Suture clinch
AssigneeApplied Medical Resources Corporation
InventorsCharles C. Hart, Nabil Hilal, Said Hilal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A suture system for closing a wound defined by tissue portions includes an elongate suture having a pair of ends adapted for threading relative to the tissue portions leaving the suture ends free. A securing mechanism has a first position for capturing the suture ends and a second position for permanently holding the suture ends in a fixed relationship, with the suture tensioned to maintain the tissue portions in close proximity. In a third position, the securing mechanism frictionally engages the suture ends in a sliding relationship. In an associated method, continuous tension is placed on the suture ends during operation of the securing mechanism.
Claims27
A suture securing system adapted to move and hold tissue portions in close proximity comprising:
- an elongate suture having a pair of ends and being adapted for disposition relative to the tissue portions leaving the suture ends free;
- a securing mechanism having a first position for capturing the suture ends, a second position for holding the suture ends along a torturous path and in a fixed relationship with the suture tensioned to maintain the tissue portions in close proximity, and a third position for frictionally engaging the suture ends to hold the suture ends while permitting sliding of the securing mechanism relative to the suture ends;
- said securing mechanism having
- a plurality of tines each having an open state and a closed state;
- and
- at least one of the tines being in the closed state when the securing mechanism is in the third position.
A securing mechanism for securing a pair of free ends of a suture, comprising:
- a support having a first side and a second side;
- a first set of tines bendable on the support between a first position in juxtaposition to the first side of the support, and a second position overlying the support;
- a second set of tines coupled to the support in juxtaposition to the second side of the support;
- the securing mechanism having a first state facilitating receipt of the suture ends and a second state facilitating maintenance of the suture ends in a fixed relationship to each other;
- and
- at least one of the first set of tines being disposed in the second position when the securing mechanism is in the first state.
A securing mechanism for securing a pair of free ends of the suture, comprising:
- a support having a first side and a second side;
- a first set of tines extendable in overlying relationship with the support from the first side of the support;
- a second set of tines extendable over the support from the second side of the support;
- a first one of the first set of tines and a first one of the second set of tines forming a first tine pair;
- a second one of the first set of tines and a second one of the second set of tines forming a second tine pair in juxtaposition to the first tine pair;
- a pair of suture ends having a first side and an opposing second side;
- and
- the first tine pair being in contact with the first side of the suture ends and the second tine pair being in contact with the second side of the suture ends to hold the suture ends in a fixed relationship between the first tine pair and the second tine pair.
A method for fixing a tensioned suture having a pair of free ends, comprising the steps of:
- providing a suture-securing mechanism with a support and a plurality of tine pairs, each having two tines bendable in opposing directions to overlap the support;
- bending a first tine pair to overlap the support;
- placing the suture ends over the support and the first tine pair;
- bending a second tine pair to overlap the suture ends and the support;
- frictionally engaging the suture ends between the first tine pair and the second tine pair;
- and
- frictionally engaging the suture ends between the second tine pair and the support.
A method for fixing a tensioned suture having a pair of free ends, comprising the steps of:
- providing a suture mechanism having a first position wherein the mechanism is adapted to receive the suture ends, and a second position wherein the mechanism is adapted to hold the suture ends in a fixed relationship the suture mechanism being bendable to move between the first position and the second position;
- receiving the free ends of the suture in the securing mechanism when the securing mechanism is in the first position;
- and
- moving the securing mechanism to the second position with the suture ends disposed in the securing mechanism, the suture ends following a tortuous path through the securing mechanism in the second position to maintain the securing mechanism in a fixed position along the suture ends and to maintain the suture ends in a fixed relationship within the securing mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.