Notched suture hook
AssigneeArthrex, Inc.
InventorReinhold Schmieding
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A suture hook for use in arthroscopic repairs of the shoulder has a tapered shaft and a handle disposed on the proximal end of the shaft. An O-ring post for holding suture is disposed on the handle. A curved hook on the distal end of the shaft terminates in a sharp point for piercing tissue. A slot is formed distally on the convex side of the hook for receiving a loop of the suture. A length of suture loaded as a loop onto the suture anchor is held in the slot and secured by wrapping the suture tails around the O-ring post. The loaded suture hook is advanced through tissue by piercing the tissue with the sharp tip. The suture is then released from the post and the hook is retrograded leaving the loop of suture available for further surgical manipulation.
Claims14
A suture hook comprising:
- a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a handle disposed on the proximal end of the shaft;
- a suture retainer disposed on the handle, the suture retainer comprising an O-ring post disposed on a top side of the handle;
- a hook disposed on the distal end of the shaft, a distal tip of the hook terminating in a sharp point;
- and
- a slot formed on the hook for receiving suture.
A suture hook consisting essentially of:
- a straight shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a handle disposed on the proximal end of the shaft;
- an O-ring post for holding suture disposed on the handle;
- a curved hook disposed on the distal end of the shaft, a distal tip of the hook terminating in a sharp point for piercing tissue;
- and
- a slot formed distally on a convex side of the hook for receiving a loop of the suture.
A method of performing arthroscopic surgery using a suture hook having a shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, a handle disposed on the proximal end of the shaft, an O-ring post disposed on the handle, a hook disposed on the distal end of the shaft, a distal end of the hook terminating in a sharp point, and a slot formed on the hook, the method comprising the steps of:
- loading a length of suture into the slot formed on the hook, the length of suture forming a loop having two free tails;
- and
- securing the free tails of the suture to the O-ring post.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.