Orthopedic suture passer and method

摘要

Instruments and techniques to pass a suture are presented. In one illustrative example, a suture passer includes a drill guide and is able to form a tunnel in a bone and pass a suture through the tunnel so formed.

主权项

1. A suture passer comprising:
a suture retriever having a receiver and a guide aligned with the receiver along a guide axis, the receiver being operable to receive and retain a suture and the guide being operable to guide a suture into engagement with the receiver, the receiver and guide being spaced apart and defining a bone receiving space therebetween, the retriever being operable to receive a bone in the space between the receiver and the guide; and a suture having a receivable portion receivable and retainable by the retainer; wherein the receiver includes an opening coaxial with the guide axis and the receivable portion of the suture includes a stopper insertable into the opening; and wherein the stopper is deformable to fit through the opening and resiliently expand after passing through the opening.