Surgical knot pusher with flattened spatulated tip

A surgical knot pusher for pushing a suture knot along a suture strand, comprising:

• an elongated shaft;
• a flattened spatulated tip secured to the distal end of the elongated shaft;
• suture holding means formed on said flattened spatulated tip for containing an advancing length of the suture while the suture knot is being pushed;
• entry means defined on said flattened spatulated tip for engaging suture strand, said entry means allowing the suture strand to easily enter the suture holding means, but preventing the suture strand from exiting said suture holding means;
• a cutting means slidably disposed within said elongated shaft, said flattened spatulated tip being provided with a cutting means channel which allows the cutting means to move out of the flattened spatulated tip toward the suture strand;
• and cutter moving means disposed within said elongated shaft for moving the cutting means through the cutting means channel toward the suture strand emerging from the suture holding means;
• said cutting means comprising a flat, straight-edged blade and said cutter moving means is an actuation rod slidably disposed within said elongated shaft, said straight-edged blade being affixed to the distal end of the actuation rod and the proximal end of said actuation rod extending from the proximal end of the elongated shaft wherein the angle of the straight-edged blade relative to the straight-edged direction of the travel of the blade being changeable so that the straight-edged blade can slice the suture strand at a desired angle.

A surgical knot pusher for pushing a suture knot along a suture strand, comprising:

• an elongated tube;
• a flattened head formed on the distal end of the elongated tube to provide visibility of the suture strand during cutting, said flattened head being provided with opposing resilient jaws defining a slot therebetween;
• said slot leading to an enclosed eyelet defined by said head for containing an advancing length of the suture while the suture knot is being pushed allowing the suture strand to easily enter the eyelet while preventing the suture strand from exiting the eyelet;
• a cutting assembly slidably mounted within said elongated tube, said cutting assembly comprising a rod with a straight edged blade mounted on one end and a handle on the other end;
• said straight edged blade being biased away from said flattened head by spring means mounted on said rod, said spring means engaging said flattened head when the straight-edged blade is moved toward the eyelet by pushing the handle toward the head.