Suture anchor and associated method of implantation

• US 20020004669A1
• Filed: 08/29/2001
• Published: 01/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edwin C. Bartlett
• Original Assignee: Edwin C. Bartlett
• Inventors: Bartlett, Edwin C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,689,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/232
• 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 17/0487 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 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot

Abstract

A suture anchor is provided comprising a generally quadrilaterally shaped body having a bore-abutting surface with a leading gripping edge at one end of the bore-abutting surface, a trailing gripping edge at the other end, and a closing surface having an arcuate portion and a linear portion engaging the leading and trailing gripping edges, respectively, generally opposite the bore-abutting surface. The body further defines a suture bore extending transversely therethrough and an inserter bore adapted to receive an insertion tool. A suture engages the suture anchor through the bore and is adapted to engage bodily tissue to be secured to the bone. Also provided are a knotless suture anchor configuration, an associated insertion tool, and a suture anchor kit, as well as a method of implanting a suture anchor in a bore in a bone.

Claims

1. An implantable suture anchor for wedging within a bore formed in a bone to secure a suture to the bone, said suture anchor comprising:

a body having a generally quadrilaterally shaped lateral cross-section, said body comprising;

a bore-abutting surface having opposed ends;

a leading gripping edge at one end of the bore-abutting surface the leading gripping edge comprising the intersection of a leading surface with the bore-abutting surface at an acute angle;

a trailing gripping edge at the end of the bore-abutting surface opposite the leading gripping edge the trailing gripping edge comprising the intersection of a trailing surface with the bore-abutting surface at an acute angle; and

a closing surface having an arcuate portion and a substantially linear portion, the arcuate portion engaging the leading surface and the substantially linear portion engaging the trailing surface so as to generally form a quadrilateral, the closing surface being disposed generally opposite the bore-abutting surface for facilitating the rotation of the body about the leading gripping edge within the bore;

said body further defining;

a suture bore extending transversely therethrough adjacent the trailing gripping edge; and

an inserter bore adapted to receive an insertion tool and disposed between the leading gripping edge and the suture bore.

2. A suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein the inserter bore extends through the leading surface such that it is angularly disposed with respect to the bore-abutting surface.

3. A suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein the body is comprised of a biocompatible material.

4. A suture anchor according to claim 3 wherein the body is comprised of a bioabsorbable material.

5. A suture anchor according to claim 4 wherein the body is comprised of at least one of polylactic acid, polydioxanone, and polyglycolic acid.

6. A suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein the body is comprised of polylactic acid.

7. A suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein the inserter bore is uniformly shaped along its length.

8. A suture anchor according to claim 7 wherein the inserter bore is non-circular.

9. A suture anchor according to claim 8 wherein the inserter bore is generally square.

10. An insertion device for implanting a suture anchor within a bore in a bone, said device comprising:

a rigid shaft having opposed ends; and

a tip on one end of said shaft, said tip comprised of a shape memory material and having a proximal end operably engaged with the shaft and a distal end adapted to be engaged with an inserter bore defined by a suture anchor, the distal end of the tip having a noncircular cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the inserter bore to minimize rotation of the suture anchor about the axis of the tip when the distal end of the tip is engaged with the inserter bore.

11. An insertion device according to claim 10 wherein the tip is comprised of a nickel-titanium alloy.

12. An insertion device according to claim 10 wherein the tip is uniformly shaped along its length.

13. An insertion device according to claim 10 wherein the tip is generally square.

14. A kit for anchoring a suture in a bore in a bone, said kit comprising:

at least one suture anchor comprising;

a body having a generally quadrilaterally shaped lateral cross-section, said body further having a bore-abutting surface having opposed ends and at least one gripping edge;

said body further defining;

a suture bore extending transversely therethrough; and

an inserter bore adapted to receive an insertion tool and disposed between the at least one gripping edge and the suture bore;

at least one suture operably engaged with the suture bore, the suture passing through the suture bore and adapted to engage bodily tissue to be secured to the bone; and

at least one insertion device for inserting the suture anchor in the bore in the bone, comprising;

a rigid shaft having opposed ends; and

a tip at one end of said shaft, the tip comprised of a shape memory material and having a proximal end operably engaged with the shaft and a free distal end capable of engagement with the inserter bore, the distal end of the tip having a noncircular cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the inserter bore to minimize rotation of the suture anchor about the axis of the tip when the distal end of the tip is engaged with the inserter bore.

15. A kit according to claim 14 further comprising a leading surface operably engaged with an end of the bore-abutting surface at an acute angle to form a leading gripping edge.

