Soft tissue repair system

• US 20020169477A1
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omeros Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omeros Medical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Bachman, Alan B., Allen, William J., Thatcher, G. Lawrence, Demopulos, Gregory A., Adams, Leland Ray, Reed, Scott W., Karl, Frederick T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,006,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/215
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• 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

A medical fastener (18), preferably bioabsorbable, is used for repairing torn soft tissue, particularly meniscal tissue (16). The fastener (18) can have an enlarged head (22) at the proximate end to engage meniscal tissue (16) adjacent to a tear (14), and a pointed distal tip (21) at the other end to ease insertion of the fastener (18) into the meniscus (16). The shank (20) of the fastener (18) bridges across the tear (14). Opposite ends of the shank (20) are secured in the meniscal tissue (16) by a medical adhesive, preferably bioabsorbable, and preferably at locations remote from the tear (14) so as not to interfere with healing of the tear (14). The fastener (18) can have a blind bore (24) opening through the head (22) of the fastener (18) and extending through the shank (20) to a location close to the tip (21) and generally radial holes (26) communicating between the bore (24) and the exterior of the shank (20). The medical adhesive can be injected through the bore (24) for passage outward through the holes (26).

Claims

1. A medical fastener for a soft tissue tear comprising an elongated stent adapted to be inserted so as to bridge between opposite sides of a soft tissue tear and having a surface constructed for receiving a quantity of an adhesive at opposite sides of the tear for holding the soft tissue on each side of the tear together during healing of the tear.

2. The fastener of claim 1, in which the stent includes an elongated shank having an internal passage extending generally longitudinally through the shank and a plurality of holes communicating between the passage and an exterior of the shank, for receipt of a quantity of adhesive through the passage that flows through the holes to the exterior of the shank.

3. The fastener of claim 2, in which the shank has a central portion located to bridge across the tear and opposite end portions adjacent to the central portion, the holes being located in the opposite end portions for expelling adhesive at locations remote from the tear.

4. The fastener of claim 2, in which the shank has an exterior surface including depressions, the holes opening through the depressions.

5. The fastener of claim 2, in which the shank has an exterior surface including circumferential grooves, the holes opening into the grooves.

6. The fastener of claim 2, in which the elongated shank has an exterior surface including longitudinally extending grooves, the holes opening into the grooves.

7. The fastener of claim 2, in which the elongated shank includes an exterior surface having barbs projecting therefrom, at least some of the holes opening through at least some of the barbs.

8. The fastener of claim 1, in which the stent defines an exterior surface and a plurality of barbs extending from the exterior surface.

9. The fastener of claim 2, in which the stent includes an enlarged head at one end of the shank for engaging against soft tissue in proximity to one side of the tear, the internal passage opening through the head.

10. The fastener of claim 9, in which the head is located on a proximal end of the shank, the shank having a distal tip on the opposite end thereof, and the passage being a blind passage extending from the proximal end to a location close to the distal tip.

11. The fastener of claim 1, in which the adhesive and reinforcing member are bioabsorbable over a period of time sufficient for healing of the tear.

13. The fastener of claim 12, in which the shank defines an internal passage extending generally longitudinally through the shank and a plurality of holes communicating between the passage and an exterior surface of the shank, for receipt of a quantity of adhesive through the passage that flows through the holes to the exterior surface.

14. The fastener of claim 13, in which the holes are located within a proximal portion of the shank and within the distal portion of the shank for expelling adhesive at locations remote from the tear.

16. The repair of claim 15, in which the adhesive and reinforcing member are bioabsorbable over a period of time sufficient for healing of the tear.

17. The repair of claim 15, in which the shank has an internal passage extending generally longitudinally through the shank and a plurality of holes communicating between the passage and an exterior of the shank for receiving the adhesive within the passage for flow outward through the holes.

20. The method of claim 19, in which the stent includes an elongated shank having an internal passage extending generally longitudinally through the shank and a plurality of holes communicating between the passage and an exterior of the shank, and the adhesive is applied through the passage for flowing through the holes to the exterior of the shank.

21. The method of claim 20, in which the shank has a central portion located to bridge across the tear and opposite end portions adjacent to the central portion, the holes being located in the opposite end portions for expelling adhesive at locations remote from the tear.

22. The method of claim 20, in which the shank has an exterior surface including depressions, the holes opening through the depressions.

23. The method of claim 20, in which the elongated shank includes an exterior surface having barbs projecting therefrom, the holes opening through the barbs.

24. The method of claim 19, in which the stent defines an exterior surface and a plurality of barbs extending from the exterior surface.

25. The method of claim 20, in which the stent includes an enlarged head at one end of the shank for engaging against soft tissue in proximity to one side of the tear, the internal passage opening through the head.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the adhesive is applied after insertion of the stent.

27. The method of claim 19, in which the stent includes an enlarged head at one end of the shank for engaging against soft tissue in proximity to one side of the tear.

28. The method of claim 19, in which the adhesive and reinforcing member are bioabsorbable over a period of time sufficient for healing of the tear.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the tissue being repaired is a meniscus.

12. A medical fastener for a soft tissue tear comprising a stent having a proximal end defining an enlarged head and an elongated shank defining a distal tip, the shank defining a surface adapted to receive an adhesive at least on a distal portion of the shank, the stent being insertable such that the shank bridges between opposite sides of a soft tissue tear with the enlarged head engaging the soft tissue in proximity to one side of the tear, the stent and adhesive holding the soft tissue on each side of the tear together during healing of the tear.

15. A repair for a meniscus having a tear comprising an elongated internal reinforcing member having an enlarged head engaging an edge portion of a meniscus in proximity to one side of a tear and a shank bridging across the tear and extending into adjacent tissue at opposite sides of the tear, and a quantity of adhesive securing opposite end portions of the shank in the opposite sides of the meniscus in proximity to the tear.

18. A repair for a meniscus having a tear comprising an elongated internal reinforcing member having an enlarged head engaging a portion of a meniscus in proximity to a first side of a tear and a shank bridging across the tear and extending into adjacent tissue at an opposite second side of the tear, and a quantity of adhesive securing at least a distal end portion of the shank within the meniscus in proximity to the second side of the tear.

19. A method of repairing a tear in soft tissue, comprising:

inserting an elongated stent to bridge between opposite sides of a soft tissue tear; and

applying an adhesive on a surface of the stent at each of the opposite sides of the tear to hold the soft tissue on each side of the tear together during healing of the tear.

30. A method of repairing a tear in soft tissue, comprising:

inserting an elongated stent to bridge between opposite sides of a soft tissue tear, the stent having a proximal end defining an enlarged head and an elongated shank defining a distal tip, the shank defining a surface adapted to receive an adhesive at least on a distal portion of the shank, the stent being inserted such that the enlarged head engages the soft tissue in proximity to one side of the tear; and

applying an adhesive to at least the distal portion of the shank, the stent and adhesive holding the soft tissue on each side of the tear together during healing of the tear.

31. The fastener of claim 30, in which the shank defines an internal passage extending generally longitudinally through the shank and a plurality of holes communicating between the passage and an exterior surface of the shank, and the adhesive is applied through the passage for flowing through the holes to the exterior surface.

32. The fastener of claim 31, in which the holes are located within a proximal portion of the shank and within the distal portion of the shank for expelling applied adhesive at locations remote from the tear.