Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a bone
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A suture anchor assembly for anchoring suture to bone, the suture anchor assembly comprising:
- a suture having a first free end and a second free end; and
a deformable tube having a first tube end and a second tube end, the deformable tube slidably received on the suture with the first free end of the suture extending away from the first tube end and the second free end of the suture extending away from the second tube end, the deformable tube deformable from a first condition to a second condition, the first condition of the deformable tube permitting advancement of the deformable tube in a first direction through a tunnel formed in bone from a first end of the tunnel toward a second end of the tunnel, the second condition of the deformable tube forming an anchoring mass for contacting bone in the tunnel for inhibiting movement of the deformable tube back through the tunnel in a second direction opposite the first direction,wherein the deformable tube, when in the first condition, is folded along a middle section of the deformable tube so that when the deformable tube in the first condition is advanced through the tunnel in the first direction the middle section can lead the deformable tube through the tunnel with the first tube end and the second tube end trailing the middle section through the tunnel and with the first free end and the second free end of the suture remaining outside the tunnel for pulling by a surgeon for converting the deformable tube from the first condition to the second condition,wherein the deformable tube, when in the second condition, includes a plurality of first longitudinal tube sections alternating with a plurality of second longitudinal tube sections, each of the plurality of first longitudinal tube sections being occupied by the suture and permitting longitudinal sliding of the suture through the plurality of first longitudinal tube sections when the deformable tube is in the second condition, each of the plurality of second longitudinal tube sections being unoccupied by the suture and exhibiting a curved shape when the deformable tube is in the second condition.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for surgically repairing a tear in soft tissue is disclosed. A plurality of collapsible tubes are positioned about the suture. The collapsible tubes are pushed through soft tissue and orthopedic mesh on opposite sides of a tear in soft tissue. When tension is applied to the suture, the tubes are compressed to fix the suture to the soft tissue and draw the soft tissue portions together.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A suture anchor assembly for anchoring suture to bone, the suture anchor assembly comprising:
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a suture having a first free end and a second free end; and a deformable tube having a first tube end and a second tube end, the deformable tube slidably received on the suture with the first free end of the suture extending away from the first tube end and the second free end of the suture extending away from the second tube end, the deformable tube deformable from a first condition to a second condition, the first condition of the deformable tube permitting advancement of the deformable tube in a first direction through a tunnel formed in bone from a first end of the tunnel toward a second end of the tunnel, the second condition of the deformable tube forming an anchoring mass for contacting bone in the tunnel for inhibiting movement of the deformable tube back through the tunnel in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the deformable tube, when in the first condition, is folded along a middle section of the deformable tube so that when the deformable tube in the first condition is advanced through the tunnel in the first direction the middle section can lead the deformable tube through the tunnel with the first tube end and the second tube end trailing the middle section through the tunnel and with the first free end and the second free end of the suture remaining outside the tunnel for pulling by a surgeon for converting the deformable tube from the first condition to the second condition, wherein the deformable tube, when in the second condition, includes a plurality of first longitudinal tube sections alternating with a plurality of second longitudinal tube sections, each of the plurality of first longitudinal tube sections being occupied by the suture and permitting longitudinal sliding of the suture through the plurality of first longitudinal tube sections when the deformable tube is in the second condition, each of the plurality of second longitudinal tube sections being unoccupied by the suture and exhibiting a curved shape when the deformable tube is in the second condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A suture anchor assembly for anchoring suture to bone, the suture anchor assembly comprising:
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a suture having a first free end and a second free end; and a deformable tube having a first tube end and a second tube end, the deformable tube coupled to the suture with the first free end of the suture extending away from the first tube end and the second free end of the suture extending away from the second tube end, the deformable tube formed with a knit, woven, or braided material and being deformable from a first condition to a second condition, the first condition of the deformable tube permitting advancement of the deformable tube in a first direction through a tunnel formed in bone from a first end of the tunnel toward a second end of the tunnel, the second condition of the deformable tube forming an anchoring mass for contacting bone in the tunnel for inhibiting movement of the deformable tube back through the tunnel in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the deformable tube, when in the first condition, is folded along a middle section of the deformable tube so that when the deformable tube in the first condition is advanced through the tunnel in the first direction the middle section can lead the deformable tube through the tunnel with the first tube end and the second tube end trailing the middle section through the tunnel and with the first free end and the second free end of the suture remaining outside the tunnel for pulling by a surgeon for converting the deformable tube from the first condition to the second condition, wherein the deformable tube, when in the second condition, includes a plurality of first longitudinal tube sections alternating with a plurality of second longitudinal tube sections, each of the plurality of first longitudinal tube sections being occupied by the suture when the deformable tube is in the second condition, each of the plurality of second longitudinal tube sections being unoccupied by the suture and exhibiting a curved shape when the deformable tube is in the second condition, the suture being slidable co-axially within each of the plurality of first longitudinal tube sections when the deformable tube is in the second condition. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification