Instrument and method for manipulating an operating member coupled to suture material while maintaining tension on the suture material

Claim 2

An instrument for manipulating an operating member during a surgical procedure, said operating member having suture material attached thereto, said instrument comprising: a shaft having distal and proximal ends; means for manipulating the operating member disposed at said distal end of said shaft; a handle mechanism coupled to said means for manipulating; and a suture tension mechanism configured to retain tension on the suture material attached to the operating member when the operating member is manipulated by said means for manipulating; said suture tension mechanism comprising a projection formed on an outer surface of said proximal end of said shaft, a barrel having first and second end faces having first and second openings formed therein, respectively, said barrel being slidingly disposed on said proximal end of said shaft with a portion of said proximal end of said shaft being received in said first opening, said projection being disposed inside said barrel between said first and second end faces, a first suture material retaining member comprising a tube extending from said second end face and a first flange fixedly disposed on said tube, a second suture material retaining member comprising a second flange slidably disposed on said tube, first biasing means for biasing said second flange toward said first flange, and second biasing means for biasing said barrel proximally with respect to said shaft; said first biasing means comprising a first biasing member disposed between an outer surface of said second end face and said second flange.

Claim 3

An instrument for manipulating an operating member during a surgical procedure, said operating member having suture material attached thereto, said instrument comprising: a shaft having distal and proximal ends; means for manipulating the operating member disposed at said distal end of said shaft; a handle mechanism coupled to said means for manipulating; and a suture tension mechanism configured to retain tension on the suture material attached to the operating member when the operating member is manipulated by said means for manipulating; said suture tension mechanism comprising a projection formed on an outer surface of said proximal end of said shaft, a barrel having first and second end faces having first and second openings formed therein, respectively, said barrel being slidingly disposed on said proximal end of said shaft with a portion of said proximal end of said shaft being received in said first opening, said projection being disposed inside said barrel between said first and second end faces, a first suture material retaining member comprising a tube extending from said second end face and a first flange fixedly disposed on said tube, a second suture material retaining member comprising a second flange slidably disposed on said tube, first biasing means for biasing said second flange toward said first flange, and second biasing means for biasing said barrel proximally with respect to said shaft; said second biasing means comprising a second biasing member disposed between said projection and an inner surface of said second end face.

Claim 4

An instrument for manipulating an operating member during a surgical procedure, said operating member having suture material attached thereto, said instrument comprising: a shaft having distal and proximal ends; means for manipulating the operating member disposed at said distal end of said shaft; a handle mechanism coupled to said means for manipulating; and a suture tension mechanism configured to retain tension on the suture material attached to the operating member when the operating member is manipulated by said means for manipulating; said suture tension mechanism comprising a projection formed on an outer surface of said proximal end of said shaft, a barrel having first and second end faces having first and second openings formed therein, respectively, said barrel being slidingly disposed on said proximal end of said shaft with a portion of said proximal end of said shaft being received in said first opening, said projection being disposed inside said barrel between said first and second end faces, a first suture material retaining member comprising a tube extending from said second end face and a first flange fixedly disposed on said tube, a second suture material retaining member comprising a second flange slidably disposed on said tube, first biasing means for biasing said second flange toward said first flange, and second biasing means for biasing said barrel proximally with respect to said shaft; said second biasing means comprising a second biasing member disposed between said projection and an inner surface of said second end face.

Claim 5

A suture anchor insertion instrument for inserting an anchor having suture material attached thereto through a hole formed in tissue and orienting the anchor to span the hole with the suture material extending through the hole to facilitate attaching various members to the tissue, said instrument comprising: a tubular guide having a proximal end and a distal end that is configured to receive the anchor in a first orientation; a tubular pusher extending substantially through said guide and having a proximal end and a distal end that is configured to abut the anchor received in said distal end of said guide, said proximal end of said pusher extending proximally beyond said proximal end of said guide; a handle mechanism coupled to said proximal end of said guide and said proximal end of said pusher and being operative to cause relative movement between said guide and said pusher to thereby push the anchor out of said distal end of said guide; and a suture tension mechanism configured to retain tension on the suture material attached to the anchor when the anchor is received in said distal end of said guide and pushed out of said distal end of said guide by said pusher; said suture tension mechanism comprising a projection formed on an outer surface of said proximal end of said pusher, a barrel having first and second end faces having first and second openings formed therein, respectively said barrel being slidingly disposed on said proximal end of said pusher with a portion of said proximal end of said pusher being received in said first opening, said projection being disposed inside said barrel between said first and second end faces, a first suture material retaining member comprising a tube extending from said second end face and a first flange fixedly disposed on said tube, a second suture material retaining member comprising a second flange slidably disposed on said tube, first biasing means for biasing said second flange toward said first flange; and second biasing means for biasing said barrel proximally with respect to said pusher; said first biasing means comprising a first biasing member disposed between an outer surface of said second end face and said second flange.

