Suture thread holding device

Abstract

A suture thread holding device according to the present disclosure comprises a first member and a second member. The first member and the second member can move relative to each other to change form between a first form, in which an opening is defined, and a second form, in which a suture thread can be gripped between the members. The first member comprises a pair of facing surfaces that define a gap. The second member comprises an insertion part that is inserted into the gap when the members are in the second form. If the direction in which the second member moves relative to the first member when the first member and the second member change from the first form to the second form is defined as an insertion direction, the insertion part comprises a contact part that can come into contact with at least one of the pair of facing surfaces defining the gap as a result of the second member moving in the insertion direction relative to the first member in a state where the suture thread has not passed through the opening.

Description

Suture holding device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a suture holding device.

[0002] Conventionally, a suture holding device capable of holding a suture has been known. Patent Document 1 discloses this type of suture holding device. The suture holding device described in Patent Document 1 includes a housing having a first through-hole and an actuator having a second through-hole and movable with respect to the housing.

[0003] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022 / 0142638

[0004] According to the suture holding device described in Patent Document 1, in a procedure, the step of ligating the suture can be omitted, so that the complication of the procedure can be suppressed. However, in the suture holding device described in Patent Document 1, when in use, it is necessary to insert the suture through the first through-hole of the housing and the second through-hole of the actuator by using a threader or the like, and there is still room for improvement from the viewpoint of suppressing the complication of the procedure.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a suture holding device capable of improving the holding performance of a suture and more easily performing a holding operation.

[0006] A suture holding device as a first aspect of the present disclosure is a suture holding device comprising: (1) a first member and a second member, wherein the first member and the second member are relatively movable to change shape between a first form that defines an opening having an open end into which a suture can be inserted from a direction intersecting the through-direction, and a second form that is capable of gripping the suture passing through the opening in the through-direction between the two members, the first member having a pair of opposing surfaces that define a gap, and the second member having an insertion portion that is inserted into the gap in the second form, and the insertion direction is defined as the direction in which the second member moves relative to the first member when changing shape from the first form to the second form, the insertion portion having a contact portion that can come into contact with at least one of the pair of opposing surfaces that define the gap when the second member moves in the insertion direction relative to the first member while the suture has not passed through the opening.

[0007] One embodiment of the present disclosure is a suture holding device as described in (1) above, wherein the insertion portion comprises a wedge-shaped portion whose thickness in the penetrating direction decreases as it approaches the insertion direction, and the wedge-shaped portion comprises the contact portion.

[0008] A suture holding device as one embodiment of the present disclosure is the suture holding device according to (1) or (2) above, wherein the gap has a tapered portion whose width in the through direction decreases as it approaches the insertion direction, and the contact portion of the insertion portion is capable of contacting at least one of the pair of opposing surfaces at the position of the tapered portion of the gap.

[0009] A suture holding device as one embodiment of the present disclosure is (4) when the pair of opposing surfaces are a pair of first opposing surfaces, the gap is a first gap, the insertion portion is a first insertion portion, and the contact portion is a first contact portion, the second member comprises a pair of second opposing surfaces that define a second gap, the first member comprises a second insertion portion that is inserted into the second gap in the second embodiment, and the second insertion portion comprises a second contact portion that can contact at least one of the pair of second opposing surfaces that define the second gap when the second member moves in the insertion direction relative to the first member while the suture does not penetrate the opening, the suture holding device according to any one of (1) to (3) above.

[0010] A suture holding device as one embodiment of the present disclosure is the suture holding device as described in (4) above, wherein the first member comprises a plurality of first gaps, the second member comprises a plurality of second gaps, the first member comprises a plurality of second insertion portions which are inserted into each of the plurality of second gaps in the second embodiment, and the second member comprises a plurality of first insertion portions which are inserted into each of the plurality of first gaps in the second embodiment.

[0011] One embodiment of the suture holding device of the present disclosure is the suture holding device according to (5) above, wherein at least one of the plurality of first gaps is partitioned between adjacent second insertion portions, and at least one of the plurality of second gaps is partitioned between adjacent first insertion portions.

[0012] A suture holding device as one embodiment of the present disclosure is the suture holding device according to any one of (1) to (6) above, wherein in the second embodiment, the first member and the second member are capable of gripping the suture passing through the opening at a predetermined gripping position, and when changing shape from the first embodiment to the second embodiment, they form a guide portion capable of guiding the suture passing through the opening toward the predetermined gripping position in a direction intersecting the direction of movement.

[0013] One embodiment of the suture holding device of the present disclosure is the suture holding device described in (7) above, wherein the first member and the second member are capable of changing shape between the first and second forms by relatively rotating about a predetermined pivot axis extending parallel to the through direction.

