Arthroscopic meniscal repair systems and methods

摘要

An arthroscopic meniscal tear repair device includes a catch needle and a transfer needle. which are pierced into a torn meniscus and advanced past the tear. Suture is transferred by a suture needle from the transfer needle through the meniscus and into the catch needle. The catch needle has an internal mechanism that retains the suture. The suture needle is then retracted back to its home position inside the transfer needle, leaving the free end of the suture across the meniscus and in the catch needle. The device is then retracted out of the meniscus, leaving behind a stitch across the meniscal tear inside the meniscus . A pre-tied knot of suture is then slid down the device and cinched up using a knot pusher having a dilation tip, thus completing the repair.

主权项

1. A device for repairing a tear in a portion of tissue, comprising:
a proximal actuator portion; a transfer needle extending distally from the proximal actuator portion and having a distal tip for piercing tissue; a catch needle extending distally from the proximal actuator portion and having a distal tip for piercing tissue; a suture needle disposed in said transfer needle, said suture needle being extendable from said transfer needle toward said catch needle and retractable from said catch needle toward said transfer needle, upon actuation by said proximal actuator portion; a hook on said suture needle for retaining a length of suture; a retainer in said catch needle for retaining suture in said catch needle when the suture needle is withdrawn from the catch needle back toward the transfer needle, wherein said retainer comprises a plunger, permanently disposed in said catch needle, said plunger being biased by a spring to extend in a distal direction to retain the suture when said suture needle is retracted from the catch needle by clamping the suture within the catch needle, the suture being retained by impact of said catch plunger against said suture needle and the suture because of the bias imposed by the spring; a first window disposed laterally on said catch needle, through which said suture needle is extended or retracted, the first window having a leading edge; and a second window disposed on said catch needle on a side opposed to the side on which the first window is disposed, through which a distal end of the suture needle extends when the suture needle is fully extended into the catch needle, the second window having a leading edge which is disposed substantially distal to the leading edge of the first window.