SUTURE PASSERS AND METHODS OF PASSING SUTURE

摘要

Suture passer devices, including suture passers configured with an axially slideable jaw that includes a tissue-penetrating distal end region. Also described are suture passers including jaws housing tissue penetrating needles to pass suture that are substantially thin. Methods of using such devices to pass a suture through tissue are provided.

主权项

1. A suture passer for forming a loop of suture around a target tissue, the suture passer comprising:
an elongate body extending distally and proximally along a long axis; a first jaw extending from a distal end region of the elongate body wherein the first jaw is bent or bendable at an angle relative to the long axis; a second jaw configured to slide axially along the long axis distally and proximally relative to the elongate body, further wherein the first jaw and the second jaw form a distal-facing opening when the second jaw is extended distally and wherein the second jaw is retractable proximally so that it does not form the distal-facing opening with the first jaw; a tissue penetrator configured to extend across the distal-facing opening between the first jaw and the second jaw to pass a suture there between; and a plate having a keyhole capture region, wherein the keyhole capture region comprise a capture pathway including a channel extending through the plate and a release pathway, wherein the capture pathway is connected to the release pathway by at least one bend, further wherein the plate is coupled to the first jaw so that it may receive a suture from the tissue penetrator extending from the second jaw.