[0014] One embodiment of the suture holding device of the present disclosure is the suture holding device according to (8) above, wherein the opening is positioned so as not to coincide with the rotation axis when viewed in the through direction.

[0015] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a suture holding device that can improve the suture holding performance and make the holding operation easier.

[0016] This is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the suture holding device according to the present disclosure. This is an exploded perspective view showing the suture holding device disassembled into a first member and a second member. This is a top view of the first member alone. This is a top view of the second member alone. This is a top view of the entire suture holding device showing the state before gripping the suture. This figure shows the state approaching the state in which the suture is gripped by the first member and the second member moving relative to each other from the state shown in Figure 4A. This figure shows the state in which the suture is gripped by the first member and the second member moving further relative to each other from the state shown in Figure 4B. This figure illustrates the mechanism by which the suture holding device grips the suture, and is a partial cross-sectional view of the suture holding device along the penetration direction and the movement direction in the state before gripping the suture. This figure shows the state in which the suture is gripped by the first member and the second member moving relative to each other from the state shown in Figure 5A. This figure shows the state in which the suture is gripped by the suture by the first member moving relative to the first member, with the suture not yet penetrating the opening.

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the suture holding device according to this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0018] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a suture holding device 1 as one embodiment of the suture holding device according to the present disclosure. The suture holding device 1 is capable of gripping a suture X (see Figure 4A, etc.). The suture holding device 1 may be used, for example, in a procedure to suture a puncture site. Specifically, the suture holding device 1 may be used to grip both ends of the suture X used to suture the puncture site (see Figure 4C). In this way, it is possible to restrict the movement of both ends of the suture X relative to the puncture site without tying the suture X. In other words, with the suture holding device 1, the step of tying the suture X can be omitted in a procedure to suture a puncture site, and the complexity of the procedure can be suppressed.

[0019] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the suture holding device 1 disassembled into a first member 2 and a second member 3. Figure 3A is a top view of the first member 2 alone. Figure 3B is a top view of the second member 3 alone. Figure 4A is a top view of the entire suture holding device 1, showing the state before gripping the suture X. In Figure 4A, both ends of the suture X are also shown in addition to the suture holding device 1. Figure 4B shows the state in which the first member 2 and the second member 3 move relative to each other from the state shown in Figure 4A, approaching the state in which the suture X is gripped. Figure 4C shows the state in which the first member 2 and the second member 3 move further relative to each other from the state shown in Figure 4B, gripping the suture X between them.

[0020] As shown in Figure 2, the suture holding device 1 comprises a first member 2 and a second member 3. As shown in Figures 4A to 4C, the first member 2 and the second member 3 are relatively movable so as to change their shape between a first form (see Figure 4A) and a second form (see Figure 4C).

[0021] Here, "first form" refers to a form in which the opening 5 that penetrates in the penetrating direction A is partitioned. In this embodiment, the penetrating direction A is parallel to the rotation axis O. Figure 4A shows the first form of the first member 2 and the second member 3 described above. The opening 5 may be partitioned by only one of the first member 2 and the second member 3, or it may be partitioned between the first member 2 and the second member 3. In this embodiment, the opening 5 is partitioned between the first member 2 and the second member 3.

[0022] The opening 5 has an open end 5a into which the suture thread X can be inserted from a direction intersecting the penetration direction A. The opening 5 in this embodiment has an open end 5a into which the suture thread X can be inserted from a direction perpendicular to the penetration direction A (downward in Figure 4A). With such an open end 5a, the suture thread X can be easily inserted into the opening 5 through the open end 5a. In other words, the suture thread X can be easily positioned relative to the opening 5 so that it penetrates the opening 5 in the penetration direction A without using a needle threader or other tools.

[0023] The "second form" is a configuration in which the suture thread X, which penetrates the opening 5 in the through-direction A, can be grasped between the first member 2 and the second member 3. Figure 4C shows the first member 2 and the second member 3 in the above-described second form.

[0024] For the sake of explanation, the relative direction of movement of the first member 2 and the second member 3 during the change in form between the first and second forms will be referred to as "movement direction B". Furthermore, within movement direction B, the direction in which the second member 3 moves relative to the first member 2 when the first member 2 and the second member 3 change from the first form to the second form will be referred to as "insertion direction B1", and the direction opposite to insertion direction B1 will be referred to as "removal direction B2".

[0025] As shown in Figures 3A to 4C, the direction of movement B in this embodiment is the direction that intersects with the penetration direction A. More specifically, in this embodiment, the first member 2 and the second member 3 change from the first form to the second form by relatively rotating in the circumferential direction around a predetermined rotation axis O. Therefore, in this embodiment, the direction of movement B is the circumferential direction around the rotation axis O. Also, in this embodiment, the insertion direction B1 is one direction in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis O, and the removal direction B2 is the opposite direction.

