Method and apparatus for attaching tissue to bone

• US 10,292,694 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2014
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pivot Medical, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Graul, Jeremy, Page, Brett, Burley, J. Brook
• Primary Examiner(s): Houston, Elizabeth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rwego, Kankindi
• Application Number:
  US14/258,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20140316460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,855 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 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• 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 2017/0446 Means for attaching and blocking the suture in the suture anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06176 with protrusions, e.g. barbs

Abstract

Apparatus for securing a first object to a second object, said apparatus comprising:

• • an anchor body which is longitudinally and laterally deformable; and
  • a working suture which is connected to said anchor body;
  • said anchor body and said working suture being configured such that, when at least one of said anchor body and said working suture receives a repair suture which is connected to the first object, and said anchor body is thereafter disposed in a hole in the second object, applying tension to said working suture secures said anchor body to the second object and secures said repair suture to said anchor body without requiring that a knot be tied after said anchor body is disposed in the hole in the second object.

Claims

1. A method for securing a first object to a second object, said method comprising:

providing apparatus comprising;

an anchor body which is longitudinally and laterally deformable;

a repair suture for connecting to the first object; and

a working suture which is connected to said anchor body, wherein said working suture comprises a pre-formed knot;

passing the repair suture through the first object;

passing the repair suture through said pre-formed knot in said working suture;

disposing said anchor body in a hole in the second object; and

applying tension to said working suture so as to (i) longitudinally contract and laterally expand said anchor body so as to bind said anchor body to the second object, and (ii) tighten said knot in said working suture around said repair suture so as to lock said repair suture to said working suture and hence said anchor body, wherein the pre-formed knot is present prior to, during and after the two passing steps and the disposing and applying steps.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein tension is applied to the repair suture prior to binding the anchor body to the second object and locking the repair suture to said anchor body.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein tension is applied to the repair suture after binding the anchor body to the second object but prior to locking the repair suture to said anchor body.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said anchor body comprises at least one from the group consisting of a braided structure and a woven structure.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said working suture comprises a first strand and a second strand, wherein applying tension to the first strand of the working suture longitudinally contracts and laterally expands said anchor body so as to bind said anchor body to the second object, and further wherein applying tension to the second strand of the working suture tightens said knot in said working suture around said repair suture so as to lock said repair suture to said working suture and hence said anchor body.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said working suture comprises a first strand and a second strand, wherein tension is simultaneously applied to the first strand and to the second strand to (i) longitudinally contract and laterally expand said anchor body so as to bind said anchor body to the second object, and (ii) tighten said knot in said working suture around said repair suture so as to lock said repair suture to said working suture and hence said anchor body.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said working suture extends through at least one opening in said anchor body, wherein said knot comprises an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration, and wherein the repair suture is slidably received in said anchor body before tension is applied to said working suture.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said repair suture comprises an opening, wherein said repair suture comprises a segment which extends through said opening, wherein said repair suture passes through said anchor body, and further wherein at least one of said repair suture and said anchor body comprise means for permitting said repair suture to move relative to said anchor body in one direction while preventing said repair suture from moving relative to said anchor body in an opposite direction.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first object comprises soft tissue.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the soft tissue comprises labrum.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the second object comprises bone.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the bone comprises acetabulum.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein said working suture extends through at least one opening in said anchor body, wherein said knot comprises an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration, and wherein the repair suture is slidably received in said knot when said knot is in its unlocked configuration and the repair suture is locked within said knot when said knot is in its locked configuration.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said knot comprises a binding knot.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said anchor body is substantially straight prior to tensioning said working suture.

16. A method according to claim 14 wherein said anchor body is substantially J-shaped prior to tensioning said working suture.

17. A method according to claim 14 wherein said anchor body is substantially U-shaped prior to tensioning said working suture.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein said anchor body comprises a substantially tubular cross-section, and wherein said knot comprises a Weston knot.

19. A method according to claim 17 wherein said anchor body comprises a substantially tubular cross-section, and wherein said working suture further comprises an enlargement.