Bone fixation system

• US 20010049529A1
• Filed: 03/22/2001
• Published: 12/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Triage Medical, Inc (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Culbert, Brad S., Hoffmann, Gerard von, Cachia, Victor V.
• Granted Patent: US 6,632,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/72
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/683 comprising bone transfixation elements, e.g. bolt with a distal cooperating element such as a nut
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7225 for bone compression
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7266 with fingers moving radially outwardly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7291 for small bones, e.g. in the foot, ankle, hand or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8685 comprising multiple separate parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0424 the separate member staying in the anchor after placement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0437 the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0438 slotted, i.e. having a longitudinal slot for enhancing their elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/907 Composed of particular material or coated

Abstract

Disclosed is a bone fixation device of the type useful for connecting soft tissue or tendon to bone or for connecting two or more bones or bone fragments together. The device comprises an elongate body having a distal anchor thereon. A proximal anchor is axially movably disposed with respect to the distal anchor, to accommodate different bone dimensions and permit appropriate tensioning of the fixation device. In one embodiment, the fixation device is optimized for construction from a biocompatible metal such as titanium, and the proximal anchor is removable to permit removal of the fixation device.

Claims

1. A fixation pin for fixing bone to bone or other tissue to bone, comprising:

A body, having a proximal end and a distal end; and

A distal anchor on the body;

Wherein the distal anchor comprises at least a first retention surface on a first axially extending lever arm and a second retention surface on a second axially extending lever arm.

2. A fixation pin as in

claim 1

, wherein the first and second retention surfaces are laterally moveable between a first, implantation crossing profile and a second, larger deployed crossing profile.

3. A fixation pin as in

claim 2

, wherein the first and second retention surfaces are biased in the direction of the second crossing profile.

4. A fixation pin as in

claim 1

, comprising at least three retention surfaces and at least three lever arms.

5. A fixation pin as in

claim 4

, wherein at least a portion of each of the retention surfaces faces in a proximal direction.

6. A fixation pin as in

claim 1

, integrally formed from a single piece of metal.

7. A fixation pin as in

claim 6

, wherein the metal comprises titanium.

8. A fixation pin as in

claim 1

, further comprising a retention structure on the body, for retaining a proximal anchor.

9. A fixation pin as in

claim 8

, wherein the retention structure comprises a deviation in the surface of the body.

10. A fixation pin as in

claim 9

, wherein the retention structure comprises a helical thread.

11. A fixation pin as in

claim 10

, further comprising a proximal anchor carried by the body.

12. A fixation pin as in

claim 8

, further comprising a breakpoint on the body.

13. A fixation pin as in

claim 1

, further comprising a rotational coupling on the body, for removably rotationally coupling the body to a tool.

14. A fixation pin as in

claim 2

, wherein the body includes a bore that extends longitudinally through the body from the proximal end to the distal end, the bore having a first portion at the proximal end and a second portion located adjacent the first portion, the second portion having a smaller diameter than the first portion.

15. A fixation pin as in

claim 14

, further including a guide wire that extends through the bore and includes a distal portion configured to fit within the first portion so as to keep said first and second retention surfaces from laterally moving from the second, larger deployed crossing profile.

16. A fixation pin for fixing bone to bone or other tissue to bone, comprising:

A tubular body, having a proximal end and a distal end;

At least two slots in the tubular body, extending proximally from the distal end to define at least a first and a second axially extending lever arms;

A proximally facing retention surface carried by each lever arm; and

A retention structure on the body, for removably carrying a proximal anchor;

Wherein the first and second retention surfaces are laterally movable between an implantation crossing profile and a deployed crossing profile.

17. A fixation pin as in

claim 16

, wherein the retention structure comprises a thread on the body, proximal to the lever arms.

18. A fixation pin as in

claim 17

, further comprising a proximal anchor carried by the body.

19. A fixation pin as in

claim 18

, wherein the proximal anchor comprises an aperture for receiving the tubular body and a collar for seating against a tissue surface.

20. A fixation pin as in

claim 19

, wherein rotation of the proximal anchor with respect to the tubular body moves the proximal anchor axially along the tubular body.