[0026] Specifically, the first member 2 of this embodiment comprises a thin rectangular plate-shaped base portion 8 in the penetrating direction A, and a first gripping portion 9 projecting from the fixed surface 8a, which is one side of the base portion 8 in the penetrating direction A. The first gripping portion 9 has a sliding surface 9a that forms an arc shape centered on the rotation axis O when viewed in the penetrating direction A. The second member 3 comprises a disc-shaped top wall portion 10 and a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 11 projecting from the outer edge of the top wall portion 10. The peripheral wall portion 11 has an inner peripheral surface 11a that is slidable with the sliding surface 9a of the first gripping portion 9 of the first member 2. The second member 3 is attached to the first member 2 by fitting the peripheral wall portion 11 into the first gripping portion 9 such that the sliding surface 9a and the inner peripheral surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11 are slidable. In this state, the sliding surface 9a of the first gripping portion 9 of the first member 2 and the inner circumferential surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11 of the second member 3 slide against each other, so that the second member 3 can rotate relative to the first member 2 in the circumferential direction about the rotation axis O.

[0027] The base portion 8 has a mounting surface 8b that can be placed on a living surface, which is the other side of the through-direction A (the side opposite to the fixed surface 8a on which the first gripping portion 9 is projected). The suture holding device 1 of this embodiment is used with this mounting surface 8b placed on a living surface. The mounting surface 8b of this embodiment is a plane perpendicular to the through-direction A. However, the shape of the mounting surface 8b may be appropriately changed to match the shape of the living surface, for example, it may be an inclined surface or a curved surface that is inclined with respect to the through-direction A. In addition, in order to improve stability when placed, processing may be applied to increase the frictional force of the mounting surface 8b, or another member with high frictional force may be provided only on the mounting surface 8b side.

[0028] In this specification, "top view" means a plan view of each element as seen from one of the aforementioned sides in the through-direction A (i.e., the side on which the fixed surface 8a is located relative to the mounting surface 8b).

[0029] As shown in Figures 2 and 3B, a second gripping portion 15 is provided protruding from the inner circumferential surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11 of the second member 3. As will be described in detail later, the second gripping portion 15 in this embodiment is arranged with a gap 51 in the penetrating direction A and has a plurality of insertion portions 43 that protrude from the inner circumferential surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11. The suture holding device 1 of this embodiment is configured to grip the suture X between the first gripping portion 9 of the first member 2 and the second gripping portion 15 of the second member 3. Furthermore, the opening 5 of this embodiment is partitioned between the first gripping portion 9 of the first member 2 and the second gripping portion 15 of the second member 3. More specifically, as shown in Figure 4A, the opening 5 of this embodiment is partitioned between the end face 12 of the first gripping portion 9 of the first member 2 in the removal direction B2 and the end face 16 of the second gripping portion 15 of the second member 3 in the insertion direction B1.

[0030] A first slit 17 is formed in the base portion 8 of the first member 2, penetrating in the penetrating direction A. A second slit 18 is formed in the top wall portion 10 and the peripheral wall portion 11 of the second member 3, penetrating in the penetrating direction A. In the suture holding device 1 of this embodiment, the suture X can be inserted through the first slit 17 and the second slit 18 into the opening 5 partitioned between the first gripping portion 9 and the second gripping portion 15. As shown in Figure 4A, in the first form of the first member 2 and the second member 3, the first slit 17 and the second slit 18 have a shape that follows the opening 5 partitioned between the first gripping portion 9 and the second gripping portion 15 when viewed in the penetrating direction A. However, the shape of the first slit 17 and the second slit 18 is not limited to this, as long as it can guide the suture X to a predetermined position CP and grip and fix it, and may be changed as appropriate.

[0031] Figure 5A is a diagram illustrating the mechanism by which the suture holding device 1 grips the suture X, and is a partial cross-sectional view of the suture holding device 1 in the first embodiment along the through direction A and the movement direction B. In Figure 5A, the suture X is shown together with the suture holding device 1. Figure 5B is a diagram showing the state in which the first member 2 and the second member 3 are moved relative to each other from the state shown in Figure 5A to change to the second embodiment. As shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the first member 2 has a pair of opposing surfaces 42 that define the gap 41. The pair of opposing surfaces 42 face each other in the through direction A. In this embodiment, the pair of opposing surfaces 42 are formed on the first gripping portion 9 of the first member 2. The second member 3 has an insertion portion 43 that is inserted into the gap 41 of the first member 2 in the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 is formed on the second gripping portion 15. The presence of this insertion portion 43 and gap 41 allows the suture holding device 1 to grip the suture X by sandwiching it in the penetrating direction A between the first member 2 and the second member 3. In other words, the suture holding device 1 can grip the suture X by sandwiching it in the penetrating direction A between the insertion portion 43 and the opposing surface 42 that defines the gap 41 into which the insertion portion 43 is inserted, while the insertion portion 43 is inserted into the gap 41.

