Suture locking device

• US 20020169478A1
• Filed: 07/01/2002
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Herbert E. Schwartz, John Margetts, Robert-Jan Enzerink, Thomas C. May
• Original Assignee: Herbert E. Schwartz, John Margetts, Robert-Jan Enzerink, Thomas C. May
• Inventors: Schwartz, Herbert E., Enzerink, Robert-Jan, May, Thomas C., Margetts, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,033,380 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 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0448 Additional elements on or within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0451 Cams or wedges holding the suture by friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks

Abstract

The invention disclosed is a device for locking a suture in place without the need for tying knots once the suture is placed within tissue. The device comprises an anchor having a cannula and a locking mechanism for securing the suture within the cannula.

Claims

1. A device for locking a suture in place, comprising:

an anchor having a cannula through which the suture extends; and

a locking mechanism for locking the suture within the cannula, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a wedge shaped to fit snugly within the cannula to secure the suture therein.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the cannula of the anchor defines an inside wall, the wedge comprises an outside surface, a first part, a second part, and a third part, the first and third parts being cannulated, whereby threading the suture through the cannulations of the first and third parts causes the suture to extend along the outside surface adjacent to the second part, and insertion of the threaded wedge into the cannula of the anchor secures the suture between the inside wall and the outside surface adjacent to the second part.

3. A device for locking a suture in place, comprising:

an anchor having a front section and a rear section, a cannula extending through the front and rear sections for extending the suture therethrough, and a locking ring for locking the suture within the cannula in the rear section of the anchor.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the rear section comprises a split gap dividing a portion of the cannula, the split gap configured such that activation of the locking ring closes the split gap and secures the suture within the cannula.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein teeth are provided in the rear section within the cannula, the teeth placed to grip the suture upon activation of the locking ring.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the locking ring is a pull locking ring.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the pull locking ring is provided with a groove for seating on a tip provided on the rear section of the anchor upon activation of the locking ring.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the anchor further comprises a middle section between the front section and the rear section, the middle section having a recess, and the locking ring resides in the recess prior to activation.

9. The device of claim 4, wherein the locking ring is a push locking ring.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the rear section of the anchor further comprises a lip positioned to contact an edge of the push locking ring subsequent to activation of the push locking ring thereby restraining the push locking ring.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the push locking ring has a rear surface and the edge is recessed from the rear surface.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the push locking ring is connected to the anchor by a frangible portion that is broken upon activation of the push locking ring.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the rear section comprises a split gap dividing a portion of the cannula and defining a first divided portion and a second divided portion of the rear section, and activation of the snap groove closes the split gap, thereby securing the suture within the cannula.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the snap groove comprises a tooth provided on the first divided portion of the rear section and a groove on the second divided portion of the rear section.

13. A device for locking a suture in place, comprising:

an anchor having a front section and a rear section, a cannula extending through the front and rear sections for extending the suture therethrough, and a locking mechanism for locking the suture within the cannula, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a snap groove.