Housing for storing sutures therein, and methods of use therefor
Various embodiments for a surgical element carrier are described. The surgical element carrier includes a housing dimensioned for insertion through a surgical port during a surgery, where the housing has a first housing portion and a second housing portion movable relative to the first housing portion between a closed position and an open position. The surgical element carrier is configured to retain surgical elements, such as sutures, in a stacked arrangement within the housing that are accessible when the surgical element carrier is in the open position. Further, the surgical element carrier further includes a spacer having a spacer body. The spacer may be positioned between at least two of the surgical elements. The spacer includes a projecting portion extending from a side of the spacer, where the projecting portion may fold over the spacer body to at least partially overlap one of the surgical elements positioned thereon.
1 . A surgical element carrier, comprising:
a housing dimensioned for insertion through a surgical port during a surgery, the housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion movable relative to the first housing portion between a closed position and an open position;
a first suture strand,
a first spacer positioned between the first suture strand and one of the first and second housing portions;
a second spacer structurally distinct from the first spacer and separated from the first spacer by an intervening gap such that the first suture stand is positioned between the first spacer and the second spacer;
a second suture strand positioned between the second spacer and one of the first and second housing portions; and
a suture holder base positioned between the first spacer and the first housing portion of the housing, the suture holding base comprising first and second apertures, wherein the first suture strand extends through the first aperture and the second suture strand extends through the second aperture.
2 . The surgical element carrier of claim 1 , wherein the suture holder base further comprises:
a first recessed portion and a second recessed portion;
a first foam block positioned in the first recessed portion; and
a second foam block positioned in the second recessed portion.
3 . The surgical element carrier of claim 1 , wherein the first spacer comprises an elongate main body having a longitudinal axis, first and second opposing end walls and first and second opposing side walls extending continuously between the first and second end walls.
4 . The surgical element carrier of claim 3 , wherein the second spacer comprises an elongate main body having a longitudinal axis, first and second opposing end walls and first and second opposing side walls extending continuously between the first and second end walls.
5 . The surgical element carrier of claim 4 , wherein the first and second continuous side walls of the first spacer are spaced from the first and second continuous side walls of the second spacer by the intervening gap.
6 . The surgical element carrier of claim 1 wherein the first and second spacers are disposed in a stacked configuration with respect to one another, the first spacer being positioned above the second spacer and spaced apart therefrom by the intervening gap.
7 . The surgical element carrier of claim 1 , wherein the first spacer comprises a first projecting portion extending from a side of the first spacer, the first projecting portion being folded over at least a portion of the first spacer to at least partially overlap the first suture strand positioned thereon.
8 . The surgical element carrier of claim 7 , wherein the second spacer comprises a second projecting portion extending from a side of the second spacer, the second projecting portion being folded over at least a portion of the second spacer to at least partially overlap the second suture strand positioned thereon.