Crimping and cutting device

Abstract

A method and apparatus for securing and cutting suture material is disclosed. Suture material is preferably threaded through a ferrule in the crimping and cutting device which includes a hammer head slidable within a tip of the device for crimping the ferrule and trapping the suture material therein. The tip further preferably includes a cutting edge such that the ferrule is crimped and the suture material is cut in one proximal movement of the hammer head. The suture material may be threaded through the ferrule using a suture loading assembly which includes a flexible loop pre-threaded through the ferrule. A handle assembly having a safety button for preventing movement of the trigger until the safety button is depressed is also disclosed. An adjustment screw within the handle assembly allows for a change in length of a rod within the device during manufacture.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A crimping and cutting device comprising: 
 a hammer head having a first side and an opposite second side, and a ferrule engaging edge located on the second side;    a tip having a distal end and a proximal end, the tip having a hammer head opening for receiving the hammer head, the hammer head opening extending from the distal end of the tip to the proximal end of the tip, the tip further having a ferrule accepting opening near the distal end of the tip, and a cutting edge within the hammer head opening, the cutting edge located proximally of the ferrule accepting opening.    
     
     
         2 . The crimping and cutting device of  claim 1  wherein the hammer head further comprises a first camming surface located on the first side of the hammer head and the tip comprises a second camming surface near the distal end of the tip and opposite the ferrule accepting opening.  
     
     
         3 . The crimping and cutting device of  claim 2  wherein movement of the hammer head in a proximal direction directs the hammer head towards the ferrule accepting opening.  
     
     
         4 . The crimping and cutting device of  claim 2  wherein the second camming surface forms a wall of the hammer head opening and flares outwardly towards the distal end of the tip.  
     
     
         5 . The crimping and cutting device of  claim 2  wherein the first camming surface and the second camming surface abut flushly when the hammer head is at the distal end of the tip.  
     
     
         6 . The crimping and cutting device of  claim 2  wherein the first camming surface does not abut the second camming surface when the hammer head is pulled proximally of the ferrule accepting opening.  
     
     
         7 . The crimping and cutting device of  claim 1  wherein the tip further comprises an aperture between the distal end and the proximal end of the tip, the cutting edge located distally of the aperture.  
     
     
         8 . The crimping and cutting device of  claim 1  wherein proximal movement of the hammer head within the tip causes the ferrule engaging edge of the hammer head to contact the cutting edge after the hammer head has past the ferrule accepting opening of the tip.  
     
     
         9 . The crimping and cutting device of  claim 1  wherein the tip comprises a distal end outer diameter and a proximal end outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the distal end is greater than the outer diameter of the proximal end.  
     
     
         10 . The crimping and cutting device of  claim 1  further comprising a handle assembly having a trigger, wherein activation of the trigger draws the hammer head proximally within the tip.  
     
     
         11 . The crimping and cutting device of  claim 10  further comprising a safety button, wherein the trigger cannot be activated until the safety button is depressed.  
     
     
         12 . The crimping and cutting device of  claim 10  further comprising an adjustment screw within the handle assembly, wherein a length of a central rod connecting the hammer head to the handle assembly is adjustable by the adjustment screw.  
     
     
         13 . The crimping and cutting device of  claim 1  further comprising a tubular portion extending from the proximal end of the tip, the device further comprising a suture loading assembly mounted on the tubular portion and slidable along the tubular portion.  
     
     
         14 . The crimping and cutting device of  claim 1  wherein the suture loading assembly comprises a loop threadable through the ferrule accepting opening.  
     
     
         15 . A handle assembly for a surgical instrument, the handle assembly comprising: 
 a trigger member; and,    a safety button, wherein the trigger member is not movable until the safety button is depressed.    
     
     
         16 . The handle assembly of  claim 15  further comprising a first side and a second side, the trigger member pivotable within the first side and the second side.  
     
     
         17 . The handle assembly of  claim 16  wherein the safety button includes a pin having an engageable end and extending through either side of the handle assembly.  
     
     
         18 . The handle assembly of  claim 17  wherein the safety button includes a first pin extending through the first side and a second pin extending through the second side.  
     
