Granted Patent B2

US 12,622,690 · App. 18/492,757 · Granted May 12, 2026

Inventors: Daren Stewart (Belmont, CA); James Flom (San Carlos, CA)

Assignee: Stryker Corporation

A61B17/0469A61B17/0483A61B17/0485A61B2017/00862A61B2017/00867A61B2017/06009A61B2017/06014A61B2017/06042A61B2017/061A61B2017/306

Abstract

Claims (18)

1 . A method for retaining a suture, comprising:

extending a distal portion of a suture manipulator of a suture passer from a distal portion of a hollow tube of the suture passer, the distal portion of the suture manipulator forming a single arm so that only the single arm extends out of the distal portion of the hollow tube when the suture manipulator is fully extended, the hollow tube comprising a lumen that extends to a distal end of the hollow tube;

locating a portion of a suture adjacent to a catching portion of the suture manipulator, wherein the catching portion of the suture manipulator extends proximally to a tip; and

retracting the distal portion of the suture manipulator into the hollow tube and pulling the portion of the suture into the hollow tube so that a loop of the suture is located in the lumen of the hollow tube and the portion of the suture is compressed by an inner surface of the hollow tube and a side surface of the catching portion.

2 . The method of claim 1 , comprising passing the distal portion of the suture passer with the portion of the suture through tissue.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the tissue is a labrum.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the tissue is a joint capsule.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the tissue is located in a hip.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the hollow tube is curved.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the hollow tube tapers to a pointed tip.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the distal portion of the hollow tube comprises a cutaway in a side of a wall defining the distal portion of the hollow tube that is, the cutaway being proximal of the tapered distal end.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein a first portion of the cutaway curves around a longitudinal axis of the distal portion of the hollow tube and two longitudinally extending portions of the cutaway extend distally from the first portion to the tapered distal end of the hollow tube.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein extending the distal portion of the suture manipulator from the distal portion of the hollow tube comprises extending at least a portion of the suture manipulator laterally outwardly through the cutaway.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the hollow tube has a longitudinal axis and at least a portion of the suture manipulator extends laterally away from the longitudinal axis.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the suture manipulator has a non-circular cross section such that the width of the distal portion of the suture manipulator is smaller than a height of the distal portion of the suture manipulator.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the suture manipulator comprises two opposed flat sides and the portion of the suture is compressed between the inner surface of the hollow tube and the two opposed flat sides.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the suture is a #2 orthopedic suture and the portion of the suture is compressed to at least 36% of an uncompressed diameter.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the suture is a #2 orthopedic suture, and the method comprises applying a force of at least five pounds to the suture in a longitudinal direction of the distal portion of the suture manipulator while the portion of the suture is compressed within the hollow tube and the suture remaining in place.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (17)

References Cited (289)