Surgical repair kit and its method of use

A suture passer comprising:

• a longitudinally extending hollow cannula having a central passage slidingly receivable of a surgical suture;
• a manually graspable handle for engaging said hollow cannula for manipulation thereof, said handle having a distal end, a proximal end, and an upper surface;
• first suture guide means connected to said upper surface of said handle proximate to said distal end of said handle for releasably, guidingly holding said surgical suture;
• second suture guide means connected to said upper surface of said handle proximal to said first suture guide means for releasably, guidingly holding said surgical suture;
• and
• locking means for releasably, lockingly maintaining said cannula in a substantially fixed position relative to said handle;
• wherein said first suture guide means comprises a vertically upstanding eyelet, said eyelet defining an opening oriented transversely to said handle, and a passageway into said eyelet adjacent to the distalmost point of attachment of said eyelet to said handle, said passageway being sized to receive a transverse cross-section of said surgical suture therethrough.

A suture passer comprising:

• a longitudinally extending hollow cannula having a central passage slidingly receivable of a surgical suture;
• a manually graspable handle for engaging said hollow cannula for manipulation thereof, said handle having a distal end, a proximal end, and an upper surface;
• first suture guide means connected to said upper surface of said handle proximate to said distal end of said handle for releasably, guidingly holding said surgical suture;
• second suture guide means connected to said upper surface of said handle proximal to said first suture guide means for releasably, guidingly holding said surgical suture;
• and
• locking means for releaseably, lockingly maintaining said cannula in a substantially fixed position relative to said handle;
• wherein said second suture guide means comprises a semi-cylindrical member connected to said upper surface of said handle, wherein an axial bore extends longitudinally through said semi-cylindrical member, a top slot extends down into said member transverse to the longitudinal axis of the handle, a right side slot extends between the member's distal end and said top slot, and a left side slot extends between the member's proximal end and said top slot.

A method for passing suture through tissue comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a length of suture;
• (b) providing a suture passer comprising:
• a longitudinally extending hollow cannula having a central passage slidingly receivable of a surgical suture;
• a manually graspable handle for engaging said hollow cannula for manipulation thereof, said handle having a distal end, a proximal end, and an upper surface;
• first suture guide means upstanding from said upper surface of said handle proximate to said distal end of said handle and having therethrough a first passage for releasably, guidingly holding said surgical suture;
• second suture guide means upstanding from said upper surface of said handle proximal to said first suture guide means and having therethrough a second passage for releasably, guidingly, holding said surgical suture;
• and
• locking means for releasably, lockingly maintaining said cannula in a substantially fixed position relative to said handle;
• (c) threading said length of suture through said cannula from its proximal end to its distal end;
• (d) inserting said distal end of said cannula through the tissue;
• (e) withdrawing said cannula from the tissue, leaving said suture extending through the tissue;
• and
• (f) disengaging said suture from said first and second guide means;
• wherein said distal end of said cannula is sharply pointed, the heel of its tip is rounded off, and one end of said suture extends out of the distal end of said cannula during insertion of said cannula through the tissue.

A method for passing suture through tissue comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a length of suture;
• (b) providing a suture passer comprising:
• a longitudinally extending hollow cannula having a central passage slidingly receivable of a surgical suture;
• a manually graspable handle for engaging said hollow cannula for manipulation thereof, said handle having a distal end, a proximal end, and an upper surface;
• first suture guide means connected to said upper surface of said handle proximate to said distal end of said handle for releasably, guidingly holding said surgical suture;
• second suture guide means connected to said upper surface of said handle proximal to said first suture guide means for releasably, guidingly holding said surgical suture;
• and
• locking means for releaseably, lockingly maintaining said cannula in a substantially fixed position relative to said handle;
• (c) threading said length of suture through said cannula from its proximal end to its distal end;
• (d) inserting said pointed distal end of said cannula through the tissue;
• (e) withdrawing said cannula from the tissue, leaving said suture extending through the tissue;
• and
• (f) disengaging said suture from said first and second guide members;
• wherein the two free ends of said suture are contained in the body of said cannula during insertion of said cannula through the tissue.

A method for passing suture through tissue comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a length of suture;
• (b) providing a suture passer comprising:
• a longitudinally extending hollow cannula having a central passage slidingly receivable of a surgical suture;
• a manually graspable handle for engaging said hollow cannula for manipulation thereof, said handle having a distal end, a proximal end, and an upper surface;
• first suture guide means connected to said upper surface of said handle proximate to said distal end of said handle for releasably, guidingly holding said surgical suture;
• second suture guide means connected to said upper surface of said handle proximal to said first suture guide means for releasably, guidingly holding said surgical suture;
• and
• locking means for releasably, lockingly maintaining said cannula in a substantially fixed position relative to said handle;
• (c) threading said length of suture through said cannula from its proximal end to its distal end;
• (d) inserting said pointed distal end of said cannula through the tissue;
• (e) withdrawing said cannula from the tissue, leaving said suture extending through the tissue;
• and
• (f) disengaging said suture from said first and second guide members;
• wherein the intermediate portion of the suture is contained in the body of said cannula during insertion of said cannula through the tissue, with the two free ends of the suture exiting the proximal end of the cannula.

A suture passer comprising:

• a cannula having central passage for receiving and supporting sliding movement of a surgical suture therethrough;
• a handle fixed to said cannula;
• a first suture guide means extending from said handle and having a first passage therethrough, said passage being spaced from said handle;
• and
• a second suture guide means extending from said handle and spaced from said first guide means axially of said handle, said second suture guide means having a second passage therethrough spaced from said handle;
• wherein said cannula at its distal end terminates in a plane oblique to the axis of said cannula so as to provide a point at a portion of said distal end of said cannula most spaced from said handle, and a heel at a portion of said distal end of said cannula least spaced from said handle, and said heel is defined by an edge portion of said cannula which is blunted to prevent cutting of the suture by said cannula heel.