US 5,755,728 A · Suture apparatus with loop end portions

Abstract

A method of transporting suture materials deep within a patient's body cavity includes the providing of an elongated instrument having proximal and distal end portions and an elongated continuous bore with an internal diameter of about one millimeter or less. The elongated instrument is provided for gripping and transporting a length of suture material that is placed within the bore. The elongated length of suture shuttle material is placed in the bore, the shuttle having loops at each end. Each loop includes a short leader portion that is a single strand monofilament member at the end of the shuttle. The surgeon can then move the shuttle material and its loops through the bore after pushing a sharp end of the instrument through tissue to be sutured. The shuttle is then thrusted through the instrument and through the selected tissue until one or both of the loops passes through the instrument bore and the tissue. This allows the surgeon to add suture to either one of the loops either before or after being transported through the bore of the instrument.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of transporting suture material deep within a patient's body cavity comprising the steps of:

a) providing an elongated instrument having proximal and distal end portions and an elongated continuous bore sized and shaped to transport a length of suture material that is positioned in the bore;
b) placing an elongated suture shuttle of a flexible, non-metallic material in the bore, the suture shuttle having a central elongated single strand portion with loops at each end, and each loop having a short leader portion located at the end of the suture shuttle above the loop and generally opposite the central strand portion;
c) moving the shuttle and its loops through the bore beginning with a short leader portion, wherein the end portions of the shuttle material with the loops are sized and shaped to travel through the bore with the loops collapsed;
d) securing the length of suture to the shuttle at one of the loops;
e) placing the instrument distal end through tissue to be sutured;
and
f) thrusting the shuttle through the bore until a first loop passes completely through the bore and out the distal end.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Suture apparatus with loop end portions

Life of this patent

Suture apparatus with loop end portions

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12