Suture passing instrument and method

Abstract

In one embodiment, a continuous suture passer device may include a first jaw, a second jaw, a tissue penetrator which may penetrate through tissue positioned between the first and second jaws, and a suture shuttle which may be releasably secured to the tissue penetrator and adapted to carry a suture. Further, the device may include an actuator which may manipulate at least one of the first or second jaws and the tissue penetrator, and the second jaw may have a suture shuttle retainer seat on which the suture shuttle may be releasably secured. The tissue penetrator may be movable towards the second jaw such that the suture shuttle carried by the tissue penetrator may be transferred to the shuttle retainer seat on the second jaw. Additionally, the first and second jaws may be substantially parallel to one another at any position to which the at least one jaw is manipulated. Additionally, the tissue penetrator may travel along an arcuate path from a first position, recessed within the first jaw, to a second position where the tissue penetrator extends through the tissue to be positioned in communication with the second jaw. Further, the at least one jaw may be manipulated such that it travels along a path that is substantially the same arcuate path traveled by the tissue penetrator. A method for passing a suture through tissue includes manipulation to transfer a suture shuttle adapted to carry a suture between a tissue penetrator and a second jaw.

1 . A triangular clip suture shuttle that releasably clips onto the outside of a tissue penetrator of a suture passer, for passing a suture, the suture shuttle comprising:
 a shuttle body having a passage that is configured to releasably secure over the outside of a tissue penetrator having a triangular cross-section proximal to the distal tip of the tissue penetrator; and   a suture attachment element configured to secure a suture to the suture shuttle.   
     
     
         2 . The suture shuttle of  claim 1 , wherein the passage of the shuttle body has a substantially triangular cross-section configured to secure at least partially around the outside of the triangular tissue penetrator. 
     
     
         3 . The suture shuttle of  claim 1 , wherein the shuttle body comprises an opening at the apex of the triangular cross-section of the shuttle body, whereby the shuttle body may flex to facilitate elastically deforming the shuttle body to engage and release the tissue penetrator. 
     
     
         4 . The suture shuttle of  claim 1 , further comprising a retaining feature on the shuttle body configured to engage a retaining mechanism to secure the shuttle body to the tissue penetrator. 
     
     
         5 . The suture shuttle of  claim 3 , wherein the retaining feature comprises an opening or dimple in the shuttle body. 
     
     
         6 . The suture shuttle of  claim 1 , wherein the shuttle body is configured to snap-fit to a shuttle engagement region on the tissue penetrator. 
     
     
         7 . The suture shuttle of  claim 1 , wherein the suture attachment element extends from the shuttle body. 
     
     
         8 . The suture shuttle of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment linkage separating the suture attachment element from the shuttle body. 
     
     
         9 . The suture shuttle of  claim 8 , wherein the attachment linkage comprises a wire or string. 
     
     
         10 . The suture shuttle of  claim 1 , wherein the suture attachment element comprises a loop. 
     
     
         11 . The suture shuttle of  claim 1 , wherein the suture attachment element comprises a clip. 
     
     
         12 . The suture shuttle of  claim 1 , further comprising a suture attached to the suture attachment element. 
     
     
         13 . The suture shuttle of  claim 1 , wherein the shuttle body is further configured to releasably secure over the outside of a curved tissue penetrator. 
     
     
         14 . The suture shuttle of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one bore hole through the shuttle body. 
     
     
         15 . The suture shuttle of  claim 1 , further comprising a bore hole through the shuttle body to which the suture attachment element is coupled to connect to the shuttle body. 
     
     
         16 . A triangular clip suture shuttle that releasably clips onto the outside of a tissue penetrator of a suture passer, for passing a suture, the suture shuttle comprising:
 an elastically deformable shuttle body having a passage with cross-section that is configured to releasably clip over the outside of a tissue penetrator having a triangular cross-section;   a retaining feature on the shuttle body configured to engage a retaining mechanism to secure the shuttle body to the tissue penetrator; and   a suture attachment element extending from the shuttle body and configured to secure a suture to the suture shuttle.   
     
     
         17 . The suture shuttle of  claim 16 , wherein the retaining feature comprises an opening or dimple in the shuttle body. 
     
     
         18 . The suture shuttle of  claim 16 , wherein the shuttle body comprises an opening at the apex of the triangular cross-section of the shuttle body, whereby the shuttle body may flex to facilitate elastically deforming the shuttle body to engage and release the tissue penetrator. 
     
     
         19 . The suture shuttle of  claim 16 , wherein the suture attachment element comprises a loop. 
     
     
         20 . The suture shuttle of  claim 16 , wherein the suture attachment element comprises a clip. 
     
     
         21 . The suture shuttle of  claim 16 , further comprising a suture attached to the suture attachment element. 
     
     
         22 . The suture shuttle of  claim 16 , wherein the shuttle body is further configured to releasably secure over the outside of a curved tissue penetrator. 
     
     
         23 . A triangular clip suture shuttle that releasably clips onto the outside of a tissue penetrator of a suture passer, for passing a suture, the suture shuttle comprising:
 an elastically deformable shuttle body having a passage with a triangular cross-section that is open along the apex of the triangular cross-section, wherein the shuttle body is configured to releasably clip over the outside of a curved tissue penetrator having a triangular cross-section;   a retaining feature comprising a dimple on the shuttle body; and   a flexible loop extending from the shuttle body to connect a suture to the suture shuttle.   
     
     
         24 . A method for releasably securing a triangular clip suture shuttle to a tissue penetrator, the method comprising:
 inserting a tissue penetrator having a triangular cross-section into an elastically deformable shuttle body of a suture shuttle; and   elastically deforming the shuttle body to clip the suture shuttle over the outside of the tissue penetrator.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising elastically deforming the shuttle body to unclip the suture shuttle from the outside of the tissue penetrator and withdrawing the tissue penetrator from the suture shuttle. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein inserting the tissue penetrator comprises inserting a curved tissue penetrator having a triangular cross-section into an elastically deformable shuttle body of a suture shuttle. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein inserting the tissue penetrator having a triangular cross-section into an elastically deformable shuttle body of a suture shuttle comprises inserting a distal tip of the tissue penetrator into a passage through the suture shuttle. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein inserting the tissue penetrator having a triangular cross-section into an elastically deformable shuttle body of a suture shuttle comprises inserting the tissue penetrator though a suture shuttle having a loop extending from the suture shuttle holding a suture.