# US 8,465,503 B2 · Finger guided suture fixation system

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- Number: US 8,465,503 B2
- Document ID: US8465503B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/817,198
- Filed: 2010-06-17
- Published: 2011-04-21
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2009-10-19
- Assignees: Coloplast A/S
- Applicants: Allen Gaynor; Michael K. Luk; Steven McClurg; Michael M. Witzmann; Ying Zheng
- Inventors: Allen Gaynor; Michael K. Luk; Steven McClurg; Michael M. Witzmann; Ying Zheng
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465503B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/0482: {Needle or suture guides (guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; guides for puncturing needles A61B17/3403)}
- A61B 17/0483: {Hand-held instruments for holding sutures (A61B17/0469 takes precedence; other holders for needles or sutures A61B17/06061; surgical forceps A61B17/28; surgical pincettes A61B17/30)}
- A61B 17/0625: {the needle being specially adapted to interact with the manipulator, e.g. being ridged to snap fit in a hole of the manipulator (A61B17/06109 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00438: {connectable to a finger}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A suture fixation system includes a suture assembly having an anchor, an introducer, and a delivery device. The introducer is attachable to a finger of a person and includes a platform attached to an exterior of the introducer and a zip line attached to the platform. The delivery device is movable along the zip line and configured to removably retain the anchor. The introducer allows the finger to identify a target landmark within a patient and the delivery device is movable along the zip line and attachable to the platform to position the anchor for insertion to the target landmark.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A suture fixation system comprising:
a suture assembly comprising an anchor;
an introducer that is attachable to a finger of a person, the introducer comprising a platform and a zip line attached to the platform, the zip line is one of a polymer strand and a cable; and
a delivery device including a first channel sized to receive the zip line, the first channel provided to allow the delivery device to move over the zip line, the delivery device including a second channel sized to receive and removably retain the anchor;
wherein the introducer allows the finger to identify a target landmark within a patient and the delivery device is movable along the zip line and attachable to the platform to position the anchor for insertion to the target landmark.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The suture fixation system of claim 1, wherein the anchor is a tissue penetrating anchor comprising a tissue penetrating barb extending from a flange and the suture assembly comprises a suture line connected to the flange.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The suture fixation system of claim 1, wherein the target landmark is an intracorporeal landmark and the zip line extends from the intracorporeal landmark to a location outside of the patient.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The suture fixation system of claim 1, wherein the second channel of the delivery device includes a port that is sized to enclose the anchor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The suture fixation system of claim 4, wherein the suture fixation system further comprises:
a shaft that is attachable to the delivery device and a rod disposed in the shaft.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The suture fixation system of claim 5, wherein the rod is movable within the shaft to axially eject the anchor from the port.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The suture fixation system of claim 1, wherein the introducer comprises a finger cot attachable to a distal tip of the finger, the platform attached to an exterior of the finger cot.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The suture fixation system of claim 7, wherein the finger cot defines a window sized to allow the distal tip of the finger to touch the target landmark, the platform located proximal the window.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The suture fixation system of claim 1, wherein the platform includes a lock that is operable to lock the delivery device to the platform.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The suture fixation system of claim 9, wherein the lock includes a biasing member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The suture fixation system of claim 9, wherein the lock includes spring-loaded ball bearings.