Suture cutter and method of cutting suture

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/685,240, filed on Mar. 13, 2007 (pending) and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The disclosure of U.S. Ser. No. 11/685,240 is hereby fully incorporated by reference herein.

[0002] The invention generally relates to devices used to cut suture during surgery. In particular, the invention relates to devices for cutting suture during minimally invasive surgery, such as catheter-based surgical procedures.

[0003] Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Almost 2,000 Americans die of heart disease every day. There are many different types of pathologies that affect the heart. One of the most common pathologies is mitral valve insufficiency. Mitral valve insufficiency occurs when the mitral valve is unable to completely close off fluid communication between the left atrium and the left ventricle during systole. In this situation, the mitral valve leaflets fail to completely coapt or come together to thereby prevent oxygenated blood from flowing in a retrograde fashion from the left ventricle back into the left atrium.

[0004] The most common method for repairing mitral valve insufficiency today is open-heart surgery. During open heart surgery, the chest of the patient is opened to create a large enough cavity for access to the heart. One common surgical procedure involves sewing an annuloplasty ring onto the mitral valve annulus from above via an incision into the left atrium of the heart. Various other procedures exist involving the use of suture material in and around the heart.

[0005] Minimally invasive surgery, and especially transluminal or percutaneous delivery of instruments into a patient, has become more and more common in various surgical applications. A promising new area of heart surgery involves catheter-based minimally invasive surgery. Catheter-based minimally invasive surgery for mitral valve repair, for example, should lessen the risks that are normally associated with open-heart surgery and will lessen trauma to the patient associated with opening the chest and cutting into the wall of the heart.

[0006] One of the problems with using minimally invasive surgery in general, and even more specifically in connection with the heart, is that traditional suture cutting devices are not suitable. For example, conventional hand held scissors-type suture cutters are not suitable for a catheter-based minimally invasive procedure. Accordingly, improved minimally invasive suture cutting devices and methods for cutting suture in a minimally invasive surgery are needed.

[0007] In one illustrative embodiment, a suture cutter for cutting suture within the body of a patient includes an actuator for manipulation by a medical professional, an intermediate cannula portion operatively coupled to the actuator for insertion into the patient, and a cutting assembly operatively coupled to the intermediate cannula portion and actuator. In each embodiment the cannula may or may not be more specifically a catheter configured and sized for insertion into the vascular system of the patient.

[0008] More particularly, the cutting assembly includes an adjustably sized cutting window and the cutting assembly cuts a suture received inside of the cutting window as the size of the cutting window is reduced upon actuation of the actuator.

[0009] The cutting element itself may comprise a blade having a sharpened cutting edge, such as a single or double beveled cutting edge, or the cutting element may comprise other types of elements such as an element that may or may not be sharpened but may be energized with radiofrequency (RF) energy for purposes of burning through the suture during the cutting operation. The suture may be cut against an element serving as an “anvil” or the cutting element may move past the suture into a suitable receiving space, such as a slot. A cutting element housing structure may be provided and further comprise a first aperture on one side of the cutting element and a second aperture on an opposite side of the cutting element. In this embodiment, the suture is adapted to pass from the first aperture to the second aperture through the cutting window.

[0010] The actuator may further comprise a biasing element configured to maintain the cutting assembly normally biased into a non-cutting safety position or, in other words, a non-actuated position. The actuator then moves the cutting assembly into a cutting position against the bias provided by the biasing element. The biasing element itself may, for example, comprise a coil spring. The actuator may further comprise a trigger movable, such as through rotation transverse to the direction that the trigger is pulled, from an inactive position in which the trigger may not be used to move the cutting assembly to cut the suture to an active position in which the trigger may be used to move the cutting assembly to cut the suture.

[0011] A method of cutting a suture located within a patient is also provided and includes positioning a suture cutter within the patient, with the suture cutter including a cutting element and a second element at least partially defining an adjustably sized cutting window. The suture is directed through the cutting window and the size of the cutting window is reduced by moving at least one of the cutting element or the second element towards the suture. The suture is then cut with the cutting element.

[0012] Various additional or alternative features will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments.