[0032] Specifically, as shown in Figure 5A, in the first embodiment, the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 is not inserted into the gap 41 of the first member 2. From this state, by moving the first member 2 and the second member 3 relative to each other in the movement direction B, the first member 2 and the second member 3 change shape to the second embodiment, and the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 becomes inserted into the gap 41 of the first member 2. At this time, the suture thread X that was penetrating the opening 5 in the penetrating direction A is pushed into the gap 41 of the first member 2 by the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3. As a result, the suture thread X is sandwiched in the penetrating direction A between the opposing surfaces 42 that define the gap 41 of the first member 2 and the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 (see Figure 5B).

[0033] Figure 6 shows the state in which the second member 3 is moved in the insertion direction B1 relative to the first member 2 while the suture thread X has not penetrated the opening 5 (see Figure 5A). Figure 6 shows a partial cross-section of the suture holding device 1 at the same position as in Figures 5A and 5B. As shown in Figure 6, the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 includes a contact portion 44 that can contact at least one of a pair of opposing surfaces 42 that define the gap 41 of the second member 3 when the second member 3 moves in the insertion direction B1 relative to the first member 2 while the suture thread X has not penetrated the opening 5. In this embodiment, the contact portion 44 can contact both of the pair of opposing surfaces 42 that define the gap 41 of the second member 3 when the second member 3 moves in the insertion direction B1 relative to the first member 2 while the suture thread X has not penetrated the opening 5. With such a contact portion 44, the suture thread X can be reliably sandwiched in the penetration direction A between the insertion portion 43 and the opposing surfaces 42, regardless of the thickness of the suture thread X. This improves the suture retention performance of the suture retention device 1.

[0034] Furthermore, as described above, in the suture holding device 1, the suture X is gripped by the first member 2 and the second member 3 in the penetrating direction A. In other words, when the first member 2 and the second member 3 are gripping the suture X, the suture X is in contact with both the first member 2 and the second member 3 in the penetrating direction A. As a result, frictional resistance in the movement direction B is generated between the suture X and the first member 2, and between the suture X and the second member 3, thereby restricting the relative movement of the first member 2 and the second member 3 in the movement direction B. In short, with the suture holding device 1, by gripping the suture X in the penetrating direction A with the first member 2 and the second member 3, it becomes easier to maintain the state in which the first member 2 and the second member 3 are gripping the suture X without using a biasing member. This makes it easier to simplify the structure of the suture holding device 1, and since the suture X can be held without using a biasing member, the burden on the fingers is reduced, leading to improved operability for the user. In other words, the suture holding device 1 makes the holding operation easier to perform. In order to further increase the gripping force at the contact portion 44, processing (surface treatment, coating, etc.) that increases the frictional resistance of the contact portion surface may be applied.

[0035] As shown in Figures 5A to 6, the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 is provided with a wedge-shaped portion 45 whose thickness in the penetrating direction A decreases as it approaches the insertion direction B1. The wedge-shaped portion 45 is provided with the contact portion 44 described above. In this way, a configuration in which the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 is provided with a contact portion 44 can be easily realized.

[0036] As shown in Figures 5A to 6, in this embodiment, the entire insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 is composed of a wedge-shaped portion 45. Therefore, as shown in Figure 5A, the thickness in the through-direction A of the end 43a of the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 in the insertion direction B1 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the "starting end thickness of the insertion portion 43") is the thinnest minimum thickness of the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3. The thickness in the through-direction A of the end 43b of the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 in the removal direction B2 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the "ending end thickness of the insertion portion 43") is the thickest maximum thickness of the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3. As shown in Figure 5A, if the width of the through-direction A at the end 41b of the gap 41 of the first member in the withdrawal direction B2 is defined as the "starting end width of the gap 41", then the first member 2 and the second member 3 of this embodiment are configured such that the starting end width of the gap 41 is greater than the starting end thickness of the insertion portion 43, and the end thickness of the insertion portion 43 is greater than the starting end width of the gap 41 (starting end thickness of insertion portion 43 < starting end width of gap 41 < end thickness of insertion portion 43). In this way, a configuration in which the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 has a contact portion 44 can be reliably realized.

