Surgical suture abstract
A knot puller instrument and its method of use with surgical suture
aids a surgeon in tying surgical knots. The apparatus includes a
main body member that is formed of rigid structural material that
can be sterilized such as stainless steel. The body is elongated,
having a preferably linear central longitudinal axis, and proximal
and distal end portions. The proximal end of the main body provides
a handle for gripping. The distal end of the main body is comprised
of a pair of spaced apart appendages that are positioned to hold
a length of suture therebetween at a transverse concavely shaped
bridge portion. A space between the appendages is formed by having
one appendage suspended free of the instrument body, connected only
to the bridge member. This allows a surgeon to place a length of
suture in between the two appendages for engagement by the transverse
curved bridge connector. During use, the surgeon simply forces the
main body in a desired direction to pull one of the suture free
ends away from the knot being formed thus applying tension that
helps the surgeon tie a very tight knot.
Surgical suture claims
What is claimed as invention is:
1. A knot puller instrument for use with surgical suture in tying
surgical knots comprising:
a) an elongated main body member formed of a rigid structural material
that can be sterilized, said body having maximum thickness and proximal
and distal end portions and being much longer than its thickness;
b) the proximal end portion of the main body including a handle
that can be gripped by a surgeon during use;
c) the distal end of the main body having a pair of spaced apart
appendages that are positioned to hold a length of suture therebetween,
one of the appendages being a first appendage that is integrally
connected to and an extension of the main body portion, the other
appendage being a second appendage that is spaced therefrom and
providing an unattached free end;
d) said pair of appendages each including a hook portion that includes
a concavity facing the instrument body;
e) a transverse curved bridge connector that extends between the
hook portions;
f) a slot in between the appendages that defines a space for receiving
and holding the length of suture; and
g) the second appendage being connected to the bridge connector,
entirely spaced away from the instrument body between the bridge
connector and the free end portion of said appendage so that suture
can be inserted into the slot at the free end portion of the appendage
by placing the suture in between the free end portion and the instrument
body and then moving the suture toward the curved bridge.
2. The surgical knot puller instrument of claim 1 wherein the main
body has a generally uniform cross section and a linear central
longitudinal axis.
3. The surgical knot puller instrument of claim 2 wherein each
of the appendages has a straight section with a longitudinal axis.
4. The surgical knot puller instrument of claim 3 wherein each
of the appendages has a straight section with a longitudinal axis
that is parallel to the main body central longitudinal axis.
5. The surgical knot puller instrument of claim 1 wherein at least
one of the appendages has a pair of sections that define therebetween
an acute angle of between about 60 and 90 degrees.
6. The surgical knot puller instrument of claim 1 wherein the curved
bridge connector and the hook portions of the appendages define
a U-shaped portion for engaging a length of suture.
7. The surgical knot puller instrument of claim 1 wherein each
of the appendages has a pair of sections that define therebetween
an acute angle of between about 60 and 90 degrees.
8. The surgical knot puller instrument of claim 1 wherein the space
between the appendages is between about 0.1 and 8.0 mm along a portion
of the length of each appendage.
9. The surgical knot puller instrument of claim 1 wherein the free
end is spaced from the instrument body by a measure of between 0.1
and 8.0 mm.
10. The surgical knot puller instrument of claim 1 wherein the
bridge connector has a concave surface for engaging the suture that
has a curvature of between about 1.0 and 15 mm.
11. A method of tying a surgical knot in an elongated length of
suture that has first and second free end portions and a middle
portion comprising the steps of:
a) providing an elongated instrument body having proximal and distal
end portions, the distal end having a pair of appendages with a
slot therebetween, one appendage being a first appendage that is
attached at one of its ends to the body, the other end of the first
appendage having a bridge connector, the other appendage being a
second appendage having a free end that is unattached from the body
and spaced therefrom;
b) inserting the length of suture in between the appendages into
the sloot until it engages the bridge connector;
c) routing the suture about a patient's tissue that is to be sutured
so that the middle portion of the suture is placed next to the tissue
to be sutured and the free end portions are extended away from the
tissue to be sutured;
d) forming a loose knot with the two free end portions, the knot
being spaced from the tissue to be sutured;
e) wrapping the suture about the distal end portion of the instrument
at a position on the suture in between a first free end and the
tissue to be sutured thereby forming a loop about the instrument
distal end portion;
f) applying tension to the second free end portion of the suture;
g) pulling the loop toward the tissue to be sutured; and
h) applying tension to the loop with the instrument until the loose
knot is tightened.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the instrument in step "a"
has a hook portion and in step "d" the suture is wrapped
about the hook portion.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein step "a" comprises
the step of providing an elongated instrument having proximal and
distal end portions, the distal end portion having an appendage
with a slot positioned in between the appendage and the instrument
shaft and further comprising the step between steps "c"
and "d" of placing the suture in the slot.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the loop in step "d"
is wrapped about 360 degrees about the instrument to form the loop.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein the loop in step "f"
is pulled by allowing suture to continuously pass the instrument
body and the instrument distal end and the loop move toward the
tissue to be sutured.
