Patent ID: 9592047
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A suture securement device, comprising: a handle; an elongated outer shaft having a proximal end portion coupled to the handle and a distal end portion opposite the proximal end; an inner shaft movable proximally and distally within the outer shaft; a suture holder at the distal end portion of the outer shaft, the suture holder having an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the suture holder is configured to receive sutures, and in the closed position the suture holder is configured to hold sutures and prevent longitudinal movement of held sutures relative to the outer shaft; and an electrical heating element positioned within the outer shaft; wherein actuation of the device causes the inner shaft and the heating element to move distally relative to the outer shaft and the suture holder, such that the distal end portion of the inner shaft causes the suture holder to move from the open position to the closed position, and such that the heating element moves into the proximity of the suture holder to fuse together sutures held by the suture holder; wherein the suture holder is adapted to separate from the fused sutures after the sutures are fused together and the suture holder is adapted to remain part of the suture securement device as the suture securement device is withdrawn from the fused sutures.