Suture fastening device

摘要

An apparatus is operable to secure suture fasteners to sutures to eliminate the need to tie knots in the sutures. The apparatus comprises a shaft, an end effector disposed at the distal end of the shaft, and a suture fastener removably secured to the end effector. The end effector may include a pivoting jaw or a suture cutter. The suture fastener may be secured to one, two, or more strands of suture. The apparatus may include several suture fasteners and may secure those fasteners to one or more sutures in a serial fashion without having to remove the apparatus from the patient for reloading. A plurality of fasteners may be arranged within the apparatus in an end-to-end configuration. The suture fastener may include an inner fastener member and an outer fastener member, and may capture one or more strands of suture between the inner and outer fastener members.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a shaft, wherein the shaft has a distal end; (b) an end effector disposed at the distal end of the shaft; and (c) a suture fastener removably secured to the end effector and defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the end effector is operable to selectively secure the suture fastener to a suture, wherein the suture fastener is configured to prevent the suture from being pulled through tissue, wherein the suture fastener comprises:
(i) a first slit defining a first suture strand receiving feature; and(ii) a second slit defining a second suture strand receiving feature,wherein the first suture strand receiving feature is configured to receive and secure a first suture strand, wherein the second suture strand receiving feature is configured to receive and secure a second suture strand;wherein the first and second slits extend perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis of the suture fastener.