SURGICAL FASTNER FOR TISSUE TREATMENT

• US 20020058966A1
• Filed: 07/02/1997
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Linvatec Biomaterials Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Linvatec Biomaterials Incorporated
• Inventors: POHJONEN, TIMO, TAMMINMAKI, MARKKU, TORMALA, PERTTI
• Granted Patent: US 6,692,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/213
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0646 for insertion into cartillege, e.g. meniscus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks

Abstract

The present invention relates to a surgical fastener or device (implant) formed in the shape of an arrow comprising a shaft with a proximal (first) portion having protrusions and a blunt end and a distal (second) portion having protrusions and a pointed end, the protrusions of the proximal and distal portions configured to lock the implant in a position inside a soft and/or tough tissue according to the use of the implant. The implant may be manufactured of a polymer or a polymeric compound which is substantially (bio)absorbable in tissue conditions and contains oriented reinforcing structure or the like of a polymer or polymeric compound or ceramic bioglass compound. The surgical implant of the invention is particularly but not solely intended to be used in repair surgery of traumas of soft and/or tough tissues containing fibrous structures, such as knee meniscal tissues.

Claims

1. A fastener for body tissue repair comprising:

a shaft comprised of a proximal portion, having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a distal portion, said distal portion having a sharpened tip and one or more first protrusions, wherein said first protusions have proximal surfaces configured to arrest the movement of the shaft in the proximal direction and distal surfaces configured to permit the movement of the shaft in the distal direction, said proximal portion having second protrusions on the upper surface and lower surface of the proximal portion, wherein said second protrusions have distal surfaces configured to arrest the movement of the shaft in the distal direction.

2. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein the angle formed between a tangent to the distal surfaces of the first protrusions and the shaft, in the proximal direction, is less than 45°

, the angle formed between a tangent to the proximal surface of the first protrusions and the shaft,in the proximal direction, is less than 90°

, and the angle formed between a tangent to the distal surfaces of the second protrusions and the shaft, in the proximal direction, is greater than 90°

.

3. A fastener according to claim 1, the shaft further comprising one or more longitudinal ridges along said proximal portion and said distal portion, wherein said first protrusions protrude from said one or more longitudinal ridges, and said second protrusions protrude from said one or more longitudinal ridges.

4. A fastener according to claim 3, wherein the one or more longitudinal ridges are positioned between the distal and proximal portions of the shaft.

5. A fastener according to claim 1 wherein the fastener comprises a bioactive material.

6. A method for the repair of a rupture in a meniscus, using the fastener of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

aligning a the fastener of claim 1 on the surface of the meniscus;

and pushing the fastener into the meniscus so that the fastener is embedded within the meniscus and bridges the rupture.