# US 8,465,505 B2 · Suture passer devices and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,505 B2 - Document ID: US8465505B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/462,773 - Filed: 2012-05-02 - Published: 2012-11-08 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-06 - Assignees: Ceterix Orthopaedics, Inc. - Applicants: Michael Murillo; Chris P. Bender; Mark Y. Hirotsuka; Michael J. Hendricksen; Justin D. Saliman; John G. McCutcheon - Inventors: Michael Murillo; Chris P. Bender; Mark Y. Hirotsuka; Michael J. Hendricksen; Justin D. Saliman; John G. McCutcheon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465505B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/0469: {Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery} - 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 2017/00371: {Multiple actuation, e.g. pushing of two buttons, or two working tips becoming operational} - A61B 2017/047: {having at least one proximally pointing needle located at the distal end of the instrument, e.g. for suturing trocar puncture wounds starting from inside the body} - A61B 2017/0475: {using sutures having a slip knot} - A61B 2017/06042: {located close to needle tip} - A61B 2017/06047: {located at the middle of the needle} - A61B 2017/0646: {for insertion into cartillege, e.g. meniscus} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Devices, systems and methods for passing a suture. In general, described herein are suturing devices, such as suture passers, as well as methods of suturing tissue. These suture passing devices may include dual deployment suture passers in which a first distal jaw member is movable at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body of the device and the second distal jaw member is retractable proximally to the distal end region of the elongate body and/or the first jaw member. Also described herein are suture passers in which the tissue penetrator passing the suture travels in an approximately sigmoidal pathway, with the distal end of the tissue penetrator extending distally from one jaw of the device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A suture passer device having a suture-passing tissue penetrator that is configured to travel in a sigmoidal pathway, the device comprising: a first jaw member extending distally from an elongate body, wherein the first jaw member includes a deflection surface and a distal-facing opening; a second jaw member slidably extendable distally from the elongate body, wherein the first jaw member and the second jaw member form a distal-facing mouth; and a tissue penetrator extendable from the second jaw member to pass across the distal-facing mouth, into the first jaw member, deflect against the deflection surface and extend distally from the distal-facing opening of the first jaw member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a suture stripper in the first jaw member configured to strip a suture from the tissue penetrator and retain the suture in the first jaw member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a suture stripper in the first jaw member configured as a leaf spring element for stripping a suture from the tissue penetrator and retains the suture in the first jaw member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first jaw member is pivotable relative to the distal end region of the elongate body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the second jaw member is slideable distally and proximally relative to the elongate body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a proximal handle comprising a first control for controlling the angle of the first jaw member relative to the elongate body and a second control for controlling distal and proximal extension of the second jaw member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the tissue penetrator comprises a suture retainer region configured to hold a length of suture as the tissue penetrator extends between the first and second jaw members. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the suture retainer region comprises a lateral cut-out region of the tissue penetrator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the tissue penetrator is configured to extend distally from the distal-facing opening of the tissue penetrator by more than about 1 mm. ### Claim 10 A suture passer device having a suture-passing tissue penetrator that is configured to travel in a sigmoidal pathway, the device comprising: a first jaw pivotally coupled to the distal end region of an elongate body, wherein the first jaw is configured to pivot relative to the elongate member, wherein the first jaw includes a distal-facing opening; a deflection surface within the first jaw; a second jaw slideably extendable distally from the elongate body, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are configured to form a distal-facing mouth; a tissue penetrator housed within the second jaw and configured to extend from the second jaw across the distal-facing mouth and into the first jaw, deflect against the deflection surface, and extend distally from the distal-facing opening in the first jaw; and a suture retainer region on the tissue penetrator configured to retain a suture as the tissue penetrator is extended across the distal-facing mouth. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein pivoting motion of the first jaw is independent of sliding motion of the second jaw. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, further comprising a suture stripper in the first jaw configured to strip a suture from the tissue penetrator and retain the suture in the first jaw. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, further comprising a suture stripper in the first jaw comprising a leaf spring element configured to strip a suture from the tissue penetrator and retain the suture in the first jaw. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, further comprising a proximal handle comprising a first control for controlling pivoting and angle of the first jaw member relative to the elongate body and a second control for controlling distal and proximal extension of the second jaw. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the suture retainer region comprises a lateral cut-out region of the tissue penetrator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the tissue penetrator is configured to extend distally from the distal-facing opening of the tissue penetrator by more than about 1 mm. ### Claim 17 A suture passer device having a suture-passing tissue penetrator that travels in a sigmoidal pathway having two deflections, the device comprising: a first jaw member extending distally from an elongate body, wherein the first jaw member includes a deflection surface and a distal-facing opening; a second jaw member axially moveable between a proximal position and a distal position relative to the elongate body, wherein the first jaw member and the second jaw member form a distal-facing mouth when the second jaw member is in the distal position; and a tissue penetrator configured to extend from the second jaw member, across the distal-facing mouth, into the first jaw member, deflect against the deflection surface and extend distally from the distal-facing opening of the first jaw member.