# US 9,039,682 B2 · Suture securement apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,682 B2 - Document ID: US9039682B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/404,227 - Filed: 2009-03-13 - Published: 2009-09-17 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-14 - Assignees: Merit Medical Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Fred P. Lampropoulos; Timothy W. Clark; Gregory R. McArthur; Michael Joseph Ferlic - Inventors: Fred P. Lampropoulos; Timothy W. Clark; Gregory R. McArthur; Michael Joseph Ferlic - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039682B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/02: Holding devices, e.g. on the body - 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 17/0485: {Devices or means, e.g. loops, for capturing the suture thread and threading it through an opening of a suturing instrument or needle eyelet} - A61B 50/20: Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments (drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02) - A61B 17/0487: {Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks (suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122)} - A61B 2017/00637: {for sealing trocar wounds through abdominal wall} - A61B 2017/00663: {the implement being a suture} - A61B 2046/205: {Adhesive drapes} - A61M 2025/0266: {using pads, patches, tapes or the like} - A61M 2025/0273: {having slits to place the pad around a catheter puncturing site} - A61M 2025/028: {having a mainly rigid support structure} - A61M 2025/0286: {anchored in the skin by suture or other skin penetrating devices} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A suture securement apparatus for selectively securing one or more ends of a suture while allowing adjustments in the tension or a full release of the sutures intermittently after a prolonged period of time. The suture securement apparatus can be particularly adapted for use with a purse-string suture to close a percutaneous catheter insertion site without causing puckering or distortion of the skin at the purse string suture site. The suture securement apparatus allows for subsequent modification of the amount of tensioning or full release of the sutures at the catheter insertion site. A threading assembly for use with the suture securement apparatus and being adapted to facilitate threading of sutures along the length of the suture securement apparatus. An adhesive suture securement device to provide securing sutures to be utilized with a suture securement apparatus. An adhesive securement device to provide a cradle configured to secure a hub of a catheter or other medical instrument or device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A suture securement apparatus for selectively and releasably securing a suture ring of a catheter in connection with sutures positioned adjacent the suture ring of the catheter, the suture securement apparatus comprising: a body having a cavity positioned therein; a plunger slidably disposed within the cavity of the body and biased to secure the sutures and enable releasable engagement of the sutures; an extension tube extending a predetermined distance from the body such that a tip of the extension tube is adaptable to engage the sutures adjacent to an insertion point of the sutures without interference from the body; and a threading assembly having a base and a suture engaging portion to facilitate threading of the sutures through the suture ring and through a lumen of the suture securement apparatus, wherein the plunger comprises a plunger lumen through the plunger, wherein the plunger lumen forms a portion of the lumen of the suture securement apparatus, wherein the plunger lumen is configured to have a cross-section in the shape of a tear drop, and wherein at least a portion of a lumen of the extension tube is configured to have a cross-section in the shape of a tear drop and oriented such that a pointed portion of the tear drop is oriented 180 degrees relative to the pointed portion of the tear drop shape of the plunger lumen cross-section and wherein the plunger is slidably disposed within the body such that the cross-section of the plunger lumen is configured to move substantially along a plane parallel to the cross-section of the extension tube lumen to secure and release the sutures such that when the sutures are secured by the suture securement device the sutures are engaged between pointed portions of the tear drop shapes of the plunger lumen and extension tube and wherein when the plunger is in a fully depressed position, rounded portions of the tear drop shaped cross sections of the plunger lumen and the extension tube lumen are aligned such that the sutures are displaceable with respect to the suture securement apparatus when the sutures are also extending through the opening and the extension tube lumen. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A suture securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plunger comprises a release button. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A suture securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plunger is biased toward an undepressed position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A suture securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the suture engaging portion of the threading assembly comprises a wire. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A suture securement apparatus of claim 4, wherein the wire comprises an insertion assembly having a pointed tip and one or more angular portions to facilitate threading the insertion assembly through the lumen of the suture securement apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A suture securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the suture engaging portion of the threading assembly comprises a suture, monofilament, or braided string. