Endoscopic suture cinch system with replaceable cinch

A cinch for a cinch applicator for securing suture to a tissue, said cinch applicator having a tubular member with a distal housing in which the cinch can be seated, and a shaft displaceable relative to the tubular member and having a force-applying member at its distal end, said cinch consisting of:

• a tubular element having a periphery, a longitudinal axis, a first portion and defining a first end of said tubular element, a second portion longitudinally opposite said first portion and defining a second end of said tubular element, an entry opening in a first side of said periphery at said first portion, an exit opening in a second side of said periphery at said second portion, said first and second sides on opposing sides of said periphery such that said entry and exit openings face in opposite directions, a suture pathway defined from said entry opening to said exit opening, at least one plastically deformable rib in said second portion extending partially about said periphery transverse to said longitudinal axis, and a seat adapted to receive a portion of said force-applying member in said first side of said periphery between said entry opening and said at least one deformable rib,
• a tab extending from said second side of said second portion of said tubular element and into said pathway,
• wherein when said suture is extending through said entry opening, said pathway, and out of said exit opening and when the force-applying member is forcibly retracted into contact with said at least one rib, said at least one rib is adapted to plastically deform to secure said suture within said pathway, and said tab is adapted to be moved toward said exit hole and cut the suture passing through said exit hole.

A cinch for a cinch applicator for securing suture to a tissue, said cinch applicator having a tubular member with a distal housing in which the cinch can be seated, and a shaft displaceable relative to the tubular member and having a force-applying member at its distal end, said cinch comprising of:

• a tubular element having a periphery, a longitudinal axis, a first portion and defining a first end of said tubular element, a second portion longitudinally opposite said first portion and defining a second end of said tubular element, an entry opening in a first side of said periphery at said first portion, an exit opening in a second side of said periphery at said second portion, said first and second sides on opposing sides of said periphery such that said entry and exit openings face in opposite directions, a suture pathway defined from said entry opening to said exit opening, at least one plastically deformable rib in said second portion extending partially about said periphery transverse to said longitudinal axis, and a seat adapted to receive a portion of said force-applying member in said first side of said periphery between said entry opening and said at least one deformable rib,
• a tab integral with said tubular element and extending into said pathway to deflect said suture from said pathway toward said exit hole,
• wherein when said suture is extending through said entry opening, said pathway, and out of said exit opening and when the force-applying member is forcibly retracted into contact with said at least one rib, said at least one rib is adapted to plastically deform to secure said suture within said pathway, and at least one of said at least one rib is further adapted to contact said tab and displace said tab to cause said tab to sever said suture exiting said exit opening.

A cinch for a cinch applicator for securing suture to a tissue, said cinch applicator having a tubular member with a distal housing in which the cinch can be seated, and a shaft displaceable relative to the tubular member and having a force-applying member at its distal end, said cinch comprising:

• a tubular element having, a longitudinal axis, a first portion defining a first end of said tubular element, a second portion longitudinally opposite said first portion defining a second end of said tubular element, an entry opening in a first side of said periphery at said first portion, an exit opening in a second side of said periphery at said second portion, said first and second sides on opposing sides of said periphery such that said entry and exit openings face in opposite directions, a suture pathway defined from said entry opening to said exit opening, a plurality of plastically deformable ribs in said second portion extending partially about said periphery and obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal axis, and a seat adapted to receive a portion of said force-applying member in said first side of said periphery between said entry opening and one of said deformable ribs, and a tab extending from said second side of said second portion of said tubular element and into said pathway,
• wherein when said suture is extending through said entry opening, said pathway, and out of said exit opening, and
• when said force-applying member is forcibly retracted into contact with said ribs, said ribs are adapted to plastically deform to secure said suture within said pathway, and said tab is adapted to be moved toward said exit hole and cut the suture passing through said exit hole.