Tissue repair system

• US 20030088272A1
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ian A. Trail
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Smith, Graham
• Granted Patent: US 6,986,781 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 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• 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 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0437 the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0438 slotted, i.e. having a longitudinal slot for enhancing their elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0456 Surface features on the anchor, e.g. ribs increasing friction between the suture and the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures

Abstract

A bone anchor includes an anchor body configured to be retained within bone and to receive a flexible member such that the flexible member can be pulled in a first direction while, without the aid of an enlarged portion on the flexible member, subsequent movement in a second, opposite direction can be limited. The anchor body includes a restrictor configured to engage the flexible member to selectively restrict passage of the flexible member through an opening. A tissue repair system includes first and second bone anchors coupled by a flexible member. An anchor with attached flexible member is placed in bone, and the flexible member is moved through an opening in the anchor in a first direction. The anchor is configured to limit subsequent movement of the flexible member in at least a second opposite direction.

Claims

1. A bone anchor, comprising:

an anchor body configured to be retained within bone and to selectively restrict movement of a flexible member coupled thereto such that after implantation, the flexible member can be moved through the anchor body in a first direction while, without the aid of an enlarged portion on the flexible member, movement in a second, opposite direction can be restricted.

2. The bone anchor of claim 1 further comprising a restrictor configured to engage the flexible member to selectively restrict movement of the flexible member.

3. The bone anchor of claim 2 wherein the restrictor is configured to engage the flexible member at a substantially arbitrary position along a length of the flexible member.

4. The bone anchor of claim 1 wherein the anchor body defines an opening through which the flexible member can be moved.

5. The bone anchor of claim 4 further comprising a restrictor configured to engage the flexible member to selectively restrict passage of the flexible member through the opening.

6. The bone anchor of claim 5 wherein the restrictor defines at least a part of the opening.

7. The bone anchor of claim 6 wherein the restrictor defines a narrower portion of the opening than another portion of the opening.

8. The bone anchor of claim 5 wherein the restrictor includes a sloped surface configured to compress the flexible member to permit passage of the flexible member through the opening.

9. The bone anchor of claim 5 wherein the restrictor includes opposing edges for engaging the flexible member to restrict passage of the flexible member through the opening.

10. The bone anchor of claim 5 further comprises a second restrictor configured to engage the flexible member to selectively restrict passage of the flexible member through the opening.

11. The bone anchor of claim 10 wherein the restrictors are oppositely directed.

12. The bone anchor of claim 1 wherein the anchor body includes a pair of legs.

13