Suture delivery system

Abstract

A suture delivery system is described. The system includes an anchor and a cooperating driver, the driver facilitating a delivery of the anchor into the abdominal cavity. The system allows for the deployment of a suture internally into an abdominal wall.

1 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A surgical method comprising:
 making an incision in a tissue;   inserting a mesh into the tissue;   driving an implantable anchor into or through the tissue with a driver, the implantable anchor coupled to a suture and co-operable with a driver, the implantable anchor including a recessed portion formed around a periphery of an outer surface of the anchor, the suture being coupled to the implantable anchor with a pre-tensioned knot tied about the periphery and within the recessed portion;   withdrawing the driver to effect a separation of the anchor from the driver; and   tensioning the suture to bring the mesh flush against the tissue.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the driver is a rigid driver and is presented directly into the tissue at a fixed angle. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the driver is a flexible driver and adopts a curved delivery path when driving the anchor into the tissue. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising:
 introducing the guide tool into the incision, the guide tool being cooperable with the driver and the anchor, the guide tool comprising an inlet into which the driver and the anchor are introduced into the guide tool and an outlet through which the anchor will exit the guide tool to allow presentation of the anchor into or through tissue   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the guide tool is dimensioned to accommodate the driver and the anchor and further comprising:
 passing the driver through and at least partially out of the guide tool to effect a delivery of the anchor into or within the tissue.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein tensioning the suture also brings the anchor flush against the mesh. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the anchor is hollow. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the driver is receivable through the anchor such that a portion of the driver projects through the anchor. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the driver comprises a needle end portion which on receipt of the driver through the anchor, the needle end portion projects through the anchor such that the anchor is located on the driver between the driver needle end portion and a main body portion of the driver. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the needle end portion is sharpened to allow a piercing of the tissue as necessary. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the anchor comprises a trailing surface that engages with the needle driver. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the driver has a main body portion and a tapered end portion, the tapered end portion having a cross sectional diameter smaller than a cross sectional diameter of the main body portion such that when the tapered end portion is presented into and engages with the trailing surface of the anchor a step is formed. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the step provides an abutment surface configured to operably engage with or contact against tissue and facilitates the removal of the driver from the anchor. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein an outer diameter of the trailing surface in the region of the step is greater than the cross-sectional diameter of the tapered end portion. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the anchor includes a chamfered outer end surface which facilitates the presentation of the anchor through the tissue. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the anchor comprises an anchor body coupled to an anchor head via the suture. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the driver comprises a socket configured to receive the anchor head. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the anchor and the driver are moveable relative to the guide tool. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein withdrawing the driver includes withdrawing the driver from the guide tool. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein withdrawing the driver from the guide tool effects a delivery of the anchor to a desired location.