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 method for preparing a line lock to retain tissue, the line lock comprising a body at least partially bounding a plurality of passageways, the method comprising:
 inserting the suture through the passageways; and   removing the line lock from a cartridge after insertion of the suture through the passageways.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is shaped to substantially enclose the line lock, wherein the cartridge further comprises a lid, the method further comprising moving the lid with respect to a remainder of the cartridge to permit removal of the line lock from the cartridge. 
     
     
         3 . The method 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 removing the line lock from the cartridge comprises sliding the line lock out from between the troughs. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the cartridge comprises a threading feature, wherein inserting the suture through the passageways comprises utilizing the threading feature to facilitate insertion of the suture through the passageways. 
     
     
         5 . The method 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 method of  claim 4 , further comprising routing a first threader through the passageways along a first pathway via at least partial encirclement of the threading feature, wherein utilizing the threading feature to facilitate insertion of the suture through the passageways comprises drawing the first threader to draw a first locking portion of the suture through the passageways along the first pathway. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first threader comprises a leading end having a pull feature, and a trailing end having a suture retention feature, wherein drawing the first threader comprises:
 retaining a portion of the suture with the suture retention feature;   grasping the pull feature; and   pulling the pull feature by hand to draw the threader.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising routing a second threader through the passageways along a second pathway via at least partial encirclement of the threading feature, wherein utilizing the threading feature to facilitate insertion of the suture through the passageways comprises drawing the second threader to draw a second locking portion of the suture through the passageways along the second pathway. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the passageways comprise first primary, secondary, and working passageways and second primary, secondary, and working passageways, wherein routing the first threader along the first pathway comprises routing the first threader through the first primary, secondary, and locking passageways, wherein routing the second threader along the second pathway comprises routing the second threader through the second primary, secondary, and working passageways. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inserting the suture through the passageways comprises positioning the suture such that the suture is able to be drawn through the passageways along only one direction. 
     
     
         11 . A method for preparing a line lock to retain tissue, the line lock comprising a body at least partially bounding a plurality of passageways, wherein a first threader passes through the passageways along a first pathway, the method comprising:
 retaining a portion of a suture with the first threader; and   moving the first threader along the first pathway to draw the portion of the suture along the first pathway along one direction such that the first suture is substantially unable to be drawn along the first pathway counter to the first direction.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first threader comprises a leading end having a pull feature, and a trailing end having a suture retention feature, wherein retaining the portion of the suture with the first threader comprises retaining the portion of the suture with the suture retention feature, wherein moving the first threader along the first pathway comprises:
 grasping the pull feature; and   pulling the pull feature by hand to draw the threader.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the suture retention feature comprises a loop, wherein retaining the portion of the suture with the suture retention feature comprises grasping the portion of the suture with the loop in response to tension on the first threader. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the portion of the suture comprises a first locking portion of the suture, the method further comprising:
 retaining a second locking portion of the suture with a second threader passing through the passageways along a second pathway; and   moving the second threader along the second pathway to draw the second locking portion along the second pathway.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the passageways comprise first primary, secondary, and working passageways and second primary, secondary, and working passageways, wherein moving the first threader along the first pathway comprises moving the first threader through the first primary, secondary, and locking passageways, wherein moving the second threader along the second pathway comprises moving the second threader through the second primary, secondary, and working passageways. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein inserting the suture through the passageways comprises positioning the suture such that the suture is able to be drawn through the passageways along only one direction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the line lock and the first threader are substantially enclosed within a cartridge, wherein drawing the portion of the suture along the first pathway comprises drawing the portion of the suture into the cartridge. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the cartridge comprises a retention feature and a threading feature, wherein drawing the portion of the suture along the first pathway comprises retaining the line lock via the retention feature and guiding the first threader along the first pathway via the threading feature.