Surgical suture description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to medical instruments and more particularly
relates to medical instruments that are useful in assisting a surgeon
to tie surgical knots. More particularly, the present invention
relates to an improved knot puller surgical instrument for use with
surgical suture in tying surgical knots in difficult to reach places
such as deep within a body cavity and wherein the main body member
of the instrument provides an elongated rigid structural portion
that supports a distal end comprised of a pair of spaced apart hook
like appendages connected by a transverse curved bridge, one of
the hook portions being generally parallel to and spaced from the
main body member so that a surgeon can insert suture in a space
formed between the instrument body and the spaced apart hook portion.
2. General Background
Surgeons are frequently required to place suture in difficult to
reach places. This is a common problem when a surgeon is tying knots
in suture that is deep within a body cavity as often occurs during
a surgical procedure.
Various types of instruments have developed that assist the surgeon
in the tying of knots in such situations.
An example of a recent patent that has issued for an instrument
that is used to help the surgeon tie a surgical knot is U.S. Pat.
No. 5397326 issued to William Mangum and entitled "KNOT PUSHER
FOR VIDEOENDOSCOPIC SURGERY". In the Mangum patent, four embodiments
of videoendoscopic knot pushers are shown having a main body and
first and second fingers whose ends are shaped in a smooth rounded
shape to guide a suture and knot into position with a patient's
body. The finger members define either a "V" shaped cleft
or a smooth walled channel between them for grasping the suture.
One embodiment of the invention has a second and third channels
for retaining the suture in the fingers even during retraction of
the main body. Another embodiment of the invention has a spiral
channel formed "upstream" of the finger members for retaining
control of the suture even if the suture slips out of the grasp
of the channel formed by the first and second finger members.
The Mangum '362 patent references prior art Clark and Clarke-Reich
ligators that have cylinders with an essentially circular aperture
extending from one end in which the circle has a gap formed in the
circumference to admit the suture and to hold the knot at the base
of the ligator.
Other patents have issued that relate to forceps instruments that
assist a surgeon in suturing. Two such forceps patents are the L'Esperance
U.S. Pat. No. 2665692 entitled "SUTURING FORCEPS" and
the Thomas U.S. Pat. No. 2818866 entitled "CORNEOSCLERAL
SUTURING FORCEPS". In the L'Esperance U.S. Pat. No. 2665692
a suturing forceps includes a pair of elongated parallel arms secured
together at one end thereof. Each of the arms is formed at the opposite
end with a generally annular jaw having an opening lying upon a
longitudinal axis of the arm. The jaws are formed with the plurality
of matching serrations on mutually directed faces and extending
thereacross.
The Thomas U.S. Pat. No. 2818866 discloses a forceps comprising
a pair of co-acting tongs for stabilizing the peripheral lip of
the cornea adjacent the eyeball during a sewing operating. One of
the tongs terminates in a pallet having a transverse offset wall
therein forming a transverse ridge. The pallet is operable to support
the peripheral lip of the cornea and abutment with the transverse
wall thereof and the tines operable to maintain the peripheral lip
of the cornea in position in the pallet. This allow a curved needle
connected with wound sewing thread to be passed between tines through
coaptation margin emerging through the exterior surface of the cornea
just beyond the termini of the tines and restricted from penetrating
the interior surface of the cornea by the position of the pallet.
