US 12,256,922 B2
System and method for transporting suture
Mason Bettenga, Memphis, TN (US); Dirk Wunderle, Zurich (CH); Alexander Iwan Seidl, Zurich (CH); Pascal Boileau, Nice (FR); and John Albert Slusarz, Jr., Mansfield, MA (US)
Assigned to Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US); Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Zug (CH); and Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte Limited, Singapore (SG)
Filed by Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US); Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Zug (CH); and Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte Limited, Singapore (SG)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/112,836.
Application 18/112,836 is a continuation of application No. 16/937,983, filed on Jul. 24, 2020, granted, now 11,589,860.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/878,143, filed on Jul. 24, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0190263 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 17/04 (2006.01); A61B 17/17 (2006.01); A61B 17/68 (2006.01); A61B 17/84 (2006.01); A61B 17/56 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0482 (2013.01) [A61B 17/1796 (2013.01); A61B 17/683 (2013.01); A61B 17/842 (2013.01); A61B 2017/564 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A shuttle system comprising:
a flexible member construct having a first end and a second end;
a means of transporting the flexible member construct along a tunnel through at least one bone of a joint from a first opening of the tunnel through to a second opening at an opposite end of the tunnel, such that the second end extends from the second opening;
a guide having a handle end and a distal end, the distal end configured to engage the at least one bone of a joint adjacent the second opening and capture the flexible member construct second end, wherein the flexible member construct second end is absent an expandable element;
wherein, once captured, the guide is configured to draw the flexible member construct second end around the at least one bone of the joint, away from the second opening and towards the first opening.