[0037] As shown in Figures 5A to 6, the gap 41 of the first member 2 has a tapered portion 46 in which the width in the penetration direction A decreases as it moves toward the insertion direction B1. As shown in Figure 6, the contact portion 44 of the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 can contact at least one of the pair of opposing surfaces 42 that define the gap 41 of the first member 2 at the position of the tapered portion 46 of the gap 41 of the first member 2 when the second member 3 moves toward the first member 2 in the insertion direction B1 while the suture X has not penetrated the opening 5. In this way, a configuration in which the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 has a contact portion 44 can be easily realized.

[0038] As shown in Figures 5A to 6, in this embodiment, the entire gap 41 of the first member 2 is composed of a tapered portion 46. Therefore, as shown in Figure 5A, the width in the through-direction A of the end 41a of the gap 41 of the first member 2 in the insertion direction B1 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the "end width of the gap 41") is the narrowest minimum width in the gap 41 of the first member 2. The width in the through-direction A of the end 41b of the gap 41 of the first member 2 in the removal direction B2 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the "start width of the gap 41") is the widest maximum width in the gap 41 of the first member 2. Furthermore, if the thickness of the insertion portion 43a of the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 in the through direction A of the insertion direction B1 is defined as the "starting end thickness of the insertion portion 43", then the first member 2 and the second member 3 of this embodiment are configured such that the starting end thickness of the insertion portion 43 is greater than the end width of the gap 41, and the starting end width of the gap 41 is greater than the starting end thickness of the insertion portion 43 (end width of the gap 41 < starting end thickness of the insertion portion 43 < starting end width of the gap 41). In this way, a configuration in which the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 has a contact portion 44 can be reliably realized.

[0039] In this embodiment, the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 is provided with a wedge-shaped portion 45, and the gap 41 of the first member 2 is provided with a tapered portion 46, thereby realizing a configuration in which the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 is provided with a contact portion 44. However, the configuration in which the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 is provided with a contact portion 44 may also be realized by a configuration in which the gap 41 of the first member 2 is not provided with a tapered portion 46 and the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 is provided with a wedge-shaped portion 45, or by a configuration in which the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 is not provided with a wedge-shaped portion 45 and the gap 41 of the first member 2 is provided with a tapered portion 46. As long as the starting end thickness and ending end thickness of the insertion portion 43 and the starting end width and ending end width of the gap 41 satisfy the above-described relationship, there is no particular limitation on which configuration is used to realize the suture holding device 1.

[0040] Here, the opposing surface 42 of the first member 2 described above is referred to as the "first opposing surface 42", the gap 41 of the first member 2 described above is referred to as the "first gap 41", the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 described above is referred to as the "first insertion portion 43", and the contact portion 44 of the insertion portion of the second member 3 described above is referred to as the "first contact portion 44". In this case, as shown in Figures 5A to 6, the second member 3 has a pair of second opposing surfaces 52 that define the second gap 51. The pair of second opposing surfaces 52 face each other in the penetrating direction A. The first member 2 has a second insertion portion 53 that is inserted into the second gap 51 in the second embodiment. As shown in Figure 6, the second insertion portion 53 has a second contact portion 54 that can contact at least one of the pair of second opposing surfaces 52 that define the second gap 51 when the second member 3 moves in the insertion direction B1 relative to the first member 2 while the suture thread X has not penetrated the opening 5. In this embodiment, the second contact portion 54 can contact both of the pair of second opposing surfaces 52 that define the second gap 51 when the second member 3 moves in the insertion direction B1 relative to the first member 2 while the suture thread X is not penetrating the opening 5. In this way, the suture thread holding performance of the suture thread holding device 1 can be further improved compared to the case where the suture thread holding device 1 is equipped only with the first contact portion 44.

[0041] Here, the wedge-shaped portion 45 of the insertion portion 43 of the second member 3 described above is referred to as the "first wedge-shaped portion 45". In this case, the second insertion portion 53 of the first member 2 is provided with a second wedge-shaped portion 55 whose thickness in the penetrating direction A decreases as it moves toward the removal direction B2. The second wedge-shaped portion 55 is provided with the second contact portion 54 described above. In this way, a configuration in which the second insertion portion 53 of the first member 2 is provided with the second contact portion 54 can be easily realized.

