Methods and devices for passing sutures around anatomical structures

#The present disclosure relates generally to methods and devices for passing sutures around anatomical structures.

#The complete or partial detachment of ligaments, tendons and/or other soft tissues from their associated bones within the body are commonplace injuries, particularly among athletes. Such injuries generally result from excessive stresses being placed on these tissues. By way of example, tissue detachment may occur as the result of an accident such as a fall, over-exertion during a work-related activity, or during the course of an athletic event. In the case of a partial detachment, the injury will frequently heal itself, if given sufficient time and if care is taken not to expose the injury to further undue stress. In the case of complete detachment, however, surgery is often needed to re-attach the soft tissue to its associated bone.

#Conventional surgical procedures for repairing soft tissue detachment, e.g., ligament detachment, can employ a ligament graft to replace one or more torn ligaments. If a ligament graft is used, it can be attached to a bone using one or more sutures, which therefore must be passed around the bone to attach the ligament thereto. Passing the one or more sutures around the bone can be a time-consuming and difficult portion of the surgery, since conventional tools for passing suture around bone require the surgeon to approach the bone at an awkward angle and are often not customized for use with complex anatomies. Manipulating around complex anatomical structures can be even more difficult in minimally invasive surgery. In conventional minimally invasive procedures, surgical tools must be inserted through one or more small incisions, thus limiting visibility of the surgical site and a surgeon's ability to manipulate the surgical tools at varying angles.

#This invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1A (PRIOR ART) is a perspective view of a healthy AC joint;

#FIG. 1B (PRIOR ART) is a perspective view of a torn AC joint having undergone AC separation;

#Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the methods and devices disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the methods and devices specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

#Further, in the present disclosure, like-numbered components of the embodiments generally have similar features, and thus within a particular embodiment each feature of each like-numbered component is not necessarily fully elaborated upon. Additionally, to the extent that linear or circular dimensions are used in the description of the disclosed systems, devices, and methods, such dimensions are not intended to limit the types of shapes that can be used in conjunction with such systems, devices, and methods. A person skilled in the art will recognize that an equivalent to such linear and circular dimensions can easily be determined for any geometric shape. Sizes and shapes of the systems and devices, and the components thereof, can depend at least on the anatomy of the subject in which the systems and devices will be used, the size and shape of components with which the systems and devices will be used, and the methods and procedures in which the systems and devices will be used.

#Various exemplary methods and devices are provided for passing sutures around anatomical structures. In an exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, a suture delivery device 100 is provided that includes a body portion 102 having a suture delivery member 104 disposed therein and configured to pass a suture 106 (FIG. 3) around an anatomical structure. Upon actuation of an actuation member 108 disposed on the body portion 102, the suture delivery member 104 can be moved between a retracted configuration (FIG. 11) in which the suture delivery member 104 is disposed within the body 102 and an advanced configuration (FIGS. 2 and 12) in which the suture delivery member 104 extends distally beyond the body 102. In the advanced configuration, at least a distal portion 110 of the suture delivery member 104 can be preconfigured to assume an arcurate shape that facilitates passage of the suture 106, which may be attached thereto, around the anatomical structure. The curvature of the arcurate shape can correspond to a curvature of the anatomical structure and can extend almost all of the way around the anatomical structure, for example at least around 270° of a circle. The arcurate shape of the distal portion 110 can thus assist a user in locating the anatomical structure and in passing the suture 106 around the anatomical structure without having to manually manipulate the suture delivery device 100 at awkward angles around adjacent soft and/or bony tissue, thus reducing surgical time and a risk of injury to the adjacent tissue.