Patent ID: 9622741
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. An apparatus for remotely and subcutaneously positioning a suture in tissue, the apparatus comprising: a first body, at least one elongate member extending from the first body, and at least two eyelets for engaging the suture, each of the at least one elongate member having one or more of the at least two eyelets at a distal end thereof, the at least two eyelets defining a common longitudinal axis extending therethrough and each eyelet defining a respective length thereof in a dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a second body movably attached to the first body, the second body having a guide arm extending therefrom, the guide arm including a keying structure for aligning a suture passing instrument with the longitudinal axis extending through the at least two eyelets of the at least one elongate member, the keying structure defining a length thereof in a dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis and a width thereof in a dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the length of the keying structure being greater than the width thereof and the length of the keying structure being greater than each of the respective lengths of the at least two eyelets, wherein the first and second bodies are movable relative to each other between a first position, where the first and second bodies are separated apart such that the keying structure and the suture passing instrument are not aligned with the longitudinal axis extending through the at least two eyelets, and a second position, where the first and second bodies are closed together, the keying structure aligning the suture passing instrument with the longitudinal axis extending through the at least two eyelets, wherein the guide arm is spaced from the at least one elongate member in both the first and second positions, and wherein the keying structure directs the suture passing instrument along the longitudinal axis and through the at least two eyelets of the at least one elongate member when the apparatus is in the second position.