[0042] As shown in Figures 5A to 6, in this embodiment, the entire second insertion portion 53 of the first member 2 is composed of the second wedge-shaped portion 55. Therefore, as shown in Figure 5A, the thickness in the through direction A of the end 53b of the second insertion portion 53 of the first member 2 in the withdrawal direction B2 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the "start end thickness of the second insertion portion 53") is the thinnest minimum thickness of the second insertion portion 53 of the first member 2. The thickness in the through direction A of the end 53a of the second insertion portion 53 of the first member 2 in the insertion direction B1 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the "end thickness of the second insertion portion 53") is the thickest maximum thickness of the second insertion portion 53 of the first member 2. Furthermore, if the width in the through-direction A of the end 51a of the second gap 51 of the second member 3 in the insertion direction B1 is defined as the "starting end width of the gap 51", then the first member 2 and the second member 3 of this embodiment are configured such that the starting end width of the gap 51 is wider than the starting end thickness of the second insertion portion 53, and the ending end thickness of the second insertion portion 53 is thicker than the starting end width of the gap 51 (starting end thickness of the second insertion portion 53 < starting end width of the gap 51 < ending end thickness of the second insertion portion 53). In this way, a configuration in which the second insertion portion 53 of the first member 2 includes a second contact portion 54 can be reliably realized.

[0043] Furthermore, the tapered portion 46 of the gap in the first member 2 described above is referred to as the "first tapered portion 46". In this case, the second gap 51 of the second member 3 has a second tapered portion 56 in which the width in the penetration direction A decreases as it moves toward the removal direction B2. As shown in Figure 6, the second contact portion 54 of the second insertion portion 53 of the first member 2 can contact at least one of the pair of second opposing surfaces 52 that define the second gap 51 of the second member 3 at the position of the second tapered portion 56 of the second gap 51 of the second member 3 when the second member 3 moves toward the first member 2 in the insertion direction B1 while the suture thread X has not penetrated the opening 5. In this way, a configuration in which the second insertion portion 53 of the first member 2 has a second contact portion 54 can be easily realized.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 5A to 6, in the present embodiment, the entire second gap 51 of the second member 3 is constituted by the second tapered portion 56. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5A, the width in the penetration direction A of the end 51b in the removal direction B2 of the second gap 51 of the second member 3 (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as the "terminal width of the second gap 51") is the narrowest minimum width in the second gap 51 of the second member 3. The width in the penetration direction A of the end 51a in the insertion direction B1 of the second gap 51 of the second member 3 (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as the "start width of the second gap 51") is the widest maximum width in the second gap 51 of the second member 3. And when the thickness in the penetration direction A of the end 53a in the removal direction B2 of the second insertion portion 53 of the first member 2 is defined as the "start thickness of the second insertion portion 53", the first member 2 and the second member 3 of the present embodiment are such that the start thickness of the second insertion portion 53 is thicker than the terminal width of the second gap 51, and the start width of the second gap 51 is wider than the start thickness of the second insertion portion 53 (terminal width of the second gap 51 < start thickness of the second insertion portion 53 < start width of the second gap 51), and are configured to satisfy this relationship. By doing so, a configuration in which the second insertion portion 53 of the first member 2 includes the second contact portion 54 can be surely realized.

[0045] In the present embodiment, the second insertion portion 53 of the first member 2 includes the second wedge-shaped portion 55, and the second gap 51 of the second member 3 includes the second tapered portion 56, so that a configuration in which the second insertion portion 53 of the first member 2 includes the second contact portion 54 is realized. However, the configuration in which the second insertion portion 53 of the first member 2 includes the second contact portion 54 may be realized only by the second insertion portion 53 of the first member 2 including the second wedge-shaped portion 55 without the second gap 51 of the second member 3 including the second tapered portion 56, or may be realized only by the second gap 51 of the second member 3 including the second tapered portion 56 without the second insertion portion 53 of the first member 2 including the second wedge-shaped portion 55. As long as the start thickness and the end thickness of the second insertion portion 53 and the start width and the end width of the second gap 51 satisfy the above-described relationship, how the suture holding device 1 is realized by which configuration is not particularly limited.

[0046] As shown in Figures 5A to 6, the first member 2 divides the first gap 41 into multiple (two in this embodiment) sections. The second member 3 divides the second gap 51 into multiple (two in this embodiment) sections. The first member 2 is provided with multiple (two in this embodiment) second insertion sections 53 that are inserted into each of the multiple second gaps 51 in the second embodiment. The second member 3 is provided with multiple (two in this embodiment) first insertion sections 43 that are inserted into each of the multiple first gaps 41 in the second embodiment. In this way, the suture holding performance of the suture holding device 1 can be further improved compared to the case where there is only one set each of the first gap 41 and the first insertion section 43 inserted therein, and the second gap 51 and the second insertion section 53 inserted therein.

