Suture assist device

An end effector for use in a surgical instrument, said end effector comprising:

• a first jaw member including a first slot extending to one side of said first jaw member;
• a second jaw member opposed to said first jaw member including a second slot extending to one side of said second jaw member;
• a pivot point wherein said first and said second jaw members pivot around said pivot point such that at least a portion of said first and said second jaw members overlap when said jaw members are closed;
• an opening extending through said first and said second jaw members when said jaw members are closed wherein said opening comprises a portion of said first slot and a portion of said second slot.

An end effector for a surgical instrument wherein said end effector comprises:

• first tissue grasping means having a first tissue grasping surface and a first exterior surface;
• second tissue grasping means having a second tissue grasping surface and a second exterior surface, said first tissue grasping surface being positioned opposite said second tissue grasping surface, said first and second tissue grasping means being adapted to move from an open position to a closed, tissue grasping, position;
• a first opening extending from said first tissue grasping surface to said first exterior surface;
• a second opening extending from said second tissue grasping surface to said second exterior surface, wherein only a portion of said first and said second openings overlap when said first and second tissue grasping means are in said closed position.

A surgical instrument including a proximal end and a distal end, said instrument comprising:

• a handle comprising first and second gripping members at said proximal end of said instrument;
• an end effector comprising first and second jaw members at said distal end of said instrument;
• an elongated tube connecting said handle to said end effector;
• a connector within said tube connecting at least one of said gripping members to said jaw members;
• and
• a first slot in said first jaw member and a second slot in said second jaw member wherein said first and second slots are arranged such that only a portion of said slots overlap when said first and second jaws are closed.

A method of using a surgical instrument including an end effector, said end effector comprising first and second jaw members wherein said first jaw member includes a first slot and said second jaw member includes a second slot, said first and second slots being arranged such that only a portion of said first and second slots overlap when said first and second jaws are closed, said method comprising the steps of:

• closing said first and second jaws on tissue;
• passing a surgical needle with a suture attached thereto through said tissue by passing said needle and suture through said overlapping portion of said first and second slots;
• opening said first and second jaws and passing said suture through said first and said second slots;
• twisting a portion of said suture around said end effector to create at least one suture loop;
• and
• grasping said suture and pulling said suture through said at least one loop.