# US 8,540,736 B2 · Spool configured to retain suture for a suture system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,736 B2 - Document ID: US8540736B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/491,609 - Filed: 2012-06-08 - Published: 2012-12-13 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-14 - Assignees: Coloplast A/S - Applicants: Allen Gaynor; Thomas Kubalak; Steven McClurg - Inventors: Allen Gaynor; Thomas Kubalak; Steven McClurg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540736B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/06128: {Elongate cylinders, i.e. tubes} - 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 17/06123: {Flat cylinders, e.g. including an inner reel} - A61B 17/06066: {Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations} - 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 2017/06009: {having additional means for releasably clamping the suture to the needle, e.g. actuating rod slideable within the needle} - A61B 2017/06042: {located close to needle tip} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A suture system spool is configured to retain suture having a suture diameter and tension the suture between a distal and proximal end portions of a suturing tool. The spool includes a monolithically formed disc defining a central opening that provides the disc with an inside diameter. The disc includes a base and a flap joined with the base at the inside diameter, and the flap extends from the inside diameter to an outer periphery of the disc to define a cavity between the flap and the base. The flap is spaced away from the base at a location between the inside diameter and the outer periphery of the disc by a factor of at least two times the suture diameter, and the flap is spaced away from the base at the outer periphery of the disc by a distance that is approximately equal to the suture diameter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A suture system spool configured to retain suture having a suture diameter and tension the suture between a distal end portion and a proximal end portion of a suturing tool, the spool comprising: a monolithically formed disc defining a central opening that provides the disc with an inside diameter, the disc including a base and a flap joined with the base at the inside diameter, the flap extending from the inside diameter of the disc to an outer periphery of the disc to define a cavity between the flap and the base; wherein the flap is spaced away from the base at a location between the inside diameter and the outer periphery of the disc by a factor of at least two times the suture diameter, and the flap is spaced away from the base at the outer periphery of the disc by a distance that is approximately equal to the suture diameter and wherein the flap is cantilevered from the inside diameter of the disc, the flap configured to flex away from the base to allow the suture to be removed from the cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The suture system spool of claim 1, wherein a gap is formed between the flap and the base at the outer periphery of the disc, and the gap is less than the suture diameter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The suture system spool of claim 1, wherein an outer peripheral end portion of the flap is configured to flex away from the base at the outer periphery of the disc to allow only a single strand of the suture to be unwound from the cavity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The suture system spool of claim 1, wherein a tail end portion of the multiple windings of the suture projects out of the cavity and is pinched between the flap and the base at the outer periphery of the disc. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The suture system spool of claim 1, wherein the suture includes a suturing hook connected to an end of the suture and an exterior surface of the base defines a recess that is sized to receive the suturing hook. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The suture system spool of claim 1, wherein an exterior surface of the flap is curved and an exterior surface of the base is substantially planar. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The suture system spool of claim 1, wherein the inside diameter formed by the central opening in the disc provides a compressible surface that is attachable to a post at the proximal end portion of the suturing tool. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) A suture system configured to place suture in tissue, the suture system comprising: a tool comprising a handle and a head located distal the handle, the head having a proximal portion housing a needle and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal portion by a throat, the needle is movable through a needle exit port formed in the proximal portion of the head to a cavity formed in the distal end of the head; a suture assembly comprising a suture connected to a suture clip, the suture having a suture diameter and the suture clip insertable into the cavity formed in the distal end of the head; and a suture spool according to any one of claims 1-7. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The suture system of claim 8, wherein the flap is spaced away from the base at the outer periphery of the spool by a distance that is less than the suture diameter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The suture system of claim 8, wherein the cavity has a height extending between the flap and the base that is at least two times the suture diameter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The suture system of claim 8, wherein an end of the flap flexes to provide a limiter that frictionally contacts the suture. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The suture system of claim 11, wherein the limiter prevents unspooling of the suture from out of the cavity. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The suture system of claim 8, wherein an inside surface of the flap comprises serrated teeth. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The suture system of claim 13, wherein an inside surface of the base comprises serrated teeth. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The suture system of claim 8, wherein the suture is connected to a plurality of suture clips.