Patent ID: 8911466

Claim:
An insertion device comprising: an outer tubular element extending along a longitudinal axis and having a tissue penetrating distal end and a side opening therein positioned proximal of said tissue penetrating distal end; an inner tubular element extending along said longitudinal axis and positioned partially within an interior of said outer tubular member, and movable longitudinally relative to said outer tubular element; a grasping device fixedly coupled to the inner tubular element and extending outward in a distal direction from said inner tubular element; and a central shaft extending along said longitudinal axis and through an interior of said inner tubular element, and movable longitudinally relative to both the inner and outer tubular elements, a distal end of said central shaft being slidably coupled with said grasping device; wherein said inner tubular element is further movable between a retracted position wherein the grasping device is positioned entirely within the interior of the outer tubular element, and an extended position wherein the grasping device extends outwardly from the outer tubular element through said side opening, and wherein when the inner tubular element is in the extended position, the grasping device is movable between open and closed positions such that the grasping device is adapted to grasp a filamentary element positioned external of the outer tubular element and in proximity thereto.