Universal suture passer

Claim 1

An apparatus for guiding sutures through body tissue or the like comprises: a plurality of elongated flexible members of approximately equal length, the members disposed alongside one another and joined together at each end to define an open space between each pair of members for receiving a suture therethrough, each open space decreasing in size as it approaches one of the joined ends of the members to define a region adjacent such joined end for securing a suture between the members.

Claim 2

An apparatus for guiding sutures through body tissue or the like comprises: a plurality of elongated flexible members of approximately equal length, the members disposed alongside one another and joined together at each end to define an open space between each pair of members for receiving a suture therethrough, each open space decreasing in size as it approaches one of the joined ends of the members to define a region adjacent such joined end for securing a suture between the members.

Claim 5

An apparatus for passing sutures during surgery which comprises: a plurality of elongated flexible wires of substantially equal length longitudinally with respect to one another and joined at their corresponding ends, the wires being closely spaced apart adjacent at least one joined end for securing sutures therebetween, the wires flexing outward to allow easy insertion of a suture therebetween.

Claim 6

An apparatus for passing sutures during surgery which comprises: a plurality of elongated flexible wires of substantially equal length longitudinally with respect to one another and joined at their corresponding ends, the wires being closely spaced apart adjacent at least one joined end for securing sutures therebetween, the wires flexing outward to allow easy insertion of a suture therebetween.

Claim 9

An apparatus for guiding sutures through body tissue or the like which comprises: a pair of elongated members of approximately equal length, the members being aligned alongside one another and joined rigidly at their corresponding ends, the members being flexible to permit separation of the members at locations spaced apart from the joined ends for easy insertion of a suture between the members, at least one of the joined ends defining a region between the members adjacent such joined end for wedging a suture between the members to hold it securely within the apparatus during use.

Claim 10

An apparatus for guiding sutures through body tissue or the like which comprises: a pair of elongated members of approximately equal length, the members being aligned alongside one another and joined rigidly at their corresponding ends, the members being flexible to permit separation of the members at locations spaced apart from the joined ends for easy insertion of a suture between the members, at least one of the joined ends defining a region between the members adjacent such joined end for wedging a suture between the members to hold it securely within the apparatus during use.

Claim 12

A method of passing a plurality of sutures through a pathway at one time, the pathway having a starting point and a terminus, which comprises the steps of: (a) inserting a suture passer through the pathway from the terminus to the starting point until the leading end of the suture passer projects outwardly from the pathway a distance beyond the starting point, the suture passer comprising: (i) a pair of elongated members of approximately equal length, the members being aligned alongside one another and joined rigidly at their corresponding ends, the members being flexible to permit separation of the members at locations spaced apart from the joined ends for easy insertion of a suture between the members, at least one of the joned ends defining a region between the members adjacent such joined end for wedging a suture between the members to hold it securely within the apparatus during use; (b) spreading apart the wire members of the suture passer to enlarge the open spaces therebetween; (c) inserting a plurality of sutures through the open spaces between the wire members; (d) pulling the sutures toward the leading end of the suture passer to secure the sutures within the suture passer; and (e) withdrawing the suture passer from the pathway to pull the sutures from the starting point to the terminus of the pathway.

Claim 13

A method of passing a plurality of sutures through a pathway at one time, the pathway having a starting point and a terminus, which comprises the steps of: (a) inserting a suture passer through the pathway from the terminus to the starting point until the leading end of the suture passer projects outwardly from the pathway a distance beyond the starting point, the suture passer comprising: (i) a pair of elongated members of approximately equal length, the members being aligned alongside one another and joined rigidly at their corresponding ends, the members being flexible to permit separation of the members at locations spaced apart from the joined ends for easy insertion of a suture between the members, at least one of the joned ends defining a region between the members adjacent such joined end for wedging a suture between the members to hold it securely within the apparatus during use; (b) spreading apart the wire members of the suture passer to enlarge the open spaces therebetween; (c) inserting a plurality of sutures through the open spaces between the wire members; (d) pulling the sutures toward the leading end of the suture passer to secure the sutures within the suture passer; and (e) withdrawing the suture passer from the pathway to pull the sutures from the starting point to the terminus of the pathway.