The Clarke U.S. Pat. No. 3871379 entitled "A LAPAROSCOPY
INSTRUMENT AND METHOD FOR SUTURING AND LIGATION". In the Clarke
disclosure, there is provided an improved combined laparoscopic
needle and forceps comprising an elongated parallelogram type of
linkage suitable for insertion through a trocar and having first
and second ends, a needle, means for mounting said needle on said
first end for movement from a position in substantial alignment
with said linkage, which permits it to pass through a trocar, to
a position transverse to said linkage, handle means on said second
end of said linkage for actuating said linkage to effect movement
of said needle, and a forceps construction including jaw means mounted
proximate said first end of said needle linkage and being formed
from a portion of said linkage and a portion of the holder of the
needle. An improved combined laparoscopic forceps, suture guide
and cutter comprising an elongated parallelogram type of linkage
which is sufficiently slender for passage through a trocar and having
first and second ends, jaw means on said first end, and handle means
on said second end for actuating said linage to move said jaws,
groove means associated with said jaws for receiving a suture to
thus act as a suture guide, and cutter means mounted on said jaws
for cutting a suture. An improved laparoscopic ligator comprising
an elongated stem having first and second ends, a handle at said
first end and suture guiding means at said second end, said suture
guiding means being of substantially the same cross sectional dimension
as said elongated stem for guiding a suture through a trocar. An
improved method for performing a surgical operation by laparoscopy
comprising the steps of inserting at lest first and second trocars
through the body of a patient at spaced locations, inserting a first
instrument comprising the above described combined laparoscopic
needle and forceps through said first trocar, inserting a second
instrument comprising the above described laparoscopic forceps,
suture guide and cutter through said second trocar, manipulating
said first and second instruments in cooperating relationship with
each other in a predetermined area to the central portion of a suture
in position, withdrawing one of said instruments to bring the end
of the suture outside of the patient's body, tying a knot in the
suture outside of the body, and bringing the knot into the desired
position by means of said laparoscopic ligator.
A Russian patent 194242 discloses an opthamological surgical instrument
that includes a handle, a blunt hook with a wedge shaped end, differing
in that the other end of the handle from the wedge-hook is a "g"
shaped hook with a tapered end. This allows loops of sutures to
be held without other instruments being needed, thus avoiding the
danger of the suture being cut by a scalpel.
A United Kingdom patent GB 2181950A discloses a ligature holder
which is a supporting ring carrying fixture devices that are secured
upon the outer surface of the supporting ring. The fixing devices
are made of spring elements which are hooks whose open portion faces
in an opposite direction to the surgery field.
The Straith U.S. Pat. No. 4580560 discloses a drain inserter
that includes an elongated instrument body having a notch at one
end defined between two fork portions of the instrument.
An elongated instrument that has a hook at one end portion is disclosed
in the Chester U.S. Pat. No. 4481947 entitled "ENDOTRACHEAL
TUBE RETRACTOR". The endotracheal tube retractor of the Chester
patent is used to facilitate endotracheal intubation and endotracheal
tube placement. The apparatus is provided with an angled handle
and a scoop-shaped blade for engaging and manipulating an endotracheal
tube. The retractor may be used in both the direct and blind orotracheal
and nasotracheal intubation techniques.
One of the problems with presently available knot tying instruments
is that they use a pushing of the instrument against the knot in
order to secure it. This can result in large amount of friction
between the instrument and the suture and in some situations prevents
the tying of a very tight knot. Some instruments that are available
tend to consist of an elongated rod that contains a hole in the
distal end or face. The opening of the hole is small enough so that
the windings tend to butt up against the end/face and are thereby
advanced. None of the aforementioned patents allows a surgeon to
quickly engage, hold and pull a length of suture during surgery.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved instrument for use in
surgery to assist the surgeon in tying surgical knots. The apparatus
of the present invention provides an improved knot puller instrument
for use with surgical suture. The instrument includes a main body
member formed of a rigid structural material that can be sterilized,
the body having a proximal end to gripped by the surgeon and a distal
end portion to engage the suture.
The distal end portion of the main body has a pair of spaced apart
appendages that ate hook shaped, each being positioned to hold a
length of suture therebetween. The pair of appendages each have
hook portions that include a concavity that faces the instrument
body. A transverse curved bridge connector extends between the concavity
of each hook portion forming a connection therebetween.
A space is formed between the appendages that define a slot for
receiving the length of suture. One of the appendages is entirely
spaced away from the instrument body along its length between the
bridge connector and a free end portion of the appendage so that
the suture can be inserted into the slot at the free end portion
by placing the suture in between the free end portion and the instrument
body. During use, the hook portions and transverse curved bridge
form surfaces that can engage the surgical suture allowing the surgeon
to pull a free end of the suture toward the knot to be formed. This
allows the surgeon to push on the instrument body with the handle
allowing the surgeon to tie the knot by the application of tension
to the suture adjacent the knot.
