Soft tissue repair assembly and associated method
First Claim
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1. A method for repairing a tear in a meniscus, the method comprising:
- delivering a first anchor assembly through a tear in a meniscus to an area along the outer surface of the meniscus, wherein the first anchor assembly comprises a hollow deformable tube and a first flexible strand, the first flexible strand forming a closed loop of the first flexible strand that is arranged into a folded configuration that extends in a folded manner longitudinally through a longitudinal bore in the hollow deformable tube so as to provide a first folded end of the closed loop situated proximate a first opening into the longitudinal bore and a second folded end of the closed loop situated proximate a second opening into the longitudinal bore, wherein the first folded end of the closed loop includes a first portion of the closed loop in which the first flexible strand folds back on itself and the second folded end of the closed loop includes a second portion of the closed loop in which the first flexible strand folds back on itself, wherein said area is located on a first side of the tear, and wherein a second flexible strand that is coupled to the first flexible strand extends back through the tear with at least a first end of the second flexible strand positioned on a second side of the tear, the second flexible strand being formed separately from the first flexible strand, wherein the second flexible strand being coupled to the first flexible strand includes the second flexible strand extending through the closed loop of the first flexible strand a first time at the first folded end of the closed loop and a second time at the second folded end of the closed loop;
implanting a first vascularization conduit in the meniscus so that the first vascularization conduit extends across the tear in the meniscus; and
pulling on at least the first end of the second flexible strand while the hollow deformable tube is positioned along the outer surface of the meniscus and while the second flexible strand is extending back through the tear and through the first vascularization conduit, wherein said pulling is effective to deform the hollow deformable tube from a first shape to a second shape that is different than the first shape and to reduce the tear in the meniscus.
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Abstract
A soft tissue repair assembly. The assembly includes a flexible member having first and second ends, and a strand passing through the flexible member. The strand has first and second strand ends extending through the flexible member, such that pulling at least one of the first and second strand ends changes the flexible member from a first shape suitable for insertion through soft tissue to a second shape suitable for securely lodging the soft tissue repair assembly relative to soft tissue.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for repairing a tear in a meniscus, the method comprising:
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delivering a first anchor assembly through a tear in a meniscus to an area along the outer surface of the meniscus, wherein the first anchor assembly comprises a hollow deformable tube and a first flexible strand, the first flexible strand forming a closed loop of the first flexible strand that is arranged into a folded configuration that extends in a folded manner longitudinally through a longitudinal bore in the hollow deformable tube so as to provide a first folded end of the closed loop situated proximate a first opening into the longitudinal bore and a second folded end of the closed loop situated proximate a second opening into the longitudinal bore, wherein the first folded end of the closed loop includes a first portion of the closed loop in which the first flexible strand folds back on itself and the second folded end of the closed loop includes a second portion of the closed loop in which the first flexible strand folds back on itself, wherein said area is located on a first side of the tear, and wherein a second flexible strand that is coupled to the first flexible strand extends back through the tear with at least a first end of the second flexible strand positioned on a second side of the tear, the second flexible strand being formed separately from the first flexible strand, wherein the second flexible strand being coupled to the first flexible strand includes the second flexible strand extending through the closed loop of the first flexible strand a first time at the first folded end of the closed loop and a second time at the second folded end of the closed loop; implanting a first vascularization conduit in the meniscus so that the first vascularization conduit extends across the tear in the meniscus; and pulling on at least the first end of the second flexible strand while the hollow deformable tube is positioned along the outer surface of the meniscus and while the second flexible strand is extending back through the tear and through the first vascularization conduit, wherein said pulling is effective to deform the hollow deformable tube from a first shape to a second shape that is different than the first shape and to reduce the tear in the meniscus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for repairing a tear in a meniscus, the method comprising:
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delivering a first anchor assembly to an area along an outer surface of a meniscus, wherein the first anchor assembly comprises a first hollow deformable tube and a first flexible strand, the first flexible strand forming a closed loop of the first flexible strand that is arranged into a folded configuration that extends in a folded manner longitudinally through a longitudinal bore in the first hollow deformable tube, wherein said area is located on a first side of a tear in the meniscus, and wherein a second flexible strand that is coupled to the closed loop of the first flexible strand extends back through the tear with at least a first end of the second flexible strand positioned on a second side of the tear, the second flexible strand being formed separately from the first flexible strand, wherein the second flexible strand being coupled to the closed loop of the first flexible strand includes the second flexible strand extending through the closed loop of the first flexible strand a first time proximate a first opening in the first hollow deformable tube and a second time proximate a second opening in the first hollow deformable tube; and pulling on at least the first end of the second flexible strand while the first hollow deformable tube is positioned along the outer surface of the meniscus and while the second flexible strand is extending back through the tear, wherein said pulling is effective to deform the first hollow deformable tube from a first shape to a second shape that is different than the first shape and to reduce the tear in the meniscus. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification