Patent ID: 8663250
Filing Date: 2014-03-04
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of passing suture through tissue, the method comprising the steps of: providing a suture passing instrument, the suture passing instrument comprising: a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a transversal axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end; a first jaw integral to the distal end of the shaft and configured to receive two side-by-side needles, the first jaw comprising two channels at its distal end to allow the needles to pass therethrough and a groove configured to retain a strand of suture thereon; a second jaw mounted to the distal end of the shaft and pivotally connected to the first jaw such that the second jaw is movable with respect to the first jaw; and a handle assembly comprising a handle; loading two needles in the suture passing instrument by sliding the needles through a cannulation in the proximal end of the shaft such that a distal end of each of the needles is on the distal end of the shaft; loading a suture onto the first jaw; closing the second and first jaws and advancing the suture passing instrument in the vicinity of the tissue; opening the second jaw and grasping a desired portion of the tissue by closing the second and first jaws with the tissue disposed between the jaws; actuating the handle of the handle assembly to simultaneously advance the two needles, the needles passing through the two channels at the distal end of the shaft, the two channels extending from an upper surface of the first jaw to a lower surface of the first jaw, the two channels having respective openings on the upper surface of the first jaw, the two channels being angularly offset with respect to each other and with respect to the transversal axis of the shaft, such that the needles exit the openings at an angle with respect to each other and diverge as they exit, the needles capturing the suture and passing the captured suture through the tissue as they advance and diverge; and retracting the needles and retrieving the suture using a retriever or grasper.