Suture Cutter

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for cutting a strand of suture. The apparatus comprises a solid outer member defining a lumen there-through. An inner member is received at least partially within the lumen, a portion of the inner member defining a curve. The inner member further defines a feature for retaining a strand of suture. At least one of the inner and outer members are moveable with respect to the other of the inner and outer members for cutting the strand of suture.

1 .- 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . A suture cutter comprising:
 an outer member defining a lumen there-through;   an inner member received at least partially within the lumen, a portion of the inner member defining a curve, the inner member further defining a slot for retaining a strand of suture, the slot defining at least one inside edge having an inside edge length; and   at least one of the inner and outer members being moveable with respect to the other of the inner and outer members for cutting the strand of suture, whereby a tail length of the strand of suture is substantially equivalent to the inside edge length.   
     
     
         62 . The suture cutter of  claim 61 , wherein the outer member is a solid member having a side-wall without a cut-out. 
     
     
         63 . The suture cutter of  claim 61 , wherein the inner member comprises a solid shaft along a proximal portion of the inner member. 
     
     
         64 . The suture cutter of  claim 61 , further comprising a trigger for moving the at least one of the inner and outer members. 
     
     
         65 . The suture cutter of  claim 61 , wherein the outer member is moveable distally with respect to the inner member. 
     
     
         66 . The suture cutter of  claim 61 , wherein the slot is formed within a distal portion of the inner member, and the slot terminates at a cutting edge. 
     
     
         67 . The suture cutter of  claim 66 , wherein the cutting edge is offset by between about 0.012″ to about 0.026″ from a longitudinal axis extending along a top edge of the inner member to prevent the suture cutter from binding. 
     
     
         68 . The suture cutter of  claim 61 , wherein the curve defines a curvature of between about 6 degrees to about 8 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the inner member. 
     
     
         69 . The suture cutter of  claim 61 , wherein the inner member has a deflection to base-line value of about 15% to about 33%. 
     
     
         70 . The suture cutter of  claim 61 , wherein the slot comprises a side loading slot for loading the suture into the suture cutter. 
     
     
         71 . The suture cutter of  claim 61 , wherein a bottom portion of the slot terminates at a distal groove for retaining a knot formed from the strand of suture. 
     
     
         72 . The suture cutter of  claim 61 , wherein the inner member comprises a plurality of cutting edges to allow for a plurality of potential tail lengths. 
     
     
         73 . The suture cutter of  claim 72 , wherein the inner member comprises a plurality of tubular passages with each of the passages defining a respective passage length and each terminating at one of said plurality of cutting edges. 
     
     
         74 . The suture cutter of  claim 61 , wherein the inner member comprises a plurality of tubular passages with each of the passages defining a respective passage length and the tubular passages terminating at a single cutting edge. 
     
     
         75 . The suture cutter of  claim 72 , wherein the slot comprises a plurality of side slots, each of said side slots terminating at one of said plurality of cutting edges. 
     
     
         76 . The suture cutter of  claim 61 , wherein a distal end of the outer member defines a leading edge, and wherein interference is created between an inner surface of the outer member at the leading edge and the cutting edge of the inner member in order to cut the strand of suture held there-between upon movement of the outer member over the inner member. 
     
     
         77 . The suture cutter of  claim 76 , wherein the leading edge defines a bevel edge to facilitate cutting of the strand of suture upon relative movement between the outer member and the inner member. 
     
     
         78 . The suture cutter of  claim 61 , wherein the inner member is configured to have an offset-to-diameter ratio of about 1.1 to about 1.3. 
     
     
         79 . The suture cutter of  claim 61 , wherein the slot is defined at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the inner member, and wherein the tail length is defined by the angle of the slot and the inside edge length. 
     
     
         80 . The suture cutter of  claim 79 , wherein the angle of the slot ranges from 50 degrees to about 56 degrees from the longitudinal axis.