[0029] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a suture cutter 10 configured as a catheter device including a proximal portion 12 comprised of a handle assembly 14 and a distal portion 16 comprised of a cutting assembly 18. Suture cutter 10 may be used in any minimally invasive surgical procedure and directed into a patient's body with or without a guide cannula, such as a percutaneous catheter. Any other type of rigid or flexible guide cannula may also receive the suture cutter. A flexible intermediate catheter portion or other rigid or flexible cannula portion 20 extends between the proximal portion 12 and distal portion 16 of the suture cutter 10. The example given herein is a flexible cardiac catheter portion 20 sized and configured for introduction into the vascular system leading, for example, to the heart of a patient. However, it will be appreciated that other minimally invasive surgical techniques may be better practiced with a rigid cannula portion, such as certain endoscopic or laparoscopic techniques. As used herein, the term “catheter” is used to refer to the type of small diameter cannula that is inserted into a body lumen such as an artery in the vascular system. Although shown broken with a reduced length in FIG. 1, it will be appreciated that the overall length of the intermediate catheter portion 20 may be, for example, about 80 cm to about 140 cm as with other catheter devices to enable a doctor to direct the catheter device from a femoral artery of a patient into the heart of the patient. This would be useful, for example, when using the suture cutter 10 during a catheter based surgical procedure to repair the heart in some manner, such as during an annuloplasty or plication procedure on the mitral valve of the heart. For example, this type of repair procedure is described in more detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/174,951, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, as well as the previously incorporated patent application, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/685,240.

[0030] The handle assembly 14 includes a stationary grip portion 22 and a slidable or movable grip portion or trigger 24 mounted to the stationary grip portion 22 along a slot 26. FIG. 3 illustrates that the slidable grip portion 24 is rigidly coupled to a wire 28 enclosed in a tubular sheath 30 at the slot 26 and retained and slidable within the intermediate catheter portion 20. The proximal end 32 of the tubular sheath 30 is fixed to a threaded pin assembly 34 located within a cavity 36 in a cylindrical portion 38 of slidable grip portion 24. The pin 34, in one embodiment, can facilitate attachment of an energy source to provide energy to the wire 28, such as heat or RF (radio frequency) energy. The wire 28 divides into or is coupled to two separate wires 40, 42, as shown best in FIGS. 4A-4C, having distal ends 40a, 42a fixed to an axially movable distal cutting element or blade housing 46 that carries a blade 48 extending between the wires 40, 42.

[0031] Referring again to FIG. 1, the stationary grip portion 22 of the handle assembly 14 includes a ring 50 adapted to receive the thumb of the user, while the slidable grip 24 portion of the handle assembly 14 includes finger openings 52, 53. Thus, the handle assembly 14 operates somewhat analogously to a syringe except that actuation occurs by way of a proximally directed pulling action on the slidable grip portion 24. Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, when the slidable portion 24 of the handle assembly 14 moves distally the distal cutting element 46 moves away from a distal end 54 of the intermediate catheter portion 20 thereby exposing an area or window 56 between the two wires 40, 42. In the illustrated embodiment, the area is a window 56 defined between the two wires or other members 40, 42. The area could also be a window 56 that is only bound by one wire or other member in another embodiment or other types of windows apparent to those skilled in this art. Alternatively, when the movable or slidable grip portion 24 of the handle assembly 14 moves proximally along the slot 26, the wires 40, 42 are also drawn proximally thereby moving the distal cutting element 46 proximally towards one or more sutures 58 (only one suture being shown for illustration purposes).

[0032] The distal cutting element or blade housing 46 connects to the handle assembly 14 via the two wires 40, 42 in the illustrated embodiment, however, other embodiments could have only one wire or other type of connection member. The distal cutting element 46 includes the proximally facing blade 48 for cutting the suture 58 contained in the adjustably sized window 56 defined between the blade 48 and the intermediate catheter portion 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the blade 48 is concavely curved, but other embodiments could have a blade 48 with a different geometry. In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustably sized window 56 is bounded by the wires 40, 42, the distal end 54 of the intermediate catheter portion 20, and the sharpened edge of the blade 48. Those skilled in the art will recognize, for example, that the blade 48 may be distally positioned at the distal end 54 of the intermediate catheter portion 20 in other embodiments. The cutting element 46 includes a generally soft outer cover 60 made of a resilient material, such as foam or other soft polymeric or rubber material. The outer cover 60 helps to prevent damage to the heart tissue, for example, during introduction of the suture cutter into the heart and during cutting of the suture 58.