21. A fixation pin as in

claim 16

, wherein the tubular body includes a bore that extends longitudinally through the tubular body from the proximal end to the distal end, the bore having a first portion at the proximal end and a second portion located adjacent to the first portion, the second portion having a diameter that is smaller than the first portion.

22. A fixation pin as in

claim 21

, further including a guide wire that extends through the bore and includes a distal portion configured to fit within the first portion so as to keep said first and second retention surfaces from laterally moving from the deployed crossing profile.

23. A method of fixing a first material to bone, comprising the steps of:

Providing a pin having a distal anchor and at least one proximal break point;

Advancing the distal anchor through the first material and into the bone;

Advancing a proximal anchor distally along the pin to secure the first material to the bone; and

Applying lateral pressure on a proximal portion of the pin to break the pin at the break point.

24. A method of fixing a first material to bone as in

claim 23

, wherein the first material comprises bone.

25. A method of fixing a first material to bone as in

claim 23

, wherein the first material comprises soft tissue.

26. A method of fixing a first material to bone as in

claim 23

, wherein the advancing the distal anchor step comprises advancing the distal anchor all the way through the bone.

27. A method of fixing a first material to bone as in

claim 23

, wherein the advancing a proximal anchor step comprises rotating the proximal anchor with respect to the pin.

28. A method of fixing a first material to bone as in

claim 23

, further comprising the step of removing the proximal anchor by rotating the proximal anchor with respect to the pin.

29. A method of fixing a first material to bone as in

claim 23

, further comprising the steps advancing a distal end of a guide wire through the first material and into the bone and retracting the distal end of the guide wire into a distal portion of a bore that extends longitudinally through the pin.

30. A fixation pin for fixing a first material to bone, comprising:

An elongate tubular body, having a proximal end and a distal end;

A plurality of deflectable barbs carried by the distal end;

A thread on the tubular body, in between the proximal end and the distal end; and

A break point on the tubular body, proximal to at least a portion of the thread.

31. A fixation pin as in

claim 30

, further comprising a proximal anchor, removably retained on the tubular body by the thread.

32. A fixation pin as in

claim 30

, further comprising a rotational coupling on the pin, for coupling to a tool.

33. A fixation pin as in

claim 30

, wherein each of the barbs is attached to the tubular body by an axially extending lever arm.

34. A fixation pin as in

claim 30

, wherein the body includes a bore that extends longitudinally through the body from the proximal end to the distal end, the bore having a first portion at the proximal end and a second portion located adjacent the first portion, the second portion having a diameter smaller than the first portion.

35. A fixation pin as in

claim 30

, further including a guide wire that extends through the bore and includes a distal portion configured to fit within the first portion so as to keep said first and second retention surfaces from laterally moving from the second, larger deployed crossing profile.

36. A method of fixing a first material to bone, comprising the steps of:

providing a pin having at least one laterally moveable distal anchor;

advancing the distal anchor through the first material and into the bone while the distal anchor is permitted to move radially inwardly as needed;

advancing a proximal anchor distally along the pin to secure the first material to the bone; and

moving a wire axially to resist radial inward deflection of the distal anchor, thereby locking the distal anchor.

37. A method of fixing a first material to bone as in

claim 36

, wherein the first material comprises bone.

38. A method of fixing a first material to bone as in

claim 36

, wherein the first material comprises soft tissue.

39. A method of fixing a first material to bone as in

claim 36

, wherein the advancing the distal anchor step comprises advancing the distal anchor all the way through the bone.

40. A method of fixing a first material to bone as in

claim 36

, wherein the advancing a proximal anchor step comprises rotating the proximal anchor with respect to the pin.

41. A method of fixing a first material to bone as in

claim 36

, further comprising the step of removing the proximal anchor by rotating the proximal anchor with respect to the pin.

42. A method of fixing a first material to bone as in

claim 36

, wherein the moving a wire step comprises proximally retracting a wire having a locking structure thereon.

43. A method of fixing a first material to bone as in

claim 42

, wherein the distal anchor comprises at least three lever arms.