In the one embodiment the present invention relates to a knot puller
formed of an elongated rod, the distal end of the rod including:
a pulley like structure and a pair of projections originating laterally
from the axis of the pulley like structure then parallel to the
elongated rod for guiding a retaining the suture, a means for loading
suture without an end passing and conversely releasably holding
the suture within the pulley like structure.
The present invention also relates to a method of tying a suture
or filament with an elongated rod which includes a distal end including
a single pulley-like surface, the rotational axis of the pulley-like
surface being substantially perpendicular to the axis of the greater
portion of the elongated rod. The method includes forming a winding
of the filament; locating one proximal filament end around the pulley-like
structure (360) degree wraps of suture running from the distal emanation
to the winding, to proximally to about a nine (9) o'clock position
on pulley like structure, counter clockwise to about a nine (9)
o'clock position, then proximal to a user's hand usually holding
the more proximally emanating suture from the winding, tensioning
both proximal suture ends against the distal end of the pulley like
structure, and advancing the rod and thereby pulling the winding
through a small space and, at the same time, pulling on the proximal
ends of the filament so as to advance the winding.
In one embodiment, the present invention also relates to a knot
puller with two appendages emanating from the rotational axis of
the pulley like structure to facilitate the engagement of suture,
positioning around, and retention to, a pulley like surface, one
of these appendages providing a permanent structural fixation of
the pulley like structure to the elongated rod, the other providing
a means to releasably position the suture(s) around, and maintain
contact to, the pulley like structure, its substantial proximal
end maintaining close contact with the outer surface of the elongated
rod so as to discourage unintended release of the suture and the
absolute proximal end of the appendage being slightly chamfered
or bent away from the rod so as to form a notch to encourage admission
of the suture from the proximal direction, this appendage also being
sufficiently yielding enough to act as a spring that can yield under
firm admission or exit force of suture, the array of appendages
and pulley like structure forming a retaining enclosure for a suture.
The present invention also relates to a method of loading a suture
into a retaining enclosure by sliding a suture distally against
an elongated rod or shaft until the suture is within the retaining
enclosure.
The present invention also relates to a knot puller with a movable
structure containing an aperture for receiving sutures or filaments
proximal to the winding, having a face for pushing windings against
the pulley like surface for the purpose of further tightening the
knot.
The present invention also relates to a knot puller with a sharp
cutting surface that coacts with an aperture for receiving filaments
proximal to the winding that can be manipulated to cut both filaments.
The present invention also relates to a knot puller with a movable
structure containing an aperture that is large enough to contain
two filaments of suture but is small enough to discourage admission
of the winding, and a face large enough to substantially contact
the proximal aspect of the winding at the distal limit of its distal-proximal
movement, the aperture also having a proximal face that encourages
contact of the filaments with the sharp cutting surface near the
proximal limit of the structure's distal proximal movement.
The present invention also relates to a knot puller with a movable
structure containing an aperture that can admit filaments without
end passing that comprises a hook structure, to permit loading of
the filaments into the aperture without removal of the tool from
within the small space.
The device allows the user to use more styles or knots, specifically
square knots, surgeon's knots, whereas the current art of one holed
knot pushers are largely limited to advancing slip knot requiring
give and take of the two suture ends. The present invention enables
users to form ligatures from suture ends of two separate ligatures
and or ligatures and anchors. Although some two holed knot pushers
can be used to form these types of ligatures, the present invention
offers function that is more free to friction than the current art
owing to the lack of suture contact with the instrument at the winding,
when loaded according to the method described herein.
The present invention also allows for side loading or loading without
end passing. The preferred embodiment of the present invention also
contains features for two coacting members to compress the winding
and a sharpened edge for cutting of the sutures at fixed length.
The preferred embodiment has a means of offering visual indication
of the level of tension on the sutures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the present
invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like
parts are given like reference numerals, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the
apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the preferred embodiment of
the apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front view of the preferred embodiment
of the apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of the preferred embodiment of
the apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary rear view of the preferred embodiment of
the apparatus of the present invention;
FIGS. 6-8 and 8A are schematic perspective views illustrating the
wrapping of a length of suture three hundred sixty degrees (360.degree.
) about the instrument distal end portion;
FIGS. 9 and 10 are schematic perspective sequential views illustrating
the tying of a knot using the apparatus of the present invention;
and
FIGS. 11-14 are perspective schematic sequential views illustrating
the tying of a knot within a deep recess or body cavity. |