Surgical repair kit and its method of use

Abstract

A suture passer including a longitudinally-extending hollow cannula having a central passage slidingly receivable of a surgical suture; a manually graspable handle connected to the hollow cannula for manipulation thereof, the handle having an upper surface; first guide means, connected to the upper surface of the handle, proximate a distal end of the handle, for releasably, guidingly holding the surgical suture; and second guide means, connected to the upper surface of the handle, proximate to the first guide means, for releasably, guidingly holding the surgical suture. The suture passer can be provided in a kit, for use in the suturing of internal tissue, along with a cannula bender, various hollow surgical needles and surgical suture material. The suture passer finds particular use in the suturing of internal tissues which are at least partially accessible through a body cavity, e.g. arthroscopic surgery.

1 . A method for passing suture through tissue, comprising:
 providing at least one length of suture;   providing a suture passer, wherein the suture passer comprises:
 a cannula, wherein the cannula comprises a distal end; and 
 a retriever slidably insertable in the cannula, wherein the retriever comprises a distal receiver; 
   inserting the retriever into the cannula so that the distal receiver is inside the distal end of the cannula;   inserting the distal end of the cannula through the tissue;   advancing the retriever so that the distal receiver protrudes from the distal end of the cannula;   receiving a first portion of the at least one length of suture in the distal receiver; and withdrawing the suture passer from the tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the at least one length of suture comprises an end portion of the at least one length of suture. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one length of suture is folded to form a loop portion, wherein the first portion of the at least one length of suture comprises the loop portion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one length of suture is folded to bring together opposite end portions of the at least one length of suture, wherein the first portion of the at least one length of suture comprises the end portions. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distal receiver comprises a loop, wherein receiving the first portion of the at least one length of suture in the distal receiver comprises receiving the first portion of the at least one length of suture within the loop. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distal receiver comprises a hook, wherein receiving the first portion of the at least one length of suture in the distal receiver comprises grappling the first portion of the at least one length of suture with the hook. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 withdrawing the first portion of the at least one length of suture from the distal receiver after withdrawing the at least one length of suture passer from the tissue.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 retracting the retriever after receiving the first portion of the at least one length of suture in the distal receiver.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein retracting the retriever binds the at least one length of suture to the suture passer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising:
 advancing the retriever after withdrawing the suture passer from the tissue so that the distal receiver protrudes from the distal end of the cannula; and   withdrawing the first portion of the at least one length of suture from the distal receiver.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distal receiver expands when the distal receiver protrudes from the distal end of the cannula. 
     
     
         12 . A method for passing suture through tissue, comprising:
 providing at least one length of suture;   providing a suture passer, wherein the suture passer comprises:
 a cannula, wherein the cannula comprises a distal end; and 
 a retriever slidably insertable in the cannula, wherein the retriever comprises a distal receiver; 
   inserting the retriever into the cannula so that the distal receiver protrudes from the distal end of the cannula;   receiving a first portion of the at least one length of suture in the distal receiver;   inserting the distal end of the cannula through the tissue;   withdrawing the first portion of the at least one length of suture from the distal receiver; and   withdrawing the suture passer from the tissue.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first portion of the at least one length of suture comprises an end portion of the at least one length of suture. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one length of suture is folded to form a loop portion, wherein the first portion of the at least one length of suture comprises the loop portion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one length of suture is folded to bring together opposite end portions of the at least one length of suture, wherein the first portion of the at least one length of suture comprises the end portions. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the distal receiver comprises a loop, wherein receiving the first portion of the at least one length of suture in the distal receiver comprises receiving the first portion of the at least one length of suture within the loop. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising:
 retracting the retriever so that the distal receiver is inside the distal end of the cannula before withdrawing the suture passer from the tissue.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising:
 retracting the retriever after receiving the first portion of the at least one length of suture in the distal receiver.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the distal receiver comprises a hook, wherein receiving the first portion of the at least one length of suture in the distal receiver comprises grappling the first portion of the at least one length of suture with the hook. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein retracting the retriever binds the at least one length of suture to the suture passer. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , comprising:
 advancing the retriever so that the distal receiver protrudes from the distal end of the cannula before withdrawing the first portion of the at least one length of suture from the distal receiver.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the distal receiver expands when the distal receiver protrudes from the distal end of the cannula.