US 12,274,426 B2
Dual insufflation and wound closure devices and methods
Scott Heneveld, Whitmore, CA (US)
Assigned to SUTURE EASE, INC., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by SUTURE EASE, INC., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/644,164.
Application 17/644,164 is a continuation of application No. 16/394,974, filed on Apr. 25, 2019, granted, now 11,229,427.
Application 16/394,974 is a continuation of application No. 14/825,452, filed on Aug. 13, 2015, granted, now 10,299,774, issued on May 28, 2019.
Application 14/825,452 is a continuation of application No. 13/365,818, filed on Feb. 3, 2012, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/574,455, filed on Aug. 4, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2022/0104799 A1, Apr. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/04 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 17/34 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0057 (2013.01) [A61B 17/0469 (2013.01); A61B 17/0482 (2013.01); A61B 17/0485 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00637 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00663 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00867 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2911 (2013.01); A61B 2017/3484 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A suture passer guide comprising:
a barrel having a longitudinal axis; and
an expandable member secured to a distal end region of the barrel, the expandable member configured to be positioned in an expanded position in which the expandable member extends radially beyond the barrel, the expandable member comprising a first collapsible arm and a second collapsible arm that are spaced around a circumference of the expandable member, the expandable member defining a first gap that extends between the first and second collapsible arms around the circumference of the expandable member, and the first gap being open and uncovered; wherein the barrel
defines a first proximal opening and a first distal opening that are substantially aligned with one another such that a suture passer can be extended through the first proximal and distal openings at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the barrel, and the first gap defined by the expandable member is longitudinally aligned with the first distal opening such that the suture passer, when extended through the first proximal and distal openings with the expandable member in the expanded position, passes radially adjacent to the first gap extending between the first and second collapsible arms, is spaced from the expandable member along the length of the expandable member; and
wherein the suture passer guide further comprises a shaft disposed within a lumen of the barrel, the shaft defining a first passage that is configured to align with the first proximal and distal openings.