[0047] As shown in Figures 5A to 6, of the multiple first gaps 41 of the first member 2, at least one first gap 41 is partitioned between adjacent second insertion portions 53 of the first member 2. Similarly, of the multiple second gaps 51 of the second member 3, at least one second gap 51 is partitioned between adjacent first insertion portions 43 of the second member 3. Specifically, in this embodiment, the two second insertion portions 53 of the first member 2 are adjacent to each other in the through-direction A and spaced apart from each other in the through-direction A. One of the two first gaps 41 is formed between these two second insertion portions 53. Also in this embodiment, the two first insertion portions 43 of the second member 3 are adjacent to each other in the through-direction A and spaced apart from each other in the through-direction A. One of the two second gaps 51 is formed between these two first insertion portions 43. This makes it easier to simplify the structure of the suture holding device 1.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 4C, in the second form, the first member 2 and the second member 3 can grip the suture X passing through the opening 5 at a predetermined gripping position CP. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, when the first member 2 and the second member 3 change from the first form to the second form, the suture X passing through the opening 5 can be guided toward the predetermined gripping position CP by forming a guiding portion 60. Here, the "predetermined gripping position CP" means a position predetermined as the position where the first member 2 and the second member 3 grip the suture X when viewed in the penetrating direction A of the suture holding device 1. The "predetermined gripping position CP" in the present embodiment is the position of the suture X shown in FIG. 4C. In FIG. 4C, the suture X is gripped by the first member 2 and the second member 3 at a predetermined gripping position CP between the first member 2 and the second member 3. Due to the presence of such a guiding portion 60, even when a plurality of sutures X or a plurality of portions of the suture X (both ends of the suture X in the example shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C) penetrate the opening 5 in a separated state when viewed in the penetrating direction A, in conjunction with the operation of relatively moving the first member 2 and the second member 3, the plurality of sutures X or the plurality of portions of the suture X can be guided toward the predetermined gripping position CP. Thereby, the plurality of sutures X or the plurality of portions of the suture X can be gripped in a bundled state.

[0049] The guiding portion 60 of the present embodiment is constituted by an end face 12 in the removal direction B2 of the first gripping portion 9 of the first member 2 and an end face 16 in the insertion direction B1 of the second gripping portion 15 of the second member 3. The end faces 12 and 16 as the guiding portion 60 can press the suture X passing through the opening 5 toward the predetermined gripping position CP when the first member 2 and the second member 3 change from the first form to the second form.

[0050] As shown in Figures 4A to 4C, the guide unit 60 can guide the suture thread X passing through the opening 5 toward a predetermined gripping position CP in a direction intersecting the relative movement direction B of the first member 2 and the second member 3 when the first member 2 and the second member 3 change shape from the first form to the second form. As a result, even if in the first form the suture thread X passing through the opening 5 is positioned offset from the predetermined gripping position CP in a direction intersecting the movement direction B, the suture thread X can be guided toward the predetermined gripping position CP. Therefore, compared to the case where the guide unit 60 is configured to guide the suture thread X only in the movement direction B, the suture thread X located at a position other than the predetermined gripping position CP of the opening 5 can be guided toward the predetermined gripping position CP more reliably.

[0051] Specifically, as shown in Figures 4A to 4C, the guide unit 60 of this embodiment can press and guide the suture thread X in the radial direction centered on the rotation axis O, in addition to the circumferential direction around the rotation axis O, which is the relative movement direction B of the first member 2 and the second member 3, when the first member 2 and the second member 3 change shape from the first form to the second form. In other words, in this embodiment, the direction in which the guide unit 60 can guide the suture thread X, which intersects with the relative movement direction B of the first member 2 and the second member 3, is the radial direction centered on the rotation axis O.

[0052] As shown in Figure 4B, the first member 2 and the second member 3, in the process of changing shape from the first form to the second form, come into a state where they demarcate the surrounding closed through-hole 61 when viewed in the through-direction A. From this state, as the first member 2 and the second member 3 further approach the second form, the area of ​​the through-hole 61 viewed in the through-direction A decreases. As the area of ​​the through-hole 61 decreases, the guide portion 60 approaches a predetermined gripping position CP. As a result, the suture thread X is guided to the predetermined gripping position CP. In this way, the movement of the suture thread X in a direction intersecting the through-direction A (for example, the up, down, left, and right directions in Figure 4B) can be restricted by the inner edges of the first member 2 and the second member 3 that demarcate the through-hole 61. In other words, it is possible to prevent the suture thread X from falling out of the suture thread holding device 1.

[0053] As shown in Figure 4A, in the first form of the first member 2 and the second member 3, the opening 5 is positioned so as not to coincide with the rotation axis O when viewed in the through direction A. By doing so, when the form changes from the first form to the second form, the suture thread X does not move from the rotation axis, and it is possible to suppress the suture thread X from being easily guided to the predetermined gripping position CP by the guide part 60, which would otherwise prevent sufficient gripping and fixing.

