Surgical instrument

Claim 2

A surgical instrument comprising: a handle assembly; a tool head comprising first and second cooperating tool members movable between a first position wherein said tool members are spaced from one another and a second position wherein said tool members are proximate to one another, said first and second tool members comprising first means for running surgical suture throws toward a surgical site to form a knot, and second means for severing excess lengths of suture adjacent to said knot; and drive means attached to said handle assembly and connected to said tool head for moving said first and second cooperating tool members between said first position and said second position; wherein said first means comprise a substantially semi-cylindrical portion on each of said first and second cooperating tool members, said substantially cylindrical portions being configured to substantially abut one another in mating relationship when said first and second tool members are located in said second position so as to form a cavity having an open distal end and a sidewall, said sidewall comprising a first bore extending at an angle therethrough and a second bore extending substantially radially through an opposing portion of said sidewall, said second bore being connected to the distal end of said cavity sidewall by a slot, and said first bore, said second bore, and said slot all being substantially aligned.

Claim 3

A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said handle assembly is adapted to operate said drive means.

Claim 4

A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a discrete subassembly that is detachable as a unit from said handle assembly.

Claim 5

A surgical instrument according to claim 3 wherein said discrete subassembly is releasably locked to said handle assembly by a spring-biased locking member.

Claim 6

A surgical instrument according to claim 1 further including rotating means for rotating said tool head relative to said handle assembly.

Claim 7

A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises an elongate rod, a hollow tube surrounding said rod, means for securing one end of said rod to said handle assembly, means for securing said tool head to the opposite end of said rod, support means for slidably supporting said tube for sliding axial movement relative to said rod, said support means comprising a first housing releasably secured to said handle assembly, said first housing defining an elongate chamber, and a second housing slidably mounted in said elongate chamber, said tube being secured to and movable with said second housing, and said rod extending through said second housing and being secured to said first housing, said rod and said tube cooperating to move said first and second cooperating tool members in response to axial movement of said tube relative to said rod.

Claim 8

A surgical instrument according to claim 6 wherein said handle assembly comprises a hollow body portion with said first housing extending therein.

Claim 9

A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said second means comprises a cutting blades on each of said first and second tool members, said cutting blades being arranged to engage one another when said first and second tool members are moved to said second position.

Claim 10

A surgical instrument comprising; a handle assembly; a tool head comprising first and second cooperating tool members movable between a first position wherein said tool members are spaced from one another and a second position wherein said tool members are proximate to one another, said first and second tool members comprising first means for running, surgical suture throws toward a surgical site to form a knot, and second means for severing excess lengths of suture adjacent to said knot; and drive means attached to said handle assembly and connected to said tool head for moving said first and second cooperating tool members between said first position and said second position; wherein said first means comprise a substantially semi-cylindrical portion located distally of said second means on each of said first and second cooperating tool members, said substantially cylindrical portions being configured to substantially abut one another in mating relationship when said first and second tool members are located in said second position so as to form a cavity having an open distal end and a sidewall, said sidewall comprising a first bore extending at an angle therethrough and a second bore extending substantially radially through an opposing portion of said sidewall, said second bore being connected to the distal end of said cavity sidewall by a slot, and said first bore, said second bore, and said slot all being substantially aligned; and wherein said second means comprises a cutting blade on each of said first and second tool members, said cutting blades being arranged to engage one another when said first and second tool members are moved to said second position.

Claim 11

A surgical instrument comprising; a handle assembly; a tool head comprising first and second cooperating tool members movable between a first position wherein said tool members are spaced from one another and a second position wherein said tool members are proximate to one another, said first and second tool members comprising first means for running, surgical suture throws toward a surgical site to form a knot, and second means for severing excess lengths of suture adjacent to said knot; and drive means attached to said handle assembly and connected to said tool head for moving said first and second cooperating tool members between said first position and said second position; wherein said first means comprise a substantially semi-cylindrical portion located distally of said second means on each of said first and second cooperating tool members, said substantially cylindrical portions being configured to substantially abut one another in mating relationship when said first and second tool members are located in said second position so as to form a cavity having an open distal end and a sidewall, said sidewall comprising a first bore extending at an angle therethrough and a second bore extending substantially radially through an opposing portion of said sidewall, said second bore being connected to the distal end of said cavity sidewall by a slot, and said first bore, said second bore, and said slot all being substantially aligned; and wherein said second means comprises a cutting blade on each of said first and second tool members, said cutting blades being arranged to engage one another when said first and second tool members are moved to said second position.

