Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a bone

• US 10,098,629 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2016
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaiser, Ryan A., Denham, Gregory J., Stone, Kevin T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Son
• Application Number:
  US15/297,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20170035411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1631 Special drive shafts, e.g. flexible shafts A61B17/1642, A61B17/164 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1642 for producing a curved bore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00336 with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00858 high friction, non-slip on handles A61B2017/00429
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0406 Pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0432 the separate member staying in the anchor after placement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0477 with pre-tied sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06185 hollow or tubular hollow suture needles A61B2017/061
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 : Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0852 : Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0858 : Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0882 : Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0888 : Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel

Abstract

A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a member to pull the soft tissue implant into a femoral tunnel. The member includes a suture having first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with the longitudinal passage to form a pair of loops. Portions of the suture lay parallel to each other within the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securing soft tissue to bone, the apparatus comprising:

an elongate bone engaging member for placement in a longitudinal bore formed in a bone; and

an adjustable suture construct extending down into the elongate bone engaging member through an opening in a trailing end of the elongate bone engaging member to couple the adjustable suture construct to the elongate bone engaging member, the adjustable suture construct including a suture with a free end that extends through a longitudinal passage in the suture to form an adjustable loop,

wherein at least a portion of the adjustable loop protrudes from the opening in the trailing end of the elongate bone engaging member for looping around soft tissue for securing the soft tissue to the bone, wherein the free end can be pulled through the longitudinal passage to decrease a size of the adjustable loop.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the suture comprises a braided body.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the free end extends into the longitudinal passage through a first aperture in the braided body and out of the longitudinal passage through a second aperture in the braided body.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first aperture and the second aperture in the braided body are formed during a braiding process as loose portions between fibers.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the braided body is braided from 8 to 16 fibers.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the braided body includes Nylon fibers.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate bone engaging member comprises a threaded member.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the free end is a first free end, the longitudinal passage is a first longitudinal passage, and the adjustable loop is a first adjustable loop, the suture further including a second free end that extends through a second longitudinal passage in the suture to form a second adjustable loop.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first free end extends through the first longitudinal passage without extending through the second longitudinal passage, and wherein the second free end extends through the second longitudinal passage without extending through the first longitudinal passage.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first free end extends into the suture through a first aperture in the suture, longitudinally within the suture along the first longitudinal passage, and out of the suture through a fourth aperture in the suture to form the first adjustable loop, and wherein the second free end extends into the suture through a second aperture in the suture, longitudinally within the suture along the second longitudinal passage, and out of the suture through a third aperture in the suture to form the second adjustable loop, the first aperture, the second aperture, the third aperture, and the fourth aperture all being separate apertures in the suture.

11. An apparatus for securing soft tissue to bone, the apparatus comprising:

an elongate bone engaging member; and

an adjustable suture construct coupled to the elongate bone engaging member, the adjustable suture construct including a suture with a free end that extends through a longitudinal passage in the suture to form an adjustable loop,

wherein the elongate bone engaging member includes a leading end for leading the elongate bone engaging member into a longitudinal bore formed in a bone and a trailing end that provides an opening through which the adjustable suture construct extends, the adjustable suture construct extending down into the elongate bone engaging member through the opening, around an interior portion of the elongate bone engaging member, and back out of the elongate bone engaging member through the opening to position at least a portion of the adjustable loop outside the elongate bone engaging member for looping around soft tissue for securing the soft tissue to the bone, wherein the free end can be pulled through the longitudinal passage to decrease a size of the adjustable loop.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the suture comprises a braided body.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the free end extends into the longitudinal passage through a first aperture in the braided body and out of the longitudinal passage through a second aperture in the braided body.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first aperture and the second aperture in the braided body are formed during a braiding process as loose portions between fibers.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the braided body is braided from 8 to 16 fibers.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the braided body includes Nylon fibers.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the elongate bone engaging member comprises a threaded member.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the free end is a first free end, the longitudinal passage is a first longitudinal passage, and the adjustable loop is a first adjustable loop, the suture further including a second free end that extends through a second longitudinal passage in the suture to form a second adjustable loop.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first free end extends through the first longitudinal passage without extending through the second longitudinal passage, and wherein the second free end extends through the second longitudinal passage without extending through the first longitudinal passage.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first free end extends into the suture through a first aperture in the suture, longitudinally within the suture along the first longitudinal passage, and out of the suture through a fourth aperture in the suture to form the first adjustable loop, and wherein the second free end extends into the suture through a second aperture in the suture, longitudinally within the suture along the second longitudinal passage, and out of the suture through a third aperture in the suture to form the second adjustable loop, the first aperture, the second aperture, the third aperture, and the fourth aperture all being separate apertures in the suture.