[0033] As further shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate catheter portion 20 has a proximal portion 62, a distal portion 64, and a lumen 66 (FIGS. 4A-4C) extending between the proximal and distal portions 62, 64. The intermediate catheter portion 20 generally comprises a tubular flexible sheath. In one embodiment, the tubular sheath could be formed of mesh material coated with a biocompatible material, such a surgical grade silicone or polymer. In an alternative embodiment, the tubular sheath could be formed of other materials as determined by those skilled in this art. The tubular sheath may be smooth and have a low coefficient of fluid friction to allow easy introduction through the patient's vascular system, for example, through a suitable guide catheter (not shown).

[0034] As better illustrated in FIG. 2, the intermediate catheter portion 20 includes a neck 70 that transitions a smaller diameter of the intermediate catheter portion 20 into a larger diameter ending at the cutting assembly 18. Significant portions of the wires 40, 42 are retained inside of the tubular sheath or intermediate catheter portion 20 for sliding movement inside of the lumen of the tubular sheath. The neck 70, however, indicates the transition from the hollow tubular sheath to a generally solid distal portion 71 shown in FIGS. 4A-4C. The generally solid distal portion 71 supports the wires 40, 42 as they move or slide during blade movement. The solid distal portion 71 also prevents significant amounts of body fluid from entering into the lumen 66. In addition, the solid distal portion 71 of the tubular sheath or intermediate catheter portion 20 provides a substantially flat cutting surface or anvil 72 (FIGS. 2 and 4A) on the distal end 54 for supporting a suture 58 during a cutting operation to be described below. The intermediate catheter portion 20 connects to the handle assembly 14 through a connector that tapers to a larger diameter before transitioning into the handle assembly 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the proximal portion 12 and the intermediate catheter portion 20 may be about 80 cm to about 140 cm in length. Those skilled in the art will recognize that a longer or shorter length may be used in different embodiments.

[0035] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate the cutting of a suture 58 in more detail. In FIG. 4A, the suture 58 is shown threaded through the window 56. The blade 48 is located inside a hood 74 defining an interior space inside of the cutting element 46. The blade 48 is rigidly fixed on a base 78 thereby holding the blade 48 in position during cutting. FIG. 4B illustrates that the proximal movement of the wires 40, 42 brings the cutting element 46 towards the distal end 54. The hood 74 contacts the suture 58 prior to contact by the blade 48 and therefore positions, holds or stabilizes the suture 58 for an efficient cutting action. FIG. 4C illustrates the blade 48 contacting and cutting the suture 58. The hood 74 is slightly compressed as the blade 48 cuts through the suture 58 and contacts the flat cutting surface or anvil 72 on the tubular sheath 68.

[0036] FIG. 5 provides additional detail about the structure of the blade 48 and the cutting element 46. FIG. 5 is rotated 1800 from the views of FIGS. 4A-4C. The geometry of the blade 48 facilitates enclosing the cutting surface or anvil 72 during the cutting of a suture 58. The flat surface or anvil 72 is formed of a resilient material, such as a resilient polymeric material, to allow the blade 48 to penetrate into and/or slightly compress the anvil 72.

