Patent ID: 8679135
Filing Date: 2014-03-25
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A suture passing instrument comprising: an operation handle having an actuator movable between a first position and a second position; a cannulated needle member extending from the operation handle and having a curved end portion, the cannulated needle member having an outer sidewall and an inner sidewall defining a bore extending through the needle member for receiving a suture and an elongated slot extending from an end face of the cannulated needle and communicating with the bore; a suture pusher movable within the needle member from a pusher retracted position to a pusher extended position; a suture shuttle loaded transversely through the elongated slot into the bore cannulated needle and operable to be coupled to a suture, the suture shuttle having at least one bead and movable along the bore by the suture pusher; and a guide tube having a guide tube body adapted to telescopically receive a retriever loop at a distal end thereof, wherein the retriever loop is movable between a loop retracted position and a loop extended position outside the guide tube, wherein upon moving the suture pusher from the pusher retracted position to the pusher extended position, the suture shuttle and the a suture can be moved by the suture pusher, and wherein the suture shuttle is configured such that upon moving the retriever loop from a loop retracted position to a loop extended position the suture can be captured by the retriever loop outside the guide tube.