Arthroscopic knot pusher and suture cutter

1. A method of pushing a suture knot with a surgical knot pusher and suture cutter apparatus, the method comprising:

sliding a control on a handle of the apparatus proximally to retract an inner member proximally;

placing a suture into a lateral side opening of an elongate holding tube of the apparatus so that the suture extends from a distal end of the apparatus and also from the lateral side opening;

advancing the inner member distally within the elongate holding tube to secure the suture between the inner member and the elongate holding tube;

pushing a knot on the suture by advancing the apparatus distally over the suture;

engaging a cutter release on the handle to permit a tubular cutter on the outside of the elongate holding tube to be advanced distally;

sliding the control on the handle of the apparatus distally to advance the tubular cutter after engaging the cutter release; and

cutting the suture using a distal-facing beveled edge of the tubular cutter.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein sliding the control on the handle of the apparatus proximally to retract the inner member proximally comprises sliding the control proximally with a single finger, wherein the control comprises a slider.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein sliding the control on the handle of the apparatus proximally to retract the inner member proximally comprises sliding the control proximally against a bias force operating to keep the inner member positioned distally.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein placing the suture into the lateral side opening further comprises hooking the suture into a generally J-shaped opening or L-shaped lateral side opening.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein advancing the inner member distally comprises releasing the control to permit the inner member to advance distally.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein advancing the inner member distally comprises sliding the control distally to advance the inner member distally.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein engaging the cutter release may comprises pushing on the cutter release with an index finger of a hand while a thumb of the hand operates the control on the handle.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein sliding the control on the handle of the apparatus distally comprises sliding a slider with a thumb while concurrently pushing on the cutter release with a finger.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein placing the suture into the lateral side opening comprises placing the suture into the lateral side opening so that a first length of the suture extends at one end distally from the apparatus and a second length of the suture extends from another end laterally from the lateral side opening.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising loading the suture into the apparatus by first displacing the inner member to expose a continuous opening from the distal end and along a lateral slot and loading the suture into the opened lateral slot so that one end of the suture extends distally and a second end extends laterally.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displacing the inner member by axially sliding the inner member proximally or distally.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displacing the inner member by rotating the inner member so that a notch on a side of the inner mender is aligned with a lateral slot at the distal end of the apparatus.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising locking a position of the inner member after placing the suture into the lateral side opening so that it cannot be accidentally moved.

14. A method of pushing a suture knot with a surgical knot pusher and suture cutter apparatus, the method comprising:

placing a surgical knot pusher and cutter apparatus over a suture so that the suture passes through a lateral slot of an elongate holding tube of the apparatus, the lateral slot extending from a distal end of the elongate holding tube, wherein the holding tube extends from a handle;

moving an inner mandrel within the holding tube to extend the inner mandrel distally within the elongate holding tube, the inner mandrel having a lateral notch extending proximally from a distal end of the inner mandrel along a side region of the inner mandrel, wherein extending the inner mandrel distally captures the suture between the notch of the inner mandrel and the holding tube;

preventing axial movement of the inner mandrel until a lock out tab is released, wherein the lock out tab is coupled to the inner mandrel;

pushing a knot on the suture by advancing the apparatus distally over the suture; and

axially moving a tubular cutter relative to the holding tube, wherein the tubular cutter is positioned around the holding tube, to cut an end of the suture when the tubular cutter is extended distally;

wherein the axial motion of both the inner mandrel and the cutter is controlled by a control on the handle.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising releasing the surgical knot pusher and cutter apparatus from the suture by releasing a cutter release configured to prevent axial motion of the cutter.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein moving the inner mandrel comprises sliding the control on the handle of the apparatus proximally to retract the inner mandrel proximally with a single finger, wherein the control comprises a slider.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising sliding the control on the handle of the apparatus proximally to retract the inner mandrel proximally against a bias force operating to keep the inner mandrel positioned distally before pacing the apparatus over the suture.

18. A method of pushing a suture knot and cutting suture, comprising:

passing a suture through a slot in an elongate holding tube into a suture receiving region defined by an inner mandrel, the inner mandrel having a D-shaped cross-section forming a notch extending proximally from a distal end of the inner mandrel along a side region of the inner mandrel, the notch defining the suture receiving region;

rotating the inner mandrel within the holding tube to move the notch out of alignment with the slot to secure the suture between the inner mandrel and the holding tube;

pushing a knot on the suture by advancing the holding tube distally over the suture;

advancing an outer tubular cutter over the holding tube; and

cutting the suture using a distal-facing edge of the tubular cutter.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising rotating the inner mandrel against a bias force to pass the suture through the slot.