[0037] FIG. 6 illustrates one exemplary application of the suture cutter 10. Initially, a guide catheter 80 is snaked through the vascular system such that it may ultimately extend through the aorta, aortic valve and into the left ventricle 86 of the heart 82 of a patient in this illustrative example. A suture 58 extends from an anchor or fastener 84, or merely from the tissue, for example, and further extends into a guide catheter 80 exiting the patient at the proximal end (not shown) of the guide catheter 80. The suture 58 is threaded through the window 56 of the suture cutter 10, preferably although not necessarily prior to introduction of the suture cutter 10 into the patient. The suture cutter 10 is inserted into the guide catheter 80 and exits the guide catheter 80 inside the left ventricle 86 of the patient's heart 82 proximate to the mitral valve 88. The medical professional grips the suture cutter 10 at the handle assembly 14 (FIG. 1) by placing their middle finger and forefinger, respectively, into the finger openings 52, 53 and their thumb through the ring 50. The medical professional can manipulate the handle assembly 14 to position the cutting element 46 in the desired location. The medical professional then pulls back with their middle finger and forefinger and the slidable grip portion 24 moves proximally along the stationary grip portion 22. The proximal movement of the slidable grip portion 24 actuates the cutting element 46 and draws the blade 48 toward the cutting surface 72 and cuts the suture 58 as described in connection with FIGS. 4A-4C.

[0038] A suture cutter 100 in accordance with another embodiment is shown threaded along a plurality of sutures 102, 104, 106 through a guide catheter 108 as shown in FIG. 7. In this regard, the suture cutter 100 comprises an intermediate catheter portion 110 and a distal end portion comprising a cutting assembly 112. The cutting assembly 112 generally comprises a blade housing 114 and a reciprocating guillotine-style blade 116 slidably mounted therein with a cutting edge 116a as shown best in FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C. The blade 116 is mounted for sliding, reciprocating movement within a slot 118 of blade housing 114. The slot 118 terminates in a closed end 119 that is located proximate a distal end 115 of the blade housing 114 and serves to limit a degree of travel of the cutting element (blade 116) disposed therein. As shown, the slot 118 is in the form of a longitudinal slot that has a planar construction that is complementary to and receives a planar blade 116. The blade 116 includes an opening 120 through which the sutures 102, 104, 106 extend to cross the path of the blade 116 within the housing 114. The opening 120 is thus in the form of a through hole that is integrally formed therein as shown in FIG. 8C. The blade 116 further includes a connecting end 122 coupled to an actuating element 124 which may, for example, comprise a wire or other member in a lumen 110a of catheter portion 110. The actuating element 124 may be pulled in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 8A to move the blade 116 in a proximal direction. The user may accomplish this with a suitable handle or trigger assembly coupled to actuator element 124, just as described in connection with the first embodiment, with the trigger mechanism (not shown) located outside the patient. It will be appreciated that any other type of actuator may be used instead of those shown and described. The blade housing 114 includes a first aperture 126 at its distal end 115 (distal tip) and a second aperture 128 along a lateral side thereof opposite to the first aperture 126. As shown in FIGS. 8A-8C, an internal channel or passageway (opening) is formed within the blade housing 114 (fixed in position) to connect the first aperture 126 to the second aperture 128 (the first and second apertures 126, 128 have a fixed location). Each of the first and second apertures 126, 128 are formed along an exterior surface of the blade housing. The internal channel has a first section that terminates at the first aperture 126 and a second section that terminates at the second aperture 128. As best shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the second section is an angled channel that extends across a width of the blade housing 114 and the first section is a longitudinally extending passageway that terminates in the first aperture 126. The angled channel is defined by an angled wall as a result of a bore being formed in and extending across a width of the blade housing 114, with the slot 118 (i.e., a bottom section 125 thereof) intersecting the angled channel so as to define a first wall section 121 that lies on one side of the slot 118 and the cutting element and a second wall section 123 that lies on the other side of the slot 118 and the cutting element. The first section is separated from the slot 118 by a wall as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. In this manner, the sutures 102, 104, 106 may extend into the blade housing 114 through aperture 126, through opening 120 of blade 116 and then through aperture 128 as shown in FIG. 8A. As further shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, actuating element 124 may be pulled to move the blade 116 in a proximal direction such that the cutting edge 116a crosses edge 118a with or without a shearing action to cut the sutures 102, 104, 106 at points just proximal to a suture locker 132 as generally shown in FIG. 7 and used to secure one or more tissue plications 140 between tissue anchors 142. The cutting edge 116a may have any suitable design, including a double bevel configuration instead of the single bevel design shown. As shown in FIG. 8C, the cutting edge 116a is located along a distalmost side of the blade opening 120 resulting in the blade opening 120 (through hole formed in the blade) being proximal to the cutting edge 116a. The cutting edge 116a is thus formed at and is exposed along one side of the opening 120.