[0054] The suture holding device according to this disclosure is not limited to the specific configuration shown in the embodiments described above, and various modifications, changes, and combinations are possible without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, in the embodiments described above, the first member and the second member could change shape from the first form to the second form by relative rotation, but the first member and the second member may be configured to change shape from the first form to the second form by relative linear movement. However, it is preferable that the first member and the second member can change shape from the first form to the second form by relative rotation, as in the embodiments described above. This makes it easier to miniaturize the configuration of the suture holding device.

[0055] This disclosure relates to a suture retention device.

[0056] 1: Suture holding device 2: First member 3: Second member 5: Opening 5a: Open end 8: Base part 8a: Fixed surface 8b: Mounting surface 9: First gripping part 9a: Sliding surface 10: Top wall part 11: Peripheral wall part 11a: Inner circumferential surface 12: End face of the first gripping part in the withdrawal direction 15: Second gripping part 16: End face of the second gripping part in the insertion direction 17: First slit 18: Second slit 41: First gap 41a: End of the first gap in the insertion direction 41b: End of the first gap in the withdrawal direction 42: First opposing surface 43: First insertion part 43a: End of the first insertion part in the insertion direction 43b: End of the first insertion part in the withdrawal direction 44: First contact part 45: First wedge-shaped part 46: First tapered part 51: Second gap 51a: End of the second gap in the insertion direction 51b: End of the second gap in the withdrawal direction 52: Second opposing surface 53: Second insertion part 53a: End of the second insertion part in the insertion direction 53b: End of the second insertion part in the withdrawal direction 54: Second contact part 55: Second wedge-shaped part 56: Second tapered part 60: Guiding part 61: Through hole A: Through direction B: Movement direction B1: Insertion direction B2: Withdrawal direction CP: Determined gripping position O: Rotation axis X: Suture

Claims

1. A suture holding device comprising a first member and a second member, wherein the first member and the second member are relatively movable to change shape between a first form that defines an opening having an open end into which a suture thread penetrates in a penetrating direction and into which a suture thread can be inserted from a direction intersecting the penetrating direction, and a second form that is capable of gripping the suture thread that penetrates the opening in the penetrating direction between the two members, wherein the first member has a pair of opposing surfaces that define a gap, and the second member has an insertion portion that is inserted into the gap in the second form, and among the relative movement directions of the first member and the second member, when the direction in which the second member moves relative to the first member when changing shape from the first form to the second form is defined as the insertion direction, the insertion portion has a contact portion that can come into contact with at least one of the pair of opposing surfaces that define the gap when the second member moves in the insertion direction relative to the first member while the suture thread does not penetrate the opening.

2. The suture holding device according to claim 1, wherein the insertion portion comprises a wedge-shaped portion whose thickness in the penetrating direction decreases as it approaches the insertion direction, and the wedge-shaped portion comprises the contact portion.

3. The suture holding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gap has a tapered portion whose width in the through-direction decreases as it approaches the insertion direction, and the contact portion of the insertion portion is capable of contacting at least one of the pair of opposing surfaces at the position of the tapered portion of the gap.

4. When the pair of opposing surfaces are referred to as a pair of first opposing surfaces, the gap as a first gap, the insertion portion as a first insertion portion, and the contact portion as a first contact portion, the second member comprises a pair of second opposing surfaces that define a second gap, the first member comprises a second insertion portion that is inserted into the second gap in the second embodiment, and the second insertion portion comprises a second contact portion that can contact at least one of the pair of second opposing surfaces that define the second gap when the second member moves in the insertion direction relative to the first member while the suture thread does not penetrate the opening.

5. The suture holding device according to claim 4, wherein the first member divides the first gap into a plurality of sections, the second member divides the second gap into a plurality of sections, the first member comprises a plurality of second insertion portions that are inserted into each of the plurality of second gaps in the second embodiment, and the second member comprises a plurality of first insertion portions that are inserted into each of the plurality of first gaps in the second embodiment.

6. The suture holding device according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of first gaps is partitioned between adjacent second insertion portions, and at least one of the plurality of second gaps is partitioned between adjacent first insertion portions.

7. The suture holding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first member and the second member are capable of gripping the suture thread passing through the opening at a predetermined gripping position in the second embodiment, and when changing shape from the first embodiment to the second embodiment, they form a guide portion capable of guiding the suture thread passing through the opening toward the predetermined gripping position in a direction intersecting the direction of movement.

8. The suture holding device according to claim 7, wherein the first member and the second member are capable of changing shape between the first and second forms by relatively rotating about a predetermined pivot axis extending parallel to the through-direction.

9. The suture holding device according to claim 8, wherein the opening is positioned so as not to coincide with the rotation axis when viewed in the through direction.

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