Line lock threading systems and methods

Abstract

A line lock includes a body at least partially bounding a plurality of passageways such that a suture can only be drawn through the passageways along one direction. The suture may be inserted through the passageways through the use of a cartridge designed to contain the line lock. Threaders may pass through the line lock within the cartridge. Each threader may have a leading end and a trailing end that can be coupled to a suture end. Thus, two suture ends may be drawn through the passageways by coupling them to the threaders and drawing the leading ends of the threaders to cause the suture ends to pass through the passageways according to the desired pattern. The cartridge may then be opened to permit easy removal of the suture and the line lock.

1 . A system for inserting a suture through passageways of a line lock, the system comprising:
 a cartridge comprising:
 a retention feature shaped to retain a line lock comprising a body at least partially bounding a plurality of passageways; and 
 a threading feature shaped to facilitate insertion of the suture through the passageways. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is shaped to substantially enclose the line lock. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a lid that is movable with respect to a remainder of the cartridge to open the cartridge to permit removal of the line lock from the cartridge. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retention feature comprises a pair of troughs positioned on either side of a space into which the line lock fits, wherein the troughs are shaped to restrict motion of the line lock along two perpendicular axes. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the threading feature comprises a pair of posts positioned on either side of the space, wherein the posts are displaced from each other along a first direction substantially perpendicular to a second direction along which the troughs are displaced from each other such that the suture can move around and between the posts to move through the passageways along a first pathway. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first threader routed through the passageways along a first pathway via at least partial encirclement of the threading feature such that the first threader is drawable to draw a first locking portion of the suture through the passageways along the first pathway. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first threader comprises a leading end having a pull feature that facilitates grasping and pulling of the leading end by hand, and a trailing end having a suture retention feature that retains a portion of the suture to permit the trailing end to draw the suture. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a second threader routed through the passageways along a second pathway via at least partial encirclement of the threading feature such that the second threader is drawable to draw a second locking portion of the suture through the passageways along the second pathway. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first pathway extends through first primary, secondary, and locking passageways of the line lock, wherein the second pathway extends through second primary, secondary, and working passageways of the line lock. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising the line lock. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the passageways are arranged to receive the suture such that the suture is able to be drawn through the passageways along only one direction. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the line lock is generally disc-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . A system for retaining tissue, the system comprising:
 a line lock comprising a body at least partially bounding a plurality of passageways; and   a first threader passing through the passageways along a first pathway, the first threader comprising a suture retention feature shaped to retain a portion of a suture to draw the suture along the first pathway in response to motion of the first threader along the first pathway;   wherein the passageways are arranged to permit the suture to be drawn along the first pathway substantially only along one direction.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first threader comprises a leading end having a pull feature that facilitates grasping and pulling of the leading end by hand, and a trailing end having the suture retention feature. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the suture retention feature comprises a loop sized to grasp the suture in response to tension on the first threader. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the portion of the suture comprises a first locking portion of the suture, the system further comprising a second threader passing through the passageways along a second pathway, the second threader comprising a suture retention portion shaped to retain a second locking portion of the suture to draw the second locking portion along a second pathway in response to motion of the second threader along the second pathway. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the passageways comprise first primary, secondary, and locking passageways and second primary, secondary, and locking passageways, wherein the first pathway extends through the first primary, secondary, and locking passageways and the second pathway extends through the second primary, secondary, and working passageways. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the passageways are arranged to receive the suture such that the suture is able to be drawn through the passageways along only one direction. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a cartridge shaped to substantially enclose the line lock and the first threader. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the cartridge comprises a retention feature shaped to retain the line lock, and a threading feature shaped to guide the first threader along the first pathway. 
     
     
         21 . A system for inserting a suture through passageways of a line lock, the line lock comprising a body at least partially bounding the passageways, the system comprising:
 a cartridge comprising a threading feature; and   a first threader positioned at least partially within the cartridge such that the first threader can be drawn along the threading feature to move the first threader along a first pathway through the passageways to draw the suture along the first pathway.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the cartridge is shaped to substantially enclose the line lock, wherein the cartridge further comprises a lid that is movable with respect to a remainder of the cartridge to open the cartridge to permit removal of the line lock from the cartridge. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the retention feature comprises a pair of troughs positioned on either side of a space into which the line lock fits, wherein the troughs are shaped to restrict motion of the line lock along two perpendicular axes. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the threading feature comprises a pair of posts positioned on either side of the space, wherein the posts are displaced from each other along a first direction substantially perpendicular to a second direction along which the troughs are displaced from each other such that the suture can move around and between the posts to move through the passageways along a first pathway. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first threader is routed through the passageways along a first pathway via at least partial encirclement of the threading feature such that the first threader is drawable to draw a first locking portion of the suture through the passageways along the first pathway. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first threader comprises a leading end having a pull feature that facilitates grasping and pulling of the leading end by hand, and a trailing end having a suture retention feature that retains a portion of the suture to permit the trailing end to draw the suture. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising a second threader routed through the passageways along a second pathway via at least partial encirclement of the threading feature such that the second threader is drawable to draw a second locking portion of the suture through the passageways along the second pathway. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the first pathway extends through first primary, secondary, and locking passageways of the line lock, wherein the second pathway extends through second primary, secondary, and working passageways of the line lock. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising the line lock. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the passageways are arranged to receive the suture such that the suture is able to be drawn through the passageways along only one direction. 
     
     
         31 . A system for retaining a line lock, the system comprising:
 a cartridge comprising:
 a retention feature shaped to retain a line lock, the line lock comprising a body at least partially bounding a plurality of passageways arranged to receive a suture; and 
 a lid movably attached to a remainder of the cartridge such that the lid and the remainder of the cartridge cooperate to substantially enclose the line lock, wherein the cartridge is openable via pressure against the lid to permit removal of the line lock from the cartridge. 
   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the cartridge is formed substantially of rigid plastic, the cartridge further comprising a living hinge positioned to permit pivotal motion of the lid with respect to the remainder of the cartridge. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a latch positioned to keep the lid from pivoting open with respect to the remainder of the cartridge until a threshold force is applied. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the retention feature comprises a pair of troughs positioned on either side of a space into which the line lock fits, wherein the troughs are shaped to restrict motion of the line lock along two perpendicular axes. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a threading feature shaped to facilitate insertion of the suture through the passageways. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the threading feature comprises a pair of posts positioned on either side of a space into which the line lock fits such that the suture can move around and between the posts to move through the passageways along a first pathway. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , further comprising a first threader routed through the passageways along a first pathway via at least partial encirclement of the threading feature such that the first threader is drawable to draw a first locking portion of the suture through the passageways along the first pathway. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , further comprising a second threader routed through the passageways along a second pathway via at least partial encirclement of the threading feature such that the second threader is drawable to draw a second locking portion of the suture through the passageways along the second pathway. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the first pathway extends through first primary, secondary, and locking passageways of the line lock, wherein the second pathway extends through second primary, secondary, and working passageways of the line lock. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 35 , further comprising the line lock, wherein the passageways are arranged to receive the suture such that the suture is able to be drawn through the passageways along only one direction.