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A suture securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the plunger is in a fully depressed position, a portion of the tear drop shape having a larger cross-section and being associated with the plunger is aligned with a portion of the tear drop shape having a larger cross-section and being associated with the extension tube such that a suture threaded through the lumen of the suture securement apparatus is released and moveable relative to the suture securement apparatus, and wherein when the plunger is in a fully undepressed position the pointed portion of the tear drop shape cross-section of the plunger is aligned with a pointed portion of the tear drop shaped cross-section of the extension tube such that a suture threaded through the lumen of the suture securement apparatus is engaged and secured relative to the suture securement apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A suture securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the suture is secured by the suture securement device, top and bottom portions of the suture as well as lateral portions of the suture are engaged by portions of the tear drop shapes of the plunger lumen and the extension tube lumen. ### Claim 9 A suture securement assembly, comprising: a suture securement apparatus comprising: a body; and a plunger slidably disposed with respect to the body, the plunger comprising an opening configured to accommodate a portion of a suture, the opening comprising a first tear drop shaped cross-section; an extension tube extending from the body, the extension tube defining an extension tube lumen, a portion of the extension tube lumen comprising a second tear drop shaped cross-section, wherein the first and second tear drop shaped cross-sections are oriented such that pointed portions of each tear drop extend in opposite directions and wherein slidable displacement of the plunger with respect to the body displaces the first and second cross-sections in parallel planes; and a threading assembly comprising a base and a suture engaging portion to facilitate threading of a portion of the suture through a suture ring and through the suture securement apparatus; wherein the plunger is biased such that in a released configuration the suture extending through the opening and the extension tube lumen tends to be engaged between the pointed portions of each tear drop shaped cross-section and wherein when the plunger is in a fully depressed position, rounded portions of each tear drop shaped cross section are aligned such that the suture extending through the opening and the extension tube lumen is displaceable with respect to the suture securement apparatus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The suture securement assembly of claim 9, wherein the plunger comprises a release button. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The suture securement assembly of claim 9, wherein the plunger is biased toward an undepressed position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The suture securement assembly of claim 9, wherein the suture engaging portion of the threading assembly comprises a wire. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The suture securement assembly of claim 9, wherein the suture engaging portion of the threading assembly comprises a suture, monofilament, or braided string. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The suture securement assembly of claim 12, wherein the wire comprises an insertion assembly having a pointed tip and one or more angular portions to facilitate threading the insertion assembly through the lumen of the suture securement apparatus. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The suture securement assembly of claim 9, wherein the pointed portions of each tear drop shaped cross-section engage the suture extending through the opening and the extension tube lumen on top, bottom, and lateral portions of the suture. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The suture securement device of claim 9, wherein the plunger is biased such that in the released configuration forces between the plunger and the body tend to push the suture extending through the opening and the extension tube lumen toward the pointed portions of each tear drop shape cross-section. ### Claim 17 A suture securement device, comprising: a body; and a plunger slidably disposed with respect to the body, the plunger comprising an opening configured to accommodate a portion of a suture, the opening comprising a first tear drop shaped cross-section; a lumen extending through the body, a portion of the lumen comprising a second tear drop shaped cross-section, wherein the first and second tear drop shaped cross-sections are oriented such that pointed portions of each tear drop extend in opposite directions and wherein slidable displacement of the plunger with respect to the body displaces the first and second cross-sections in parallel planes; and wherein the plunger is biased such that in a released configuration the suture tends to be engaged between the pointed portions of each tear drop shaped cross-section when the suture is also extending through the opening and the lumen, and wherein when the plunger is in a fully depressed position, rounded portions of each tear drop shaped cross section are aligned such that the suture is displaceable with respect to the suture securement apparatus when the suture is also extending through the opening and the lumen. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The suture securement device of claim 17, wherein the plunger is biased such that in the released configuration forces between the plunger and the body tend to push the suture toward the pointed portions of each tear drop shape cross-section when the suture is also extending through the opening and the lumen. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The suture securement device of claim 17, wherein the plunger comprises a release button. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The suture securement device of claim 17, wherein the plunger is biased toward an undepressed position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The suture securement device of claim 17, wherein the pointed portions of each tear drop shaped cross-section engage the suture on top, bottom, and lateral portions of the suture when the suture is also extending through the opening and the lumen.