US 12,490,973 B2
Systems, apparatus and methods for passing suture through soft tissue
Scott Heneveld, Whitmore, CA (US); John Valadez, Agua Dulce, CA (US); Christopher Morris, Santa Clarita, CA (US); Justin Anderson, Henderson, NV (US); and Brad Topper, Santa Clarita, CA (US)
Assigned to Passer Stitch, LLC, Henderson, NV (US)
Filed by Passer Stitch, LLC, Henderson, NV (US)
Filed on Jul. 16, 2025, as Appl. No. 19/271,062.
Application 19/271,062 is a continuation of application No. 18/623,903, filed on Apr. 1, 2024, granted, now 12,390,213.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/602,605, filed on Nov. 26, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/456,513, filed on Apr. 2, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2025/0339144 A1, Nov. 6, 2025
Int. Cl. A61B 17/04 (2006.01); A61B 17/06 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0469 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/00367 (2013.01); A61B 2017/047 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2925 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2926 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A suture passing apparatus, comprising:
a needle comprising a tissue piercing distal end configured and adapted to releasably engage a suture and pierce into and through biological tissue with said suture said engaged thereto, said needle comprising a curvilinear region;
a jaw mechanism adapted to receive and cooperate with said needle, wherein said needle is allowed to articulate with respect to said jaw mechanism,
said jaw mechanism comprising top and bottom jaw members, said top jaw member adapted to axially articulate with respect to said bottom jaw member, whereby said jaw mechanism transitions from an open jaw configuration, wherein said top and bottom jaw members provide an open internal jaw region, to a closed jaw configuration, said open internal jaw region configured to receive said suture and said biological tissue therein;
a retractable suture control ribbon adapted to control access of said suture into said open internal jaw region of said jaw mechanism, said releasable engagement of said suture by said needle, and release of said suture by said needle; and
system control means for synchronizing said axial articulation of said top jaw member, said needle articulation, said access of said suture into said open internal jaw region of said jaw mechanism, said releasable engagement of said suture by said needle, and said release of said suture by said needle.