     
         19 . The handle assembly of  claim 17  further comprising a spring surrounding the pin.  
     
     
         20 . The handle assembly of  claim 17  wherein the safety button includes at least two ribs, a gap separating each pair of adjacent ribs.  
     
     
         21 . The handle assembly of  claim 20  wherein the safety button includes a first side rib, a second side rib, and a middle rib, a first side gap located between the first side rib and the middle rib, and a second side gap located between the second side rib and the middle rib.  
     
     
         22 . The handle assembly of  claim 20  wherein the trigger member includes a safety button engaging member, wherein, if the engageable end of the pin of the safety button is not depressed, then the safety button engaging member of the trigger will abut a rib when an attempt is made to move the trigger, and further wherein, if the engageable end of the pin of the safety button is depressed, then the safety button engaging member of the trigger will slide between a pair of adjacent ribs.  
     
     
         23 . The handle assembly of  claim 22  wherein the safety button engaging member is hook shaped.  
     
     
         24 . The handle assembly of  claim 18  wherein the safety button includes a first side rib adjacent the first pin, a second side rib adjacent the second pin, and a middle rib, a first side gap located between the first side rib and the middle rib, and a second side gap located between the second side rib and the middle rib.  
     
     
         25 . The handle assembly of  claim 24  further comprising a first spring surrounding the first pin and a second spring surrounding the second pin.  
     
     
         26 . The handle assembly of  claim 25  wherein the first side and the second side each include an opening for passing the first pin and the second pin, respectively, each opening including a pocket for seating the first spring and the second spring, each pocket having a greater diameter than a diameter of each opening.  
     
     
         27 . The handle assembly of  claim 16  wherein the trigger includes a spring receiving member, the handle assembly further comprising a trigger spring connected between the spring receiving member of the trigger and a protrusion within either the first side or the second side.  
     
     
         28 . The handle assembly of  claim 16  further comprising an adjustment screw positioned between the first side and the second side, the adjustment screw for adjusting length of a rod extending from a distal end of the handle assembly.  
     
     
         29 . The handle assembly of  claim 28  wherein the adjustment screw is only adjustable prior to securing the first side to the second side.  
     
     
         30 . A surgical instrument comprising: 
 a handle assembly;    a rod member extending from a distal end of the handle assembly; and, an adjustment screw located within the handle assembly and upon a proximal end of the rod member, wherein length of the rod member outside of the handle assembly can be changed by the adjustment screw.    
     
     
         31 . The surgical instrument of  claim 30  wherein a longitudinal axis of the rod member coincides with a longitudinal axis of the adjustment screw.  
     
     
         32 . The surgical instrument of  claim 30  wherein the adjustment screw includes a bore through which a proximal end of the rod member is seated.  
     
     
         33 . The surgical instrument of  claim 30  wherein the adjustment screw is contained within the handle assembly and not accessible after manufacture of the surgical instrument.  
     
     
         34 . The surgical instrument of  claim 30  wherein the adjustment screw includes internal threads which engage with external threads on the rod member.  
     
     
         35 . A suture loading assembly for threading suture material through a surgical instrument, the suture loading assembly comprising: 
 a body,    an attaching member extending from the body for attaching the body to the surgical instrument; and,    a flexible loop extending from a distal end of the body.    
     
     
         36 . The suture loading assembly of  claim 35  wherein the body includes a bore from which the loop extends.  
     
     
         37 . The suture loading assembly of  claim 35  wherein the attaching member includes two legs extending from the body, an inner portion of each leg curved to accept a cylindrical member of a surgical instrument, wherein the attaching member is slidable along the cylindrical member of the surgical instrument.  
     
     
         38 . The suture loading assembly of  claim 37  wherein an outer portion of each leg includes an indented area for forming a finger grip.  
     
     
         39 . The suture loading assembly of  claim 35  further comprising a cap surrounding a portion of the body.  
     
     
         40 . The suture loading assembly of  claim 39  wherein the cap includes finger grips.  
     
