# US 2019/0167257 A1 · Apparatus and Method for Passing Suture Through Soft Tissue

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- Number: US 2019/0167257 A1
- Document ID: US20190167257A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/268,215
- Filed: 2019-02-05
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-03-05
- Assignees: Passer Stitch, LLC
- Inventors: Scott Heneveld
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167257A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/0469: {Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic 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 17/06066: {Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations}
- 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 2017/00867: {shape memory effect}
- A61B 2017/0472: {Multiple-needled, e.g. double-needled, instruments}
- A61B 2017/06042: {located close to needle tip}
- A61B 2017/06052: {Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle}
- A61B 2017/0608: {J-shaped}
- A61B 2017/06095: {pliable}
- A61B 2017/061: {hollow or tubular}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A system for passing suture through biological tissue using a cannula, introducer or other minimally invasive means, to approximate, ligate, fixate and/or close biological tissue. The system includes a hand grip in operative communication with an elongated tubular member having a jaw mechanism disposed on the tubular member distal end. The elongated tubular member housing a deformable tubular needle therein having a curvilinear portion and an internal lumen. The jaw mechanism includes a needle shield that is configured to deflect and flex when the tubular member is slidably translated into the needle shield.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A suture passing device, comprising:
a suture;
a hand grip;
a needle assembly comprising a deformable tubular needle, said deformable tubular needle comprising a tissue piercing first distal end, a first internal lumen and a curvilinear portion, said curvilinear portion of said tubular needle being configured to transition from an unconstrained state to a constrained state, said tubular needle first distal end being configured to releasably engage said suture;
a cleat member disposed at least partially within said first internal lumen of said tubular needle, said cleat member comprising a second distal end, said cleat member being configured to protrude distally outward from said tubular needle first internal lumen, said cleat member being configured to pierce and releasably engage said suture; and
an elongated tubular member in communication with said hand grip comprising a third distal end, a second internal lumen and a jaw mechanism,
said second internal lumen being configured to receive said deformable needle and allow said tubular needle to slidably translate therethrough in a first constrained state,
said jaw mechanism being disposed proximate said tubular member third distal end, said jaw mechanism comprising a bottom member, said bottom member comprising proximal and distal ends, said jaw mechanism bottom member comprising a first guide channel in aligned communication with said tubular member second internal lumen, said first guide channel comprising a first curvilinear geometry that is configured to approximate and receive said curvilinear portion of said tubular needle when said tubular needle is slidably translated therethrough, said tubular needle being configured to transition from a second constrained state to an unconstrained state when said tubular needle is slidably translated into and through said first guide channel,
said jaw mechanism comprising a top member, said top member comprising proximal and distal ends,
said jaw mechanism top member comprising a needle shield in operative communication therewith, said needle shield being configured to deflect and flex when said tubular needle is slidably translated into said needle shield, said needle shield being configured to protect extraneous biological tissue from said tubular needle distal end, and enable antegrade and retrograde advancement of said suture into and through biological tissue during a surgical procedure.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein said tubular needle comprises nickel-titanium alloy (Nitinol®).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein said surgical procedure comprises an endoscopic procedure.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein said jaw mechanism comprises first and second pins, said proximal end of said jaw mechanism top member comprises first and second pin lumens, and said proximal end of said jaw mechanism bottom member comprises a third pin lumen and a pin slot, said first pin lumen and said pin slot being in axial alignment, and said second and third pin lumens being in axial alignment.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein said jaw mechanism top member first pin lumen and said bottom member pin slot are configured to receive and position said jaw mechanism first pin, and wherein, when said jaw mechanism first pin is received by and positioned in said jaw mechanism top member first pin lumen and said bottom member pin slot, said jaw mechanism top member is allowed to vertically articulate with respect to said jaw mechanism bottom member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein said jaw mechanism top member second pin lumen and said bottom member third pin lumen are configured to receive and position said jaw mechanism second pin, and wherein, when said jaw mechanism second pin is received by and positioned in said jaw mechanism top member second pin lumen and said bottom member third pin lumen, said jaw mechanism top member is allowed to axially articulate with respect to said jaw mechanism bottom member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein said hand grip comprises an actuator in operative communication with said first needle and said jaw mechanism top and bottom members.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The device of claim 7, wherein said actuator is configured to modulate said axial articulation of said jaw mechanism top member relative to said jaw mechanism bottom member and said slidable translation of said tubular needle.