Patent ID: 9724088
Date: 2017-08-08
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A method for repairing a tear in a portion of tissue, said method comprising: advancing first and second needles into said tissue, so that distal ends of each needle are disposed beyond the tear, wherein the second needle comprises a first window disposed laterally on a first side facing the first needle, the first window having a leading edge, and a second window disposed on a second side opposed to the first side and facing away from the first needle, the second window having a leading edge which is disposed substantially distal to the leading edge of the first window; extending a suture needle on which is retained a length of suture from the first needle to the second needle, through said tear, such that the suture needle extends through both the first window and the second window; retaining the suture in the second needle by using a spring to move a plunger permanently disposed within the second needle to clamp the suture in place within a lumen of the second needle, thereby ensuring that the suture will be retained within the second needle as the suture needle is retracted therefrom; retracting the suture needle back into the first needle; and retracting the first and second needles from the tissue, and dispensing suture as the needles are retracted.