Suture passer devices and uses thereof
Systems, apparatuses and methods for securing tissue to bone using a bone anchoring system are described. Methods and apparatuses may allow transformation between locked and unlocked states, thereby allowing adjustment of the tension in the suture. The apparatus and/or methods may allow unidirectional movement of a suture, while preventing slippage or movement of the suture and tissue in the opposite direction. Ends of a suture may be individually tensioned to adjust positioning of a tissue with respect to a bone.
1 . A suture passer comprising:
a proximal end comprising a handle,
an elongated central portion coupled to the proximal end and extending distally from the handle;
a distal end comprising an upper jaw and a lower jaw and being configured to reversibly grasp tissue, the upper jaw and lower jaw each comprising at least one suture passage, wherein the upper jaw and lower jaw are configured to reversibly engage a suture; and
a suture capture element disposed at the distal end, wherein the suture capture element is configured to reversibly engage a suture loop passing through at least one of the suture passages.
2 . The suture passer of claim 1 , further comprising a suture engaging element moveably coupled to the handle such that the suture engaging element can be reversibly moved between a fist position and a second position, wherein the suture engaging element is functionally coupled to the suture capture element such that when the suture engaging element is in the first position, the suture engaging element does not engage a suture loop passing through the suture passage of at least one of the upper or lower jaws, and such that when the suture engaging element is in the second position, the suture engaging element engages a suture loop passing through the suture passage.
3 . The suture passer of claim 1 , further comprising a reversibly extendable suture threader disposed at the distal end, wherein the suture threader is configured to pass a loop of suture through the suture passage of at least one of the upper or lower jaws when extended.
4 . A suture passer comprising:
a proximal end comprising a handle and a suture engaging element moveably coupled to the handle, wherein the suture engaging element is configured to slide between a first position and a second position;
an elongated central portion coupled to the proximal end and extending distally from the handle; and
a distal end comprising an upper jaw and a lower jaw and being configured to reversibly grasp tissue, a suture passage passing through the upper jaw and the lower jaw, and a suture capture element.
5 . The suture passer of claim 4 , wherein the suture capture element is configured to engage a suture loop passing through the suture passage when the suture engaging element is substantially in the second position.
6 . The suture passer of claim 4 , further comprising a reversibly extendable suture threader disposed at the distal end, wherein the suture threader is configured to pass a loop of suture through the suture passage of at least one of the upper or lower jaws when extended.
7 . A method of passing a suture through a suture passer comprising:
providing a suture passer, the suture passer comprising:
a proximal end comprising a handle and a suture engaging element slidably coupled to the handle, wherein the suture engaging element is configured to slide between a first position and a second position;
an elongated central portion coupled to the proximal end and extending distally from the handle; and
a distal end comprising: an upper jaw and a lower jaw, the upper jaw and a lower jaw being reversibly engageable; a suture passage passing through the upper jaw and the lower jaw; a suture capture element; and a reversibly extendable suture threader;
passing a suture through one of the suture passages;
engaging the upper and lower jaws such that a length of suture passing through the suture passage is grasped therebetween;
extending the suture threader such that a suture loop passes though the remaining suture passage; and
sliding the suture engaging element from the first position to the second position thereby engaging the suture capture element.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising retracting the suture loop in a direction proximal to the proximal end of the suture passer.