Claim 6

A suture anchor insertion instrument for inserting an anchor having suture material attached thereto through a hole formed in tissue and orienting the anchor to span the hole with the suture material extending through the hole to facilitate attaching various members to the tissue, said instrument comprising: a tubular guide having a proximal end and a distal end that is configured to receive the anchor in a first orientation; a tubular pusher extending substantially through said guide and having a proximal end and a distal end that is configured to abut the anchor received in said distal end of said guide, said proximal end of said pusher extending proximally beyond said proximal end of said guide; a handle mechanism coupled to said proximal end of said guide and said proximal end of said pusher and being operative to cause relative movement between said guide and said pusher to thereby push the anchor out of said distal end of said guide; and a suture tension mechanism configured to retain tension on the suture material attached to the anchor when the anchor is received in said distal end of said guide and pushed out of said distal end of said guide by said pusher; said suture tension mechanism comprising a projection formed on an outer surface of said proximal end of said pusher, a barrel having first and second end faces having first and second openings formed therein, respectively said barrel being slidingly disposed on said proximal end of said pusher with a portion of said proximal end of said pusher being received in said first opening, said projection being disposed inside said barrel between said first and second end faces, a first suture material retaining member comprising a tube extending from said second end face and a first flange fixedly disposed on said tube, a second suture material retaining member comprising a second flange slidably disposed on said tube, first biasing means for biasing said second flange toward said first flange; and second biasing means for biasing said barrel proximally with respect to said pusher; said first biasing means comprising a first biasing member disposed between an outer surface of said second end face and said second flange.

Claim 7

A suture anchor insertion instrument for inserting an anchor having suture material attached thereto through a hole formed in tissue and orienting the anchor to span the hole with the suture material extending through the hole to facilitate attaching various members to the tissue, said instrument comprising: a tubular guide having a proximal end and a distal end that is configured to receive the anchor in a first orientation; a tubular pusher extending substantially through said guide and having a proximal end and a distal end that is configured to abut the anchor received in said distal end of said guide, said proximal end of said pusher extending proximally beyond said proximal end of said guide; a handle mechanism coupled to said proximal end of said guide and said proximal end of said pusher and being operative to cause relative movement between said guide and said pusher to thereby push the anchor out of said distal end of said guide; and a suture tension mechanism configured to retain tension on the suture material attached to the anchor when the anchor is received in said distal end of said guide and pushed out of said distal end of said guide by said pusher; said suture tension mechanism comprising a projection formed on an outer surface of said proximal end of said pusher, a barrel having first and second end faces having first and second openings formed therein, respectively, said barrel being slidingly disposed on said proximal end of said pusher with a portion of said proximal end of said pusher being received in said first opening, said projection being disposed inside said barrel between said first and second end faces, a first suture material retaining member comprising a tube extending from said second end face and a first flange fixedly disposed on said tube, a second suture material retaining member comprising a second flange slidably disposed on said tube, first biasing means for biasing said second flange toward said first flange; and second biasing means for biasing said barrel proximally with respect to said pusher; said second biasing means comprising a second biasing member disposed between said projection and an inner surface of said second end face.

Claim 8

A suture anchor insertion instrument for inserting an anchor having suture material attached thereto through a hole formed in tissue and orienting the anchor to span the hole with the suture material extending through the hole to facilitate attaching various members to the tissue, said instrument comprising: a tubular guide having a proximal end and a distal end that is configured to receive the anchor in a first orientation; a tubular pusher extending substantially through said guide and having a proximal end and a distal end that is configured to abut the anchor received in said distal end of said guide, said proximal end of said pusher extending proximally beyond said proximal end of said guide; a handle mechanism coupled to said proximal end of said guide and said proximal end of said pusher and being operative to cause relative movement between said guide and said pusher to thereby push the anchor out of said distal end of said guide; and a suture tension mechanism configured to retain tension on the suture material attached to the anchor when the anchor is received in said distal end of said guide and pushed out of said distal end of said guide by said pusher; said suture tension mechanism comprising a projection formed on an outer surface of said proximal end of said pusher, a barrel having first and second end faces having first and second openings formed therein, respectively, said barrel being slidingly disposed on said proximal end of said pusher with a portion of said proximal end of said pusher being received in said first opening, said projection being disposed inside said barrel between said first and second end faces, a first suture material retaining member comprising a tube extending from said second end face and a first flange fixedly disposed on said tube, a second suture material retaining member comprising a second flange slidably disposed on said tube, first biasing means for biasing said second flange toward said first flange; and second biasing means for biasing said barrel proximally with respect to said pusher; said second biasing means comprising a second biasing member disposed between said projection and an inner surface of said second end face.