Claim 12

A surgical instrument comprising a handle and trigger assembly and an operating tool assembly separably connected to said handle and trigger assembly; said handle and trigger assembly comprising a handle housing having a chamber therein and a trigger member pivotally mounted to said handle housing;. said operating tool comprising at one end thereof a tool head including first means for running surgical suture throws toward a surgical site to form a knot and second means for severing excess suture lengths adjacent to said knot, and at the opposite end thereof a tubular housing that extends into said chamber; said handle and trigger assembly having locking means engaged with said operating tool assembly for releasably locking said tubular housing to said handle housing; said operating tool assembly further comprising a mechanism for moving portions of said first means for running suture throws and said second means for severing excess suture toward and away from one another, said mechanism including movable means in said tubular housing engaged and movable by said trigger member for causing said mechanism to move said portions of said first means for running suture throws and said second means for severing excess suture toward and way from one another in response pivotal movement of said trigger assembly; wherein said mechanism includes first and second cooperating tool members, and wherein said second means comprises opposing cutting blades on said first and second cooperating tool members, and said first means comprises a substantially semi-frustoconical portion located distally of said cutting blade on each of said first and second cooperating tool members, said substantially frustoconical portions being configured to substantially abut one another in mating relationship when said first and second cooperating tool members are located in [their second]a closed position so as to form a distally facing open cylindrical cavity having an open distal end and a sidewall, [and]said sidewall defining a first bore extending therethrough and an opposing second bore extending substantially radially therethrough, said second bore being connected to said distal end of said cavity sidewall by a longitudinal slot, and said first bore, said second bore and said slot all being substantially aligned.

Claim 13

A surgical instrument comprising a handle and trigger assembly and an operating tool assembly separably connected to said handle and trigger assembly; said handle and trigger assembly comprising a handle housing having a chamber therein and a trigger member pivotally mounted to said handle housing;. said operating tool comprising at one end thereof a tool head including first means for running surgical suture throws toward a surgical site to form a knot and second means for severing excess suture lengths adjacent to said knot, and at the opposite end thereof a tubular housing that extends into said chamber; said handle and trigger assembly having locking means engaged with said operating tool assembly for releasably locking said tubular housing to said handle housing; said operating tool assembly further comprising a mechanism for moving portions of said first means for running suture throws and said second means for severing excess suture toward and away from one another, said mechanism including movable means in said tubular housing engaged and movable by said trigger member for causing said mechanism to move said portions of said first means for running suture throws and said second means for severing excess suture toward and way from one another in response pivotal movement of said trigger assembly; wherein said mechanism includes first and second cooperating tool members, and wherein said second means comprises opposing cutting blades on said first and second cooperating tool members, and said first means comprises a substantially semi-frustoconical portion located distally of said cutting blade on each of said first and second cooperating tool members, said substantially frustoconical portions being configured to substantially abut one another in mating relationship when said first and second cooperating tool members are located in [their second]a closed position so as to form a distally facing open cylindrical cavity having an open distal end and a sidewall, [and]said sidewall defining a first bore extending therethrough and an opposing second bore extending substantially radially therethrough, said second bore being connected to said distal end of said cavity sidewall by a longitudinal slot, and said first bore, said second bore and said slot all being substantially aligned.

Claim 16

The method of claim 11 further including the step of releasably locking said tool members in said second closed position during the running of said surgical suture throws along said lengths of suture extending from said surgical site.

Claim 17

A surgical instrument comprising: a drive means disposed in a tube; first and second tool members fixed, respectively, at one end to said drive means and biased away from each other and movable by said drive means between a first position in which said tool members are extended from said tube and biased away from each other and a second position in which said tool members are in part drawn into said tube and thereby forced toward and proximate each other; a first head portion disposed at a distal end of said first tool member, said first head portion having a bore therethrough for receiving and retaining a first suture strand such that the first suture strand is slidable lengthwise through said bore, said bore being spaced from a distal end of said first head portion; and a second head portion disposed at a distal end of said second tool member, said second head portion having a slot therethrough with an open end at a distal end of said second head portion and a closed end opposed to said bore for receiving and retaining a second suture strand such that the second suture strand is receivable by said slot generally widthwise of said second suture strand through said open end of said slot, and said second suture strand is slidable lengthwise through said slot; whereby said first and second tool members in said second position are adapted for running said suture strands toward a surgical site, and are movable by said drive means from said second position to said first position to pull said suture strands taut to form a knot.