16. A kit according to claim 15 further comprising a trailing surface operably engaged with the end of the bore-abutting surface opposite the leading gripping edge, at an acute angle, to form a trailing gripping edge.

17. A kit according to claim 16 further comprising a closing surface having an arcuate portion and a substantially linear portion, the arcuate portion engaging the leading surface and the substantially linear portion engaging the trailing surface so as to generally form a quadrilateral, the closing surface being disposed generally opposite the bore-abutting surface for facilitating the rotation of the body about the leading gripping edge within the bore.

18. A kit according to claim 15 wherein the inserter bore extends through the leading surface such that it is angularly disposed with respect to the bore-abutting surface and located between the leading gripping edge and the suture bore.

19. A kit according to claim 14 further including at least one boring bit for forming a circular bore in the bone.

20. A kit according to claim 14 wherein the body is comprised of polylactic acid.

21. A kit according to claim 14 wherein the inserter bore is uniformly shaped along its length.

22. A kit according to claim 14 wherein the inserter bore is generally square.

23. A kit according to claim 14 wherein the tip is comprised of a nickel-titanium alloy.

24. A kit according to claim 14 wherein the tip is uniformly shaped along its length.

25. A kit according to claim 14 wherein the tip is generally square.

26. A method of implanting a suture anchor within a bore in a bone, said method comprising the steps of:

urging the suture anchor into engagement with the bore using an insertion tool angled with respect to the bore;

elastically deforming the insertion tool externally to the suture anchor to urge the suture anchor into the bore;

rotating the suture anchor within the bore;

removing the insertion tool from the suture anchor; and

rotating the suture anchor into a seated position within the bore.

27. A method according to claim 26 further including the step of boring a circular bore in a bone with a boring bit before the urging step.

28. A method according to claim 26 wherein the urging step further comprises urging the suture anchor into engagement with the bore such that a bore-abutting surface of the suture anchor is engaged with the wall of the bore.

29. A method according to claim 28 wherein the deforming step further comprises deforming the insertion tool externally to the suture anchor such that the bore-abutting surface of the suture anchor remains engaged with the wall of the bore as the suture anchor is inserted into the bore.

30. A method according to claim 29 wherein the step of rotating the suture anchor within the bore further comprises moving the insertion tool to the diametrically opposite side of the bore to thereby rotate the suture anchor about a leading gripping edge thereof.

31. A method according to claim 30 wherein the step of rotating the suture anchor into a seated position within the bore further comprises exerting a tensile force on a suture passing through a suture bore in the suture anchor to further rotate the suture anchor about the leading gripping edge and into a seated position within the bore.

32. An implantable knotless suture anchor for wedging within a bore formed in a bone to secure a suture to the bone, said suture anchor comprising:

a body having a generally quadrilaterally shaped lateral cross-section, said body comprising;

a bore-abutting surface having opposed ends;

a leading gripping edge at one end of the bore-abutting surface the leading gripping edge comprising the intersection of a leading surface with the bore-abutting surface at an acute angle;

a trailing gripping edge at the end of the bore-abutting surface opposite the leading gripping edge the trailing gripping edge comprising the intersection of a trailing surface with the bore-abutting surface at an acute angle; and

a closing surface having an arcuate portion and a substantially linear portion, the arcuate portion engaging the leading surface and the substantially linear portion engaging the trailing surface so as to generally form a quadrilateral, the closing surface being disposed generally opposite the bore-abutting surface for facilitating the rotation of the body about the leading gripping edge within the bore;

said body further defining;

a suture bore extending transversely therethrough adjacent the trailing gripping edge; and

an inserter bore adapted to receive an insertion tool and disposed between the leading gripping edge and the suture bore;

a notch in the bore-abutting surface; and

a suture operably engaged with the suture bore, the suture forming a loop and passing through the suture bore, the suture further adapted to engage bodily tissue to be secured to the bone and then to wrap about the body to engage the notch before the suture anchor is inserted into the bore in the bone.

33. A knotless suture anchor according to claim 32 wherein the inserter bore extends through the leading surface such that it is angularly disposed with respect to the bore-abutting surface.

34. A knotless suture anchor according to claim 32 wherein the body is comprised of polylactic acid.

35. A knotless suture anchor according to claim 32 wherein the inserter bore is uniformly shaped along its length.

36. A knotless suture anchor according to claim 35 wherein the inserter bore is non-circular.

37. A knotless suture anchor according to claim 36 wherein the inserter bore is generally square.