Apparatus and methods for Loading Suture

Abstract

Various embodiments of a cartridge for loading a suture onto a suturing instrument are disclosed. In some embodiments, the cartridge is operable for loading a pre-tied knot formed from the suture onto the suturing instrument. The suturing instrument is typically of the type having a suture passing member defining a suture receiving passage therein. In some embodiments, the cartridge comprises a housing defining a chamber, and a partially pre-tied knot mounted about the housing or the chamber. The cartridge additionally provides a base coupled to the housing, the base defining a seat for releasably holding a portion of a suture to be aligned with, and. transferred to, the suturing instrument. The portion of the suture may be held independently, or it may be coupled to a component such as a ferrule or shuttle.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of suturing tissue in an intervertebral disc having a defect therein, the method comprising the steps of:
 loading a suture onto a suturing instrument at a point of use; and   passing the suture through at least a portion of an intervertebral disc using the suturing instrument.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suturing instrument comprises a suture passing member defining a suture receiving passage therein and wherein the step of loading the suture onto the suturing instrument at the point of use further comprises:
 linearly advancing the suturing instrument into a cartridge; and   transferring an end of the suture from the cartridge into a suture receiving passage of the suturing instrument using a suture transferring component of the cartridge.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of transferring the suture end into the suture receiving passage comprises pulling on the suture proximally. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of linearly advancing the suturing instrument into the cartridge further comprises causing a seat of the cartridge to move automatically to align a portion of the suture with the suture receiving passage of the suturing instrument. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suture comprises suture loops and terminating in a suture end, the method further comprising the steps of:
 using a cartridge to align a suture end with a suture receiving passage of a suturing instrument; and   transferring the suture loops onto the suturing instrument.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of transferring the suture end into the suture receiving passage. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of substantially approximating the defect in the intervertebral disc using the suture. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suture comprises a ferrule attached thereto, and wherein the step of loading a suture onto a suturing instrument at a point of use comprises:
 linearly advancing the suturing instrument into a cartridge; and   positioning the ferrule from the cartridge to a ferrule receiving passage defined by the suturing instrument.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of transferring the ferrule into a suture receiving passage of the suturing instrument using a suture transferring component of the cartridge. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of linearly advancing the suturing instrument into the cartridge comprises moving the cartridge distally relative to the suturing instrument to position the ferrule within the ferrule receiving passage defined by a distal tip of the suturing instrument. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of linearly advancing the suturing instrument into the cartridge comprises moving the cartridge proximally relative to the suturing instrument to position the ferrule within the ferrule receiving passage defined by a distal tip of the suturing instrument. 
     
     
         12 . A method of suturing tissue in an intervertebral disc having a defect therein, the method comprising the steps of:
 advancing a suturing instrument into a cartridge at point of use;   transferring an end of a suture from the cartridge into a suture receiving passage of the suturing instrument; and   passing the suture through at least a portion of an intervertebral disc using the suturing instrument.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of advancing the suturing instrument into the cartridge further comprises causing a seat of the cartridge to move automatically to align a portion of the suture with the suture receiving passage of the suturing instrument. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of transferring the end of the suture from the cartridge is achieved using a suture transferring component of the cartridge. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of transferring the suture end into the suture receiving passage comprises pulling on the suture proximally. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of substantially approximating the defect in the intervertebral disc using the suture. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the suture comprises suture loops and terminating in a suture end, the method further comprising the step of transferring suture loops onto the suturing instrument. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of releasing the suture loops from the suturing instrument.