US 11,701,104 B2
Apparatus for closing a surgical site
George Swope Munday, Danville, KY (US)
Filed by George Swope Munday, Danville, KY (US)
Filed on Jan. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/571,992.
Application 17/571,992 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/341,497, filed on Jun. 8, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0387019 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/04 (2006.01); A61B 17/06 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0482 (2013.01) [A61B 17/06133 (2013.01); A61B 17/06061 (2013.01)] 10 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 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;
a first side slot extending through the first side of the clamshell body; and
a cartridge configured to be removably inserted through the first side slot, wherein the suture is configured to be wound around the cartridge to assist in positioning the suture around the suture retainer.