US 11,937,807 B2
Apparatus for closing a surgical site
George Swope Munday, Danville, KY (US)
Filed by George Swope Munday, Danville, KY (US)
Filed on Apr. 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/305,818.
Application 18/305,818 is a division of application No. 17/341,497, filed on Jun. 8, 2021, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2023/0255622 A1, Aug. 17, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 17/06 (2006.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.01); A61B 34/00 (2016.01); A61B 34/37 (2016.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/06133 (2013.01) [A61B 34/30 (2016.02); A61B 2017/06142 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A suturing device comprising:
a clamshell body configured to be inserted into a surgical site of a patient, the clamshell body having a first side coupled to a second side by a hinge at a hinge end, the first side and the second side each having a cantilevered end opposite the hinge end, wherein the clamshell body is configured to actuate between an open position and a closed position;
a suture retainer positioned within the clamshell body and configured to receive a suture;
an opening formed in a wall of the second side of the clamshell body, wherein an end of the suture is configured to extend through the opening when the clamshell body is in the closed position so that the suture is accessible within the surgical site of the patient; and
a cartridge configured to be removably positioned in the suture retainer, wherein the cartridge is configured to enable the suture to be wound around the suture retainer, wherein the suture is wound around the cartridge before positioning the cartridge in the suture retainer, and wherein, after positioning the cartridge in the suture retainer with the suture attached, the suture is moved from around the cartridge to around the suture retainer.