     
         41 . The suture loading assembly of  claim 40  wherein the finger grips are indents in sides of the cap.  
     
     
         42 . The suture loading assembly of  claim 39  wherein the cap includes openings for receiving the body and the attaching member.  
     
     
         43 . The suture loading assembly of  claim 35  wherein the loop is made from wire.  
     
     
         44 . The suture loading assembly of  claim 43  further comprising a plug inserted within a proximal end of the body for retaining the wire within the body.  
     
     
         45 . In combination, a suture securing instrument and a suture loading assembly, 
 the suture securing instrument comprising: 
 an elongated tubular portion having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end including a ferrule accepting opening, the proximal end attached to a handle assembly;  
   the suture loading assembly comprising: 
 a body,  
 an attaching member extending from the body for attaching the body to the elongated tubular portion of the suture securing instrument; and,  
 a flexible loop extending from a distal end of the body.  
   
     
     
         46 . The combination of  claim 45  wherein the loop is threaded through the ferrule accepting opening.  
     
     
         47 . The combination of  claim 45  wherein the attaching member is slidable along the tubular portion of the suture securing instrument.  
     
     
         48 . The combination of  claim 47  wherein the attaching member includes two legs extending from the body, an inner portion of each leg curved to accept the tubular portion of the suture securing instrument.  
     
     
         49 . The combination of  claim 48  wherein an outer portion of each leg includes an indented area for providing a finger grip.  
     
     
         50 . The combination of  claim 45  wherein the suture loading assembly further comprises a cap surrounding the body and attaching member, the cap extending past the tubular portion.  
     
     
         51 . The combination of  claim 50  wherein the cap includes a pair of indents usable as finger grips.  
     
     
         52 . The combination of  claim 45  wherein the suture securing instrument further comprises an aperture in the elongated tubular portion, the aperture located proximally of the ferrule accepting opening, the flexible loop threaded through the aperture prior to threading through the ferrule accepting opening.  
     
     
         53 . The combination of  claim 52  further comprising a ferrule positioned in the ferrule accepting opening, the flexible loop threaded through the ferrule.  
     
     
         54 . The combination of  claim 45  wherein the loop is made from a preformed wire bent into a diamond shape.  
     
     
         55 . A method of securing suture material using a crimping and cutting device, the method comprising: 
 threading the suture material through a ferrule in the device;    moving a hammer head proximally through a tip of the device to crimp the ferrule;    continuing to move the hammer head proximally after the ferrule has been crimped entrapping the suture material within the ferrule;    abutting the hammer head against a cutting edge within the tip, capturing the suture material therebetween; and,    applying pressure with the hammer head against the cutting edge until the suture material is cut.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein moving the hammer head proximally comprises squeezing a trigger on a handle assembly of the crimping and cutting device.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56  wherein a safety button is depressed on the handle assembly prior to squeezing the trigger.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 55  wherein threading the suture material through a ferrule comprises threading the suture material through a flexible loop extending from a distal end of the ferrule and pulling the flexible loop proximally until the suture material is threaded through the ferrule.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 55  wherein pulling the flexible loop proximally comprises sliding a suture loading assembly, which is mounted on a tubular portion of the cutting and crimping device and to which the flexible loop is attached, proximally along the tubular portion.  
     
     
         60 . A method of threading a suture securing instrument comprising: 
 mounting a suture loading assembly upon a tubular portion of the suture securing instrument; and,    threading a flexible loop extending from the suture loading assembly through a ferrule within a distal end of the suture loading assembly.    
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60  further comprising inserting suture material through the flexible loop.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61  further comprising pulling the flexible loop proximally until the suture material is threaded through the ferrule.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62  wherein pulling the flexible loop proximally comprises sliding the suture loading assembly proximally along the tubular portion of the suture securing instrument.  
     
     
         64 . A kit for securing suture material within a body of a patient, the kit comprising: 
 a cutting and crimping device;    a ferrule loaded into the cutting and crimping device; and,    a suture loading assembly mounted on a tubular portion of the cutting and crimping device, a flexible loop extending from the suture loading assembly threaded through the ferrule.