Patent ID: 8202282
Filing Date: 2012-06-19
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of advancing suture to tighten a knot, the suture having two suture strands extending from a surgical site at which the knot is to be positioned, the method comprising the steps of: providing a knot pusher instrument comprising a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis, the shaft comprising an inner member located coaxially within an outer tube; a hinged jaw comprising a fixed jaw member located at the distal end of the shaft and integrally attached to, and coupled with, the outer tube and an opposing pivotable jaw member located at the distal end of the shaft and coupled with the inner member, wherein the fixed jaw member and the pivotable jaw member have a semicircular configuration; and a handle assembly located at the proximal end of the shaft and coupled with the pivotable jaw member; positioning the hinged jaw, with the pivotable jaw member in an open position, proximal to the knot to be advanced; actuating the handle assembly to move the opposing pivotable jaw member towards the fixed jaw member and from the open position to a closed position to form a closed aperture having a circular configuration and being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, to capture a suture strand of the knot with the closed aperture formed by the hinged jaw; and advancing the knot pusher instrument to move the knot toward the surgical site.