Suture forming tool for securing an electrode to generally inaccessible body tissue

Claim 1

A surgical tool for forming a pair of circular sutures to secure an epicardial pacer electrode with an electrical lead to a heart with the sutures spaced from the point of electrical connection between the electrode and the heart, comprising an elongated body, a pair of formable suture elements, a pair of tubular guide members mounted in said body and extending generally along the longitudinal axis of said body, said guide members each having an inner bore shaped for closely guiding one of said suture elements through an axial sliding movement that ejects said one suture element from one end of said body and each including a curved section disposed at said one body end for deflecting said one suture element beyond its elastic limit to impart a curvature of a substantially predetermined radious to the ejected portion of said one suture element, plunger means axially slidable within said body for driving said pair of suture elements in said axial sliding movement through said bores and past said curved section to affect said ejection along a path curving at substantially said predetermined radius, the length of each of said suture elements being sufficient to form a substantially closed-loop suture when fully ejected, a pair of pusher wires operatively connected between said plunger means and said pair of suture elements, means for replaceably supporting said electrode at said one body end, a member axially slidable in said body and operatively connected between said plunger means and said supporting means, said member being structured to detach said electrode as said suture is fully ejected, means for replaceably holding a portion of said lead that is spaced from said electrode and means for releasing said lead.