Method and apparatus for attaching tissue to bone, including the provision and use of a novel knotless suture anchor system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for securing a suture to a bone, the apparatus comprising:
- an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the lumen comprising a distal section and a proximal section, the distal section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the proximal section of the lumen;
a window extending through the side wall of the elongated body and communicating with the lumen, the window being disposed in the vicinity of the intersection between the distal section of the lumen and the proximal section of the lumen and being sized to receive a suture therein;
an elongated element extending through the lumen of the elongated body, the elongated element comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the elongated element comprises a stepped configuration having an enlarged distal section and a reduced proximal section; and
a locking element connected to the distal end of the elongated element and disposed in the distal section of the lumen;
whereby, when the elongated body is disposed in a bone, and a suture extends through the window, and the locking element is thereafter moved proximally, proximal movement of the locking element causes the locking element to capture the suture to the elongated body, whereby to secure the suture to the bone;
wherein the enlarged distal section of the elongated element is configured to pull through the locking element upon application of an appropriate force, whereby to separate the elongated element from the locking element before the locking element exits the proximal end of the elongated body.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for securing a suture to a bone, the apparatus comprising an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal and proximal ends, the lumen comprising a distal section and a proximal section, the distal section having a wider diameter than the proximal section; an elongated element extending through the lumen; and a locking element mounted to the distal end of the elongated element and disposed in the distal section of the lumen; whereby, when the elongated body is disposed in bone, and a suture extends through at least a portion of the lumen, and the locking element is thereafter moved proximally, proximal movement of the locking element causes the elongated body to capture the suture to the elongated body, whereby to secure the suture to the bone.
352 Citations
45 Claims
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1. Apparatus for securing a suture to a bone, the apparatus comprising:
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an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the lumen comprising a distal section and a proximal section, the distal section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the proximal section of the lumen; a window extending through the side wall of the elongated body and communicating with the lumen, the window being disposed in the vicinity of the intersection between the distal section of the lumen and the proximal section of the lumen and being sized to receive a suture therein; an elongated element extending through the lumen of the elongated body, the elongated element comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the elongated element comprises a stepped configuration having an enlarged distal section and a reduced proximal section; and a locking element connected to the distal end of the elongated element and disposed in the distal section of the lumen; whereby, when the elongated body is disposed in a bone, and a suture extends through the window, and the locking element is thereafter moved proximally, proximal movement of the locking element causes the locking element to capture the suture to the elongated body, whereby to secure the suture to the bone; wherein the enlarged distal section of the elongated element is configured to pull through the locking element upon application of an appropriate force, whereby to separate the elongated element from the locking element before the locking element exits the proximal end of the elongated body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for securing a suture to a bone, the method comprising:
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providing apparatus comprising; an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the lumen comprising a distal section and a proximal section, the distal section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the proximal section of the lumen; a window extending through the side wall of the elongated body and communicating with the lumen, the window being disposed in the vicinity of the intersection between the distal section of the lumen and the proximal section of the lumen and being sized to receive a suture therein; an elongated element extending through the lumen of the elongated body, the elongated element comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the elongated element comprises a stepped configuration having an enlarged distal section and a reduced proximal section; and a locking element connected to the distal end of the elongated element and disposed in the distal section of the lumen; extending the suture through the window; positioning the elongated body in the bone; and moving the locking element proximally, such that proximal movement of the locking element causes the locking element to capture the suture to the elongated body, whereby to secure the suture to the bone; wherein the enlarged distal section of the elongated element is configured to pull through the locking element upon application of an appropriate force, whereby to separate the elongated element from the locking element before the locking element exits the proximal end of the elongated body. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. Apparatus for securing a suture to a bone, the apparatus comprising:
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an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the lumen comprising a distal section and a proximal section, the distal section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the proximal section of the lumen; a window extending through the side wall of the elongated body and communicating with the lumen, the window being disposed in the vicinity of the intersection between the distal section of the lumen and the proximal section of the lumen and being sized to receive a suture therein; an elongated element extending through the lumen of the elongated body, the elongated element comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the elongated element comprises a stepped configuration having an enlarged distal section and a reduced proximal section; and a locking element connected to the distal end of the elongated element and disposed in the distal section of the lumen; whereby, when the elongated body is disposed in a bone, and a suture extends through the window, and the locking element is thereafter moved proximally, proximal movement of the locking element causes the locking element to capture the suture to the elongated body, whereby to secure the suture to the bone; wherein the elongated element is configured to disconnect from the locking element before the locking element exits the proximal end of the elongated body; wherein the locking element comprises a stepped bore having an enlarged distal section and a reduced proximal section, and further wherein the enlarged distal section of the elongated element is sized to be received in the enlarged distal section of the locking element, and the reduced proximal section of the elongated element is sized to be received in the reduced proximal section of the locking element. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. Apparatus for securing a suture to a bone, the apparatus comprising:
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an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the lumen comprising a distal section and a proximal section, the distal section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the proximal section of the lumen; an elongated element extending through the lumen of the elongated body, the elongated element comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the elongated element comprises a stepped configuration having an enlarged distal section and a reduced proximal section; and a locking element connected to the distal end of the elongated element and disposed in the distal section of the lumen; whereby, when the elongated body is disposed in a bone, and a suture extends through at least a portion of the lumen of the elongated body, and the locking element is thereafter moved proximally, proximal movement of the locking element causes the locking element to capture the suture to the elongated body, whereby to secure the suture to the bone; wherein the enlarged distal section of the elongated element is configured to pull through the locking element upon application of an appropriate force, whereby to separate the elongated element from the locking element after the locking element captures the suture to the elongated body. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for securing a suture to a bone, the method comprising:
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providing apparatus comprising; an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the lumen comprising a distal section and a proximal section, the distal section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the proximal section of the lumen; an elongated element extending through the lumen of the elongated body, the elongated element comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the elongated element comprises a stepped configuration having an enlarged distal section and a reduced proximal section; and a locking element connected to the distal end of the elongated element and disposed in the distal section of the lumen; extending the suture through at least a portion of the lumen of the elongated body; positioning the elongated body in the bone; moving the locking element proximally, such that proximal movement of the locking element causes the locking element to capture the suture to the elongated body, whereby to secure the suture to the bone; and applying an appropriate force to pull the enlarged distal section of the elongated element through the locking element, whereby to separate the elongated element from the locking element after the locking element captures the suture to the elongated body. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification