Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090138029 | Suture passing instrument and method - In one embodiment, a continuous suture passer device may include a first jaw, a second jaw, a tissue penetrator which may penetrate through tissue positioned between the first and second jaws, and a suture shuttle which may be releasably secured to the tissue penetrator and adapted to carry a suture. Further, the device may include an actuator which may manipulate at least one of the first or second jaws and the tissue penetrator, and the second jaw may have a suture shuttle retainer seat on which the suture shuttle may be releasably secured. The tissue penetrator may be movable towards the second jaw such that the suture shuttle carried by the tissue penetrator may be transferred to the shuttle retainer seat on the second jaw. Additionally, the first and second jaws may be substantially parallel to one another at any position to which the at least one jaw is manipulated. Additionally, the tissue penetrator may travel along an arcuate path from a first position, recessed within the first jaw, to a second position where the tissue penetrator extends through the tissue to be positioned in communication with the second jaw. Further, the at least one jaw may be manipulated such that it travels along a path that is substantially the same arcuate path traveled by the tissue penetrator. A method for passing a suture through tissue includes manipulation to transfer a suture shuttle adapted to carry a suture between a tissue penetrator and a second jaw. | 05-28-2009 |
20110112556 | DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MENISCUS REPAIR - Described herein are meniscus suture passers for repair of the meniscus of the knee. These devices are typically continuous suture passers that may include an elongate body having a pair of arms. One or more of the arms may be angled or bent at the distal end region relative to the long axis of the device, forming a distal-facing opening that is configured to fit meniscus tissue. One or both arms may be movable in the axial direction (e.g., the direction of the long axis of the device). The devices typically include a tissue penetrating element housed within one of the arms but configured to extend across the distal opening between and communicate with one or more docking regions on the opposite arm to alternately retain and release a suture (or a suture connected to a suture shuttle). Thus, a suture may be passed from a first side of the tissue to a second side and back to the first side multiple times. | 05-12-2011 |
20110152892 | SUTURE PASSING INSTRUMENT AND METHOD - In one embodiment, a continuous suture passer device may include a first jaw, a second jaw, a tissue penetrator which may penetrate through tissue positioned between the first and second jaws, and a suture shuttle which may be releasably secured to the tissue penetrator and adapted to carry a suture. Further, the device may include an actuator which may manipulate at least one of the first or second jaws and the tissue penetrator, and the second jaw may have a suture shuttle retainer seat on which the suture shuttle may be releasably secured. The tissue penetrator may be movable towards the second jaw such that the suture shuttle carried by the tissue penetrator may be transferred to the shuttle retainer seat on the second jaw. Additionally, the first and second jaws may be substantially parallel to one another at any position to which the at least one jaw is manipulated. Additionally, the tissue penetrator may travel along an arcuate path from a first position, recessed within the first jaw, to a second position where the tissue penetrator extends through the tissue to be positioned in communication with the second jaw. Further, the at least one jaw may be manipulated such that it travels along a path that is substantially the same arcuate path traveled by the tissue penetrator. A method for passing a suture through tissue includes manipulation to transfer a suture shuttle adapted to carry a suture between a tissue penetrator and a second jaw. | 06-23-2011 |
20120215358 | ROBOTIC ARM SYSTEM - A robotic arm for use with a robotic system and methods for making and using the same are described. The arm can have multiple joints and can have one or more articulating end effectors. The arm and end effectors can have safety releases to prevent over-rotation. The arm can have individual cooling. | 08-23-2012 |
20120265221 | DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MENISCUS REPAIR - Described herein are meniscus suture passers for repair of the meniscus of the knee. These devices are typically suture passers that may include an elongate body having a pair of arms. One or more of the arms may be angled or bent at the distal end region relative to the long axis of the device, forming a distal-facing opening that is configured to fit meniscus tissue. One or both arms may be movable in the axial direction (e.g., the direction of the long axis of the device). The devices typically include a tissue penetrating element housed within one of the arms but configured to extend across the distal opening between the arms. Thus, a suture may be passed from a first side of the tissue to a second side. | 10-18-2012 |
20120283750 | MENISCUS REPAIR - Methods for repairing a meniscus, and particularly a torn meniscus. A method of repairing a meniscus may include using a suture passer to pass a suturing element from the region between the superior surface of the meniscus and the femoral condyle, through the meniscus tissue, into the region between the inferior surface of the meniscus and the tibial plateau, across the inferior surface of the meniscus, and back to the superior surface of the meniscus, without deeply penetrating the posterior capsular region of the knee. Equivalently, the suture element may be passed from the inferior surface of the meniscus to the superior surface and back to the inferior surface. | 11-08-2012 |
20130238040 | DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MENISCUS REPAIR - Described herein are meniscus suture passers for repair of the meniscus of the knee. These devices are typically suture passers that may include an elongate body having a pair of arms. One or more of the arms may be angled or bent at the distal end region relative to the long axis of the device, forming a distal-facing opening that is configured to fit meniscus tissue. One or both arms may be movable in the axial direction (e.g., the direction of the long axis of the device). The devices typically include a tissue penetrating element housed within one of the arms but configured to extend across the distal opening between the arms. Thus, a suture may be passed from a first side of the tissue to a second side. | 09-12-2013 |
20140236192 | SUTURE PASSER WITH RADIUSED UPPER JAW - Described herein are suture passers that may be used for repair of the meniscus of the knee. These suture passers typically include an elongate body having a pair of arms. One or more of the arms may be radiused at the distal end region relative to the long axis of the device, to better fit between a target tissue and a body non-target tissue (e.g., the curvature of the femoral condyle). The arms may form a distal-facing opening that is configured to fit the target tissue. One arm may be movable in the axial direction (e.g., the direction of the long axis of the device), while the other arm may be bendable. A tissue penetrator may be housed within one of the arms to extend across the distal opening between the arms. Thus, a suture may be passed from a first side of the tissue to a second side. | 08-21-2014 |