US20030009196A1 — Suture lock having non-through bore capture zone

Claim 1

Independent Claim 120 words

1 . A suture lock for securing a first segment and a second segment of a suture, the suture lock comprising: a first engaging element and a second engaging element, each engaging element having a surface including at least a mating portion which is opposed to and configured to mate with a corresponding mating portion of a surface of the other engaging element, the mating portions defining a non-though bore capture zone when not mated into which a user locates the first segment and the second segment of the suture such that the first segment and the second segment of the suture are frictionally secured along at least a portion of the capture zone when the mating portions are mated.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 120 words

1 . A suture lock for securing a first segment and a second segment of a suture, the suture lock comprising: a first engaging element and a second engaging element, each engaging element having a surface including at least a mating portion which is opposed to and configured to mate with a corresponding mating portion of a surface of the other engaging element, the mating portions defining a non-though bore capture zone when not mated into which a user locates the first segment and the second segment of the suture such that the first segment and the second segment of the suture are frictionally secured along at least a portion of the capture zone when the mating portions are mated.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

2 . The suture lock of claim 1 , wherein cross-sections of the mating portions of the first engaging element and the second engaging element are identical.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

3 . The suture lock of claim 1 , wherein the mating portions comprise a male element and a female element.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 19 words

4 . The suture lock of claim 1 , wherein the engaging elements are made of a bioabsorbable material.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

5 . The suture lock of claim 1 , wherein the engaging elements are made at least in part of a non-absorbable biocompatible material.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 56 words

6 . The suture lock of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the mating portions further includes at least one surface providing a frictional direction such that the first and second suture segments are restrained from movement in one longitudinal direction of the suture segments and a permitted movement in the other longitudinal direction.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 49 words

7 . The suture lock of claim 1 , wherein the first engaging element and the second engaging element each define a plurality of corresponding separable lock elements along a longitudinal axis of the engaging element, each pair of corresponding separable lock elements constituting a separately deployable suture lock.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 49 words

8 . The suture lock of claim 7 , wherein the separable lock elements are in the form of a continuous series and are defined along the longitudinal axis of a strip of material by a series of indents oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along the engaging element.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 184 words

9 . A method for securing sutures comprising: providing at least one suture lock, the suture lock including a first engaging element and a second engaging element, each element including at least a mating portion which is opposed to and configured to mate with a corresponding mating portion of a surface of the other engaging element, the mating portions defining a non-through bore capture zone when not mated; providing an applicator apparatus, the applicator apparatus including having a gripping end for holding the suture lock, the gripping end being operable between a substantially open orientation and a substantially closed orientation; causing the suture lock to be operably positioned in the gripping end of the applicator apparatus; placing at least one suture segment across at least a portion of the non-through bore capture zone; and operating the applicator apparatus to close the suture lock by causing mating of the first engaging element with the second engaging element such that the mating portions provide a frictional holding force along the non-through bore capture zone that secures the at least one suture segment in the suture lock.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 184 words

9 . A method for securing sutures comprising: providing at least one suture lock, the suture lock including a first engaging element and a second engaging element, each element including at least a mating portion which is opposed to and configured to mate with a corresponding mating portion of a surface of the other engaging element, the mating portions defining a non-through bore capture zone when not mated; providing an applicator apparatus, the applicator apparatus including having a gripping end for holding the suture lock, the gripping end being operable between a substantially open orientation and a substantially closed orientation; causing the suture lock to be operably positioned in the gripping end of the applicator apparatus; placing at least one suture segment across at least a portion of the non-through bore capture zone; and operating the applicator apparatus to close the suture lock by causing mating of the first engaging element with the second engaging element such that the mating portions provide a frictional holding force along the non-through bore capture zone that secures the at least one suture segment in the suture lock.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 41 words

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the method is performed endoscopically and the applicator apparatus including a biasing element allowing a user to manipulate the applicator apparatus inside a patient's body from a location outside the patient's body.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 56 words

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said step of causing the suture lock to be positioned in the gripping end of the applicator apparatus comprises: loading at least a plurality of first engaging elements into the applicator; and causing the applicator to advance one of the first engaging elements into the gripping end.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 49 words

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of loading is performed by providing a first clip containing a continuous series of the first engaging elements and a second clip containing a continuous series of the second engaging elements, each clip being loaded into the applicator.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 60 words

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said step of placing the at least one suture segment across the non-through bore capture zone is performed by manipulating the applicator apparatus such that the at least one suture segment resides within the non-through bore capture zone in an orientation generally perpendicular to a longitudinal orientation of the suture lock.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 143 words

14 . A surgical apparatus for securing sutures comprising: an applicator having a proximal end and a distal end and including: at least two moveable members operable proximate the distal end and each having a surface that operably corresponds to at least a portion of an exterior surface of one of a pair of engaging elements of a suture lock that define a non-through bore capture zone; an actuator mechanism operable proximate the proximal end and operably connected to the members to move the members between an open configuration and a closed configuration, such that when the suture lock is positioned between the surfaces of the members in the open configuration, at least one suture segment is positionable in the non-through bore capture zone and the suture segment is secured when the members are moved by the actuator mechanism to the closed configuration.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 143 words

14 . A surgical apparatus for securing sutures comprising: an applicator having a proximal end and a distal end and including: at least two moveable members operable proximate the distal end and each having a surface that operably corresponds to at least a portion of an exterior surface of one of a pair of engaging elements of a suture lock that define a non-through bore capture zone; an actuator mechanism operable proximate the proximal end and operably connected to the members to move the members between an open configuration and a closed configuration, such that when the suture lock is positioned between the surfaces of the members in the open configuration, at least one suture segment is positionable in the non-through bore capture zone and the suture segment is secured when the members are moved by the actuator mechanism to the closed configuration.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 107 words

15 . A suture lock for securing a first segment and a second segment of a suture, the suture lock comprising: a first engaging means and a second engaging means for defining a non-though bore capture zone when not engaged with each other into which a user locates the first segment and the second segment of the suture, each engaging means having a mating means for mating with a corresponding mating means of the other engaging means such that the first segment and the second segment of the suture are frictionally secured along at least a portion of the capture zone when the mating portions are mated.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 107 words

15 . A suture lock for securing a first segment and a second segment of a suture, the suture lock comprising: a first engaging means and a second engaging means for defining a non-though bore capture zone when not engaged with each other into which a user locates the first segment and the second segment of the suture, each engaging means having a mating means for mating with a corresponding mating means of the other engaging means such that the first segment and the second segment of the suture are frictionally secured along at least a portion of the capture zone when the mating portions are mated.

Suture lock having non-through bore capture zone

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