Line lock threading systems and methods
AssigneeMedicine Lodge, Inc.
InventorsT. Wade Fallin, M. Mary Sinnott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A line lock includes a body at least partially bounding a plurality of passageways such that a suture can only be drawn through the passageways along one direction. The suture may be inserted through the passageways through the use of a cartridge designed to contain the line lock. Threaders may pass through the line lock within the cartridge. Each threader may have a leading end and a trailing end that can be coupled to a suture end. Thus, two suture ends may be drawn through the passageways by coupling them to the threaders and drawing the leading ends of the threaders to cause the suture ends to pass through the passageways according to the desired pattern. The cartridge may then be opened to permit easy removal of the suture and the line lock.
Claims38
A system for inserting a suture through passageways of a line lock, the system comprising:
- a suture;
- a cartridge comprising:
- a retention feature shaped to retain a line lock comprising a body at least partially bounding a plurality of passageways;
- and
- a threading feature shaped to facilitate insertion of the suture through the passageways;
- and
- a line lock comprising a body at least partially bounding a plurality of passageways,
- wherein the suture is routed through the passageways such that the locking portion of the suture is able to be drawn along a pathway through at least some of the passageways fully bounded by the body, along only one direction along the pathway defined by the routing of the suture, wherein the locking portion is routed through the passageways such that a compression section of the locking portion presses another part of the locking portion against the line lock in response to tension urging the locking portion to move through the passageways opposite to the one direction.
A system for retaining tissue, the system comprising:
- a suture;
- a line lock comprising a body at least partially bounding a plurality of passageways;
- and
- a first threader passing through the passageways along a first pathway, the first threader comprising a suture retention feature shaped to retain a portion of the suture to draw the suture along the first pathway in response to motion of the first threader along the first pathway;
- wherein the suture is routed through the passageways such that the locking portion of the suture is able to be drawn along a pathway through at least some of the passageways fully bounded by the body, along only one direction along the pathway defined by the routing of the suture, wherein the locking portion is routed through the passageways such that a compression section of the locking portion presses another part of the locking portion against the line lock in response to tension urging the locking portion to move through the passageways opposite to the one direction
A system for inserting a suture through passageways of a line lock, the system comprising:
- a suture;
- a line lock comprising a body at least partially bounding the passageways;
- a cartridge comprising a threading feature;
- and
- a first threader positioned at least partially within the cartridge such that the first threader can be drawn along the threading feature to move the first threader along a first pathway through the passageways to draw the suture along the first pathway;
- wherein the suture is routed through the passageways such that the locking portion of the suture is able to be drawn along a pathway through at least some of the passageways fully bounded by the body, along only one direction along the pathway defined by the routing of the suture, wherein the locking portion is routed through the passageways such that a compression section of the locking portion presses another part of the locking portion against the line lock in response to tension urging the locking portion to move through the passageways opposite to the one direction.
A system for retaining a line lock, the system comprising:
- a suture;
- a cartridge comprising:
- a retention feature shaped to retain a line lock, the line lock comprising a body at least partially bounding a plurality of passageways arranged to receive the suture;
- a line lock comprising a body at least partially bounding a plurality of passageways,
- wherein the suture is routed through the passageways such that the locking portion of the suture is able to be drawn along a pathway through at least some of the passageways fully bounded by the body, along only one direction along the pathway defined by the routing of the suture, wherein the locking portion is routed through the passageways such that a compression section of the locking portion presses another part of the locking portion against the line lock in response to tension urging the locking portion to move through the passageways opposite to the one direction;
- and
- a lid movably attached to a remainder of the cartridge such that the lid and the remainder of the cartridge cooperate to substantially enclose the line lock, wherein the cartridge is openable via pressure against the lid to permit removal of the line lock from the cartridge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.