Surgical knot manipulator

Abstract

A surgical knot manipulator device is presented for facilitating the tying and untying of surgical knots through an access portal such as an arthroscopic cannula or an endoscopic trocar. The surgical knot manipulator device includes an elongated, cylindrical body member having a handle at its proximal end and a circular loop located at its distal end where the circular loop may contain a slot to facilitate the engagement of a suture.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A surgical knot manipulator device comprising: 
 an elongated, cylindrical body member having a proximal end and a distal end;    a handle located at the proximal end; and    a circular ring member located at the distal end.    
     
     
         2 . The surgical knot manipulator device of  claim 1  further comprising a slot located within the circular ring member.  
     
     
         3 . The surgical knot manipulator device of  claim 1  wherein said handle is a swivel handle which rotates about the outer circumference of the proximal end of the elongated, cylindrical body member.  
     
     
         4 . The surgical knot manipulator device of  claim 1  further comprising a smooth surface incline located at the distal end of the elongated, cylindrical body member such that the circular ring member is contiguous with the smooth surface incline.  
     
     
         5 . The surgical knot manipulator device of  claim 2  further comprising a retracting bar member which extends across the slot and an actuator member for activating the retracting bar member.