Claim 18

A surgical instrument comprising: a drive means disposed in a tube; first and second tool members fixed, respectively, at one end to said drive means and biased away from each other and movable by said drive means between a first position in which said tool members are extended from said tube and biased away from each other and a second position in which said tool members are in part drawn into said tube and thereby forced toward and proximate each other; a first head portion disposed at a distal end of said first tool member, said first head portion having a bore therethrough for receiving and retaining a first suture strand such that the first suture strand is slidable lengthwise through said bore, said bore being spaced from a distal end of said first head portion; and a second head portion disposed at a distal end of said second tool member, said second head portion having a slot therethrough with an open end at a distal end of said second head portion and a closed end opposed to said bore for receiving and retaining a second suture strand such that the second suture strand is receivable by said slot generally widthwise of said second suture strand through said open end of said slot, and said second suture strand is slidable lengthwise through said slot; whereby said first and second tool members in said second position are adapted for running said suture strands toward a surgical site, and are movable by said drive means from said second position to said first position to pull said suture strands taut to form a knot.

Claim 19

The instrument in accordance with claim 13 wherein said slot at said closed end thereof is provided with an enlarged portion opposed to said bore.

Claim 20

The instrument in accordance with claim 13 wherein each of said tool members is provided with blade means for cutting the suture strands.

Claim 21

The instrument in accordance with claim 13 wherein said first head portion is devoid of an opening therethrough, other than said bore, and said second head portion is devoid of an opening therethrough, other than said slot.

Claim 22

The instrument in accordance with claim 16 wherein said first and second head portions each comprise a substantially semi-cylindrical portion configured such that said first and second head portions abut each other in mating relationship when said head portions are in said second position, to form a cavity having an open distal end and a sidewall, said sidewall having therethrough said bore and said slot.

Claim 23

The instrument in accordance with claim 17 wherein said bore extends through said sidewall at an angle to an axis of said head portion when in said mating relationship.

Claim 24

The instrument in accordance with claim 17 wherein said bore extends through said sidewall at an angle to an axis of said head portions when in said mating relationship and said enlarged portion of said slot extends substantially radially through said sidewall.

Claim 25

A surgical instrument comprising: first and second tool members fixed to a drive assembly and movable thereby; a first head portion disposed at a distal end of said first tool member, said first head portion having a bore therethrough for receiving and retaining a first suture strand such that the first suture strand is slidable lengthwise through said bore, said bore being spaced from a distal end of said first head portion; and a second head portion disposed at a distal end of said second tool member, said second head portion having a slot therethrough with an open end at a distal end of said second head portion and a closed end opposed to said bore for receiving and retaining a second suture strand such that the second suture strand is receivable by said slot generally widthwise of said second suture strand through said open end of said slot, and said second suture strand is slidable lengthwise through said slot.

Claim 26

A surgical instrument comprising: first and second tool members fixed to a drive assembly and movable thereby; a first head portion disposed at a distal end of said first tool member, said first head portion having a bore therethrough for receiving and retaining a first suture strand such that the first suture strand is slidable lengthwise through said bore, said bore being spaced from a distal end of said first head portion; and a second head portion disposed at a distal end of said second tool member, said second head portion having a slot therethrough with an open end at a distal end of said second head portion and a closed end opposed to said bore for receiving and retaining a second suture strand such that the second suture strand is receivable by said slot generally widthwise of said second suture strand through said open end of said slot, and said second suture strand is slidable lengthwise through said slot.

Claim 27

The instrument in accordance with claim 20 wherein said slot at said closed end thereof is provided with an enlarged portion opposed to said bore.

Claim 28

The instrument in accordance with claim 20 wherein said first head portion is devoid of an opening therethrough, other than said bore, and said second head portion is devoid of an opening therethrough, other than said slot.

Claim 29

The instrument in accordance with claim 22 wherein said first and second head portions each comprise a substantially semi-cylindrical portion configured such that said first and second head portions abut each other in mating relationship when said head portions are in said second position, to form a cavity having an open distal end and a sidewall, said sidewall having therethrough said bore and said slot.

Claim 30

The instrument in accordance with claim 23 wherein said bore extends through said sidewall at an angle to an axis of said head portion when in said mating relationship.

Claim 31

The instrument in accordance with claim 21 wherein said bore extends through said sidewall at an angle to an axis of said head portions when in said mating relationship and said enlarged portion of said slot extends substantially radially through said sidewall.

Claim 32

The instrument in accordance with claim 20 wherein blade means are disposed on each of said tool members.