US6022360A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Suture retrograder
Assignee: DePuy Spine LLC
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Filing: 1998-08-03
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Granted: 2000-02-08
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Expires: 2018-08-03
Abstract
Abstract A device for grasping sutures includes an elongate housing and a hollow introducer needle attached to a distal end of the housing. The introducer needle has an open distal end having a sharpened, tissue penetrating edge. A suture grasping element is disposed in the open distal end of the introducer needle and is movable at least between first and second positions corresponding to the retracted and extended positions of the suture grasping element, respectively. The suture grasping element may consist of two jaws, one jaw having a pod located on a distal end thereof and one jaw being movable between opened and closed positions. In the closed position, the pod contacts a distal portion of the other jaw in a manner sufficient to retain a suture between the jaws. In additional embodiments, the suture grasping element may also consist of a substantially diamond-shaped wire loop or two wire-like members or a substantially U-shaped hook.
Inventors
- 👤 William J. Reimels
- 👤 Richard F. Wenstrom, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 08:09
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B17/06066; A61B17/06109; A61B17/0483; A61B17/0485; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00349
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
A suture grasping device, comprising: an elongate housing having a proximal end, a distal end, a sidewall disposed between the proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis; a hollow introducer needle having a proximal end attached to the distal end of the housing, and an open distal end having a tissue penetrating edge; a suture grasping hook element disposed within the open distal end of the introducer needle such that the hook element is selectively movable between at least fully extended and fully retracted positions, the hook element being substantially U-shaped with a first leg and an opposed second leg connected to the first leg at a distal portion of each leg, the second leg having a proximal segment and a distal segment, wherein the proximal segment and the distal segment define a gap therebetween, and wherein the proximal segment is disposed within the introducer needle when the hook element is in the fully retracted position and disposed outside of the introducer needle when the hook element is in the fully extended position thereby defining an opening into a space within the hook element defined by the first and second legs; and an actuator element slidably mounted on the sidewall of the housing, the actuator being effective to move the suture grasping hook and wire element between fully extended and fully retracted positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
A suture grasping device, comprising: an elongate housing having a proximal end, a distal end, a sidewall disposed between the proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis; a hollow introducer needle having a proximal end attached to the distal end of the housing, and an open distal end having a tissue penetrating edge; a suture grasping hook element disposed within the open distal end of the introducer needle such that the hook element is selectively movable between at least fully extended and fully retracted positions, the hook element being substantially U-shaped with a first leg and an opposed second leg connected to the first leg at a distal portion of each leg, the second leg having a proximal segment and a distal segment, wherein the proximal segment and the distal segment define a gap therebetween, and wherein the proximal segment is disposed within the introducer needle when the hook element is in the fully retracted position and disposed outside of the introducer needle when the hook element is in the fully extended position thereby defining an opening into a space within the hook element defined by the first and second legs; and an actuator element slidably mounted on the sidewall of the housing, the actuator being effective to move the suture grasping hook and wire element between fully extended and fully retracted positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The suture grasping device of claim 1, wherein the hook element is selectively movable among a fully retracted position, an intermediate position in which the hook element is partially extended from the introducer needle with the proximal end of the second leg disposed within the needle, and a fully extended position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The suture grasping device of claim 1, wherein the hook element is made of a shape memory metal alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The suture grasping device of claim 3, wherein the shape memory metal alloy is super elastic nickel titanium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The suture grasping device of claim 1, wherein the hook element is made of stainless steel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The suture grasping device of claim 1, wherein the hook element has a rectangular cross section and the hook element is positioned to bend about a long side of the rectangular cross section hook element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The suture grasping device of claim 2, wherein the actuator element is biased away from the sidewall of the housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The suture grasping device of claim 7, wherein the actuator element is biased by a spring mechanism.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The suture grasping device of claim 7, wherein the actuator element engages detents at each of a rear position corresponding to the fully retracted position of the hook element, a forward position corresponding to the fully extended position of the hook element, and an intermediate position between the rear position and the forward position, the intermediate position corresponding to the intermediate position of the hook element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The suture grasping device of claim 9, wherein the detents are disengaged and the actuator element is moved by pressing the actuator element against the sidewall of the housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The suture grasping device of claim 1, wherein the gap is about 0.080 to about 0.200 inches.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The suture grasping device of claim 1, wherein the first leg and the second leg are substantially parallel, each leg having a cross-sectional height of about 0.008 inches to about 0.012 inches and a cross-sectional width of about 0.015 inches to about 0.030 inches.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The suture grasping element of claim 12, wherein the cross-sectional height of the first leg and the cross-sectional height of the second leg are identical and the cross-sectional width of the first leg and the cross-sectional width of the second leg are identical.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The suture grasping device of claim 12, wherein the first leg and the second leg are spaced apart by a distance of about 0.032 inches to about 0.045 inches.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The suture grasping device of claim 1, wherein the introducer needle is of a generally corkscrew design.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The suture grasping device of claim 1, wherein the introducer needle is hook-shaped.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-02-07 | 2003-08-09 | 2004-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-02-07 | 2007-08-09 | 2008-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-02-07 | 2011-08-09 | 2012-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |