and a lock operably coupled to the actuator. A first needle assembly and a second needle assembly of the cartridge are operably coupled to a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion, respectively, of the actuator when the cartridge is coupled to the handle. The first coupling portion is configured to transition the first needle assembly from a first configuration to a second configuration such that a first capture portion engages a first needle. The second coupling portion is configured to transition the second needle assembly from a first configuration to a second configuration such that a second capture portion engages the second needle. The lock is configured to selectively limit movement of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-30. (canceled)

### Claim 31

A method of using a device to suture a first target tissue of a patient to a second target tissue of the patient, the device including a handle having an actuator and a cartridge including a first needle assembly having a first needle and a first capture member and a second needle assembly having a second needle and a second capture member, the method comprising:
coupling the cartridge to the handle to operably couple the first needle assembly and the second needle assembly to the actuator;
placing the first needle assembly adjacent the first target tissue such that the first needle is positioned on a first side of the first target tissue and the first capture member is positioned on a second side, opposite the first side, of the first target tissue;
actuating a first arm of the actuator, the first needle being advanced substantially through the first target tissue to be disposed on the second side of the first target tissue when the first arm is actuated, the first capture member configured to engage the first needle when the first arm is actuated;
placing the second needle assembly adjacent the second target tissue such that the second needle is positioned on a first side of the second target tissue and the second capture member is positioned on a second side of the second target tissue opposite the first side of the second target tissue; and
actuating a second arm of the actuator, the second needle being advanced substantially through the second target tissue to be disposed on the second side of the second target tissue when the second arm is actuated, the second capture member configured to engage the second needle when the second arm is actuated.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, further comprising:
placing the actuator in a first actuator configuration after the coupling the cartridge to the handle, the first arm being in an unlocked configuration and the second arm being in a locked configuration when the actuator is in the first actuator configuration; and
placing the actuator in a second actuator configuration after the actuating the first arm of the actuator, the first arm being in a locked configuration and the second arm being in an unlocked configuration when the actuator is in the second actuator configuration.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein the actuating the first arm includes moving the first arm relative to the handle in response to a force exerted on the first arm, the actuating the second arm includes moving the second arm relative to the handle in response to a force exerted on the second arm.

### Claim 34 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein a portion of the first needle assembly is configured to deform in response to the actuation of the first arm of the actuator, the first needle being advanced in response to the deformation of the portion of the first needle assembly,
a portion of the second needle assembly is configured to deform in response to the actuation of the second arm of the actuator, the second needle being advanced in response to the deformation of the portion of the second needle assembly.

### Claim 35 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein the actuating the first arm includes exerting a first force of the first arm, the actuating the second arm includes exerting a second force of the second arm, the method further comprising:
removing the first force exerted on the first arm after the first capture member engages the first needle, the first capture member configured to maintain engagement with the first needle when the first force is removed; and
removing the second force exerted on the second arm after the second capture member engages the second needle, the second capture member configured to maintain engagement with the second needle when the second force is removed.

### Claim 36 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein the first needle assembly and the second needle assembly collectively define a rotational axis, the advancing of the first needle through the first target tissue includes rotating the first needle about the rotational axis, the advancing of the second needle through the second target tissue includes rotating the second needle about the rotational axis.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The method of claim 36, wherein the handle defines a longitudinal axis, the rotational axis collectively defined by the first needle assembly and the second needle assembly being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis when the cartridge is coupled to the handle.

### Claim 38 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, further comprising:
withdrawing the cartridge from the patient after the actuating the second arm of the actuator; and
removing the cartridge from the handle.

### Claim 39 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein the cartridge contains a suture, the first needle being coupled to a first end portion of the suture and the second needle being coupled to a second end portion of the suture,
the advancing of the first needle substantially through the first target tissue includes advancing the first end portion of the suture through the first target tissue, the advancing of the second needle substantially through the second target tissue includes advancing the second end portion of the suture through the second target tissue.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The method of claim 39, further comprising:
forming a knot in the suture after the first end portion of the suture and the second end portion of the suture are advanced through the first target tissue and the second target tissue, respectively, the knot being disposed on the second side of the first target tissue and the second side of the second target tissue.

### Claim 41 (depends on 39)

The method of claim 39, further comprising:
forming a knot in the suture after the first end portion of the suture and the second end portion of the suture are advanced through the first target tissue and the second target tissue, respectively; and
pushing the knot along a length of the suture such that the knot is in contact with at least one of the second side of the first target tissue or the second side of the second target tissue, the knot being pushed along the length of the suture in response to a force exerted by a knot pushing device.

### Claim 42 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein the cartridge is from a plurality of cartridges, the plurality of the cartridges and the handle being disposed in a substantially sealed package prior to use, the method further comprising:
removing the handle from the substantially sealed package prior to the coupling the cartridge from the plurality of cartridges to the handle; and
removing the cartridge from the plurality cartridges from the substantially sealed package prior to the coupling the cartridge from the plurality of cartridges to the handle.