The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 21, 2026
Filed:
Oct. 28, 2021
Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US);
Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics Ag, Zug, CH;
Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited, Singapore, SG;
Timothy Young, Upton, MA (US);
Marc J. Balboa, Hopkinton, MA (US);
Kangqiao Li, Providence, RI (US);
Justin A. Barbas, West Bridgewater, MA (US);
Alyssa Paul, Mansfield, MA (US);
Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US);
Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Zug, CH;
Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited, Singapore, SG;
Abstract
An instrument for manipulating and passing suture through a tissue is disclosed. The instrument includes a handle and a needle. The needle includes a lumen and terminates with a distal opening and a sharp edge surface for piercing tissue. The instrument also includes a hook, axially slideable within the needle lumen and through the needle distal opening. The hook may axially slide between a suture-locking configuration, a suture-sliding configuration and a suture release and capture configuration. The instrument may include improvements that better protect smaller and more fragile sutures.