Suture anchor system and method of use

• US 20030023268A1
• Filed: 07/29/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Lizardi, Jose E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,887,259 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 17/06 Needles ; Sutures; Needle-suture combinations; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials puncturing needles A61B17/34; hypodermic needles A61M5/32 ; sewing needles D05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• 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: A61F 2/0805 Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0852 Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/087 Anchor integrated into tendons, e.g. bone blocks, integrated rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0888 Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable

Abstract

A suture anchor system includes a suture anchor, having a flexible suture eyelet attached thereto, which serves as a flexible interface for a suture strand. The suture anchor is preferably bioabsorbable, and it has a flared feature on one side of the second or proximal end thereof. The flared feature renders the suture anchor asymmetrical in a plane that includes the longitudinal axis of the anchor. A method for anchoring soft tissue is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for anchoring tissue to bone, comprising:

a suture anchor comprising

a longitudinal axis,

a first leading end and a second, trailing end, the second end having a flared portion that renders the suture anchor asymmetrical in a plane that includes the longitudinal axis,

a suture thread-engaging groove formed in the first end of the suture anchor,

two substantially flat, opposed sides extending between the first end and the second end, and

a hole formed between the opposed sides and extending transverse to the longitudinal axis, the hole having an inner diameter; and

a first loop of suture thread formed by securing two opposed ends of a length of suture with a suture closure, the suture closure having a diameter greater than the inner diameter of the hole, and the first loop being attached to the suture anchor by engagement of the suture loop closure within the hole and by engaging a portion of the first loop in the groove thereby forming a flexible suture eyelet having a portion that extends proximally of the second end of the suture anchor.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a strand of suture thread having first and second free ends and an intermediate portion that is interlocked with the flexible suture eyelet.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising at least one suture needle having a first, tissue penetrating end and a second, trailing end, wherein the suture needle is attached to one of the first and second free ends of the suture thread.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a threaded bore is formed in the suture anchor, extending therein from the second, trailing end.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the flared portion has a shape effective to penetrate into hard cortical bone.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the flared portion is a chamfered flare.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the flared portion includes a sharp edge.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the flared portion includes a knife edge with a flat proximal end.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the length of the first loop is in the range of about 15 to 28 mm.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein a length of the flexible suture eyelet extending beyond the second end of the suture anchor is less than or equal to the length of the suture anchor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the length of the flexible suture eyelet extending beyond the second end of the suture anchor is not more than 60 percent of the length of the suture anchor.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the hole is disposed substantially intermediate the first and second ends of the anchor.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the suture closure is a mechanical binding device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the suture closure is a knot.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the suture anchor further comprises a flared, bone engaging ridge disposed distally of the flared portion.

16. The system of claim 3, wherein a suture needle is secured to each of the first and second free ends of the suture thread.

17. A system for anchoring tissue to bone, comprising:

a suture anchor having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis; and

a first loop of suture thread formed by securing two opposed ends of a length of suture with a suture closure, the first loop being attached to the suture anchor by engagement of the suture loop with the suture anchor at two separate locations thereby forming a flexible suture eyelet having a portion that extends proximally of the proximal end of the suture anchor.

18. A method for anchoring tissue to bone in a patient'"'"'s body, comprising the steps of:

providing an anchor system, comprising a suture anchor having a longitudinal axis, a first, leading end and a second, trailing end, a hole extending transverse to the longitudinal axis through opposed sides of the suture anchor, a suture engaging groove formed in the first end, a flared portion associated with the second end, the flared portion rendering the suture anchor asymmetrical in a plane that includes the longitudinal axis, a flexible eyelet formed of a closed loop of suture engaged by the suture anchor with the hole and the suture engaging groove such that a portion of the flexible eyelet extends proximally beyond the second end of the suture anchor, a suture thread having first and second free ends and an intermediate portion that is interlocked with the flexible eyelet, and at least one suture needle having a first, tissue penetrating end and a second, trailing end, wherein the suture needle is attached to one free end of the suture thread;

forming a bore in the bone that is accessible through a portal in the patient'"'"'s body;

inserting the suture anchor at least partially within the bore such that the flexible suture eyelet is fully disposed within the bore and the first and second free ends of the suture thread extend out of the bore;

applying tension to the suture thread to set the suture anchor in the bore such that the suture anchor is fixedly attached to the bone; and

reattaching the tissue to a desired location and securing the suture thread to the tissue.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a suture needle is secured to each of the first and second free ends of the suture thread.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein a portion of the suture thread is disposed within the bore.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein securing the suture thread to the tissue involves tying a suture knot with the suture thread.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the suture knot is disposed outside of the bore.