US 12,465,351 B2
Biological tissue access and closure apparatus, systems and methods
Scott Heneveld, Whitmore, CA (US)
Assigned to Suture Ease, Inc., Galt, CA (US)
Filed by Suture Ease, Inc., Galt, CA (US)
Filed on May 23, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/672,595.
Application 16/884,333 is a division of application No. 15/991,441, filed on May 29, 2018, granted, now 10,702,263, issued on Jul. 17, 2020.
Application 18/672,595 is a continuation of application No. 17/949,345, filed on Sep. 21, 2022, granted, now 12,023,021.
Application 17/949,345 is a continuation of application No. 16/884,333, filed on May 27, 2020, granted, now 11,457,913, issued on Oct. 4, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/655,151, filed on Apr. 9, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/618,634, filed on Jan. 18, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/512,180, filed on May 30, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0307055 A1, Sep. 19, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/04 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/0482 (2013.01) [A61B 17/0057 (2013.01); A61B 17/0469 (2013.01); A61B 17/0485 (2013.01); A61B 17/3417 (2013.01); A61B 17/3421 (2013.01); A61B 17/3474 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00637 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00663 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00849 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00907 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0472 (2013.01); A61B 2090/034 (2016.02); A61B 90/37 (2016.02)] 3 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tissue access and closure system, comprising:
a suture passer sub-system and a suture guide sub-system,
said suture passer sub-system adapted to capture and releasably secure a suture, said suture passer sub-system further adapted to insert said suture into and through biological tissue when said suture is releasably secured thereto,
said suture guide sub-system comprising an elongated member, said elongated member comprising an internal suture passer guide lumen adapted to receive said suture passer sub-system therein, said internal suture passer guide lumen comprising a longitudinal axis,
said internal suture passer guide lumen further comprising a first suture passer access lumen and a second suture passer access lumen,
said elongated member further comprising a first proximal end region, a first distal end region, and an open tissue positioning region disposed proximate said first distal end region of said elongated member,
said open tissue positioning region comprising a second proximal end region and a second distal end region,
said first suture passer access lumen of said internal suture passer guide lumen in communication with said open tissue positioning region and extending from said first proximal end region of said elongated member to said second proximal end region of said open tissue positioning region,
said second suture passer access lumen of said internal suture passer guide lumen in communication with said open tissue positioning region and extending from said second distal end region of said open tissue positioning region to said first distal end region of said elongated member,
said first suture passer access lumen comprising an open proximal end region and a third distal end region, said open proximal end region of said first suture passer access lumen comprising a suture passer access region adapted to guide said suture passer sub-system into said internal suture passer guide lumen, whereby said suture passer sub-system is capable of transitioning unobstructably from said first suture passer access lumen into and through said open tissue positioning region, and into and through said second suture passer access lumen,
said suture guide sub-system further comprising a suture capture clip adapted to transition from an open position to a closed position, and from said closed position to said open position,
said suture capture clip disposed proximate said second distal end region of said open tissue positioning region and intersecting said longitudinal axis of said internal suture passer guide lumen, whereby, when said suture passer sub-system releasably secures said suture and said suture capture clip is in said open position, said suture capture clip is adapted to allow passage of said suture passer sub-system and said releasably secured suture through and beyond said suture capture clip and into and through said internal suture passer guide lumen, and, when said suture capture clip is in said closed position, said suture capture clip is further adapted to engage and retain said releasably secured suture when said suture passer sub-system is withdrawn from said internal suture passer guide lumen and through said suture capture clip.