[0039] FIGS. 9-13 illustrate another embodiment of a suture cutter 150 threaded along a plurality of sutures 102, 104, 106. In this embodiment, like reference numerals used in previously discussed figures refer to like elements of structure with like function. The suture cutter 150 is illustrated as including an intermediate catheter portion 110 and a distal end portion comprising a cutting assembly 112 and a blade housing 114. The cutting assembly 112 and the intermediate catheter portion 110 may be configured and designed as previously shown and described and, therefore, no further description of these components is necessary. A proximal end of the suture cutter 150 includes a handle 152 and trigger mechanism 154. As shown best in FIG. 9, a connector 155 is affixed to the distal handle portion 152a. A fluid flushing port 156 is part of the connector 155 and connects with the intermediate catheter portion 110 by way of a connector 157 to allow the intermediate catheter portion 110 to be flushed with, for example, saline solution to eliminate any air in the intermediate catheter portion 110 just prior to use in a patient. For this purpose, a lumen 156a of portion 156 communicates with a lumen 156b, as shown in FIG. 13.

[0040] The trigger mechanism 154 is designed with a rotatable and longitudinally slidable trigger 158. The trigger mechanism 154 is designed to allow the suture cutter 150 to be “locked” and “unlocked.” In the locked position, the trigger 158 may not be used to actuate the cutting assembly 112 to cut a suture, while in the unlocked position, the trigger 158 may be pulled to thereby actuate the cutting assembly 112 generally in the same manner as discussed above in connection with FIGS. 8A-8C. As shown best in FIG. 10, the trigger 158 includes an annular portion 160 slidably retained on a distal portion 152a of the handle 152. This distal portion 152a of the handle 152 includes grooves 162a, 162b, 162c that retain the end of a pin 164 fixed to the trigger 158. When the pin 164 is in a first short groove 162a contained in the distal handle portion 152a, the trigger 158 may not be pulled in a proximal direction and may not be used to actuate the blade associated with the cutting assembly 112 (FIG. 9). However, when the trigger 158 is rotated approximately 90° such that the pin 164 rotates through the transverse groove 162b and registers with the longer longitudinal groove 162c, the trigger 158 may then be pulled proximally. The inactive or locked trigger position is shown in FIG. 11, while the active or unlocked trigger position is shown in FIG. 12.

[0041] An actuating element 170 is located within the handle 152 and is spring-biased in a distal direction by a coil spring 172 to normally maintain the blade 116 in a non-cutting position (FIG. 8A). The actuating element 170 is located in an eccentric position relative to the axis of rotation 174 of the trigger 158 and annular section as best shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Therefore, when the trigger 158 is rotated approximately 90°, the tip of the pin 164 will rotate from the position shown in FIG. 11 disengaged from the actuating element 170 to the position shown in FIG. 12 engaged with outer teeth or ridges 170a formed on the actuating element 170. Thus, as best shown in FIG. 13, once this registration occurs between the tip of the pin 164 and one of the teeth or ridges 170a, the trigger 158 may be pulled in a proximal direction as illustrated by the arrow 176. This moves the actuating element 170 including the attached wire portion 124 for purposes as previously described.

[0042] FIG. 13 also illustrates a removable locking element 180 that may be used to lock the actuating element 170 in place during storage and shipment of suture cutter 150. In this regard, the locking element 180 may be inserted through respective holes 182, 184 in the annular portion 160 and distal handle portion 152a such that a pin portion 180a prevents rotation of the trigger 158 and annular portion 160 from the locked or inactive position shown in FIG. 11 to the position shown in FIG. 12. The pin 180 may be removed by the user to allow rotation and then actuation of the trigger mechanism 154 as just described.

[0043] While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various preferred embodiments and while these embodiments have been described in some detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The various features of the invention may be used alone or in any combination depending on the needs and preferences of the user. This has been a description of the present invention, along with the preferred methods of practicing the present invention as currently known. However, the invention itself should only be defined by the appended claims.