Ferrule holder with suture relief lobes

Abstract

A surgical suturing instrument has a chamber for receiving and aligning a ferrule with a reciprocating needle. The chamber includes a plurality of protuberant concave and convex surfaces for positioning and aligning the ferrule within the chamber and the plurality of suture receiving chambers disposed between the aligning ridges for receiving a suture and preventing the suture from jamming the ferrule in the chamber.

1 . A ferrule receiving compartment for a surgical suturing instrument comprising:
 a ferrule receiving opening having three spaced apart surfaces for contacting an outside surface of the ferrule and aligning the ferrule within the opening;   a suture receiving slot disposed between first and second adjacent ones of the three spaced apart surfaces;   at least one suture receiving chamber disposed between second and third ones of the three spaced apart surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The ferrule receiving compartment of  claim 1  in which the three spaced apart surfaces comprise concave and convex surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . The ferrule receiving compartment of  claim 2  in which two of the surfaces are concave surfaces and the third is a convex surface. 
     
     
         4 . A ferrule receiving compartment for a surgical suturing instrument comprising:
 a ferrule receiving opening having a plurality of spaced apart surfaces for contacting an outside surface of the ferrule and aligning the ferrule within the opening;   a suture receiving slot disposed between first and second adjacent ones of the plurality of spaced apart surfaces;   at least one suture receiving chamber disposed between second and third ones of the plurality of spaced apart surfaces.   
     
     
         5 . The ferrule receiving compartment of  claim 2  in which the plurality of spaced apart surfaces comprise concave and convex surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . A surgical suturing instrument comprising a ferrule receiving opening having a plurality of spaced apart surfaces for contacting an outside surface of the ferrule and aligning the ferrule within the opening;
 a suture receiving slot disposed between first and second adjacent ones of the plurality of spaced apart surfaces;   at least one suture receiving chamber disposed between second and third ones of the plurality of spaced apart surfaces.