Apparatus and method for enabling atraumatic passage of a severed tendon through a tendon sheath or other enclosed space

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus for enabling the placement of a severed tendon to a position in its associated sheath to be repaired or passing a tendon end through any small enclosed space. The apparatus includes an elongated, flexible hollow tube with openings at both ends, and is received in the sheath. The tube has two sections with one section being somewhat rigid, although flexible, while the other section is thin, collapsible, and flares out. The flared section receives an end portion of the severed tendon. The opening in the end of the more rigid section is connected to a source of suction. The suction holds the tendon in place within the tube and causes the flared section to collapse tightly about the end portion of the tendon. The tube and the tendon are pulled through the sheath to the place where it was severed for repair. A specialized pair of forceps may be used to grip the tendon for placement in the flared section of the tube, and a specialized adapter may be used to connect the end of the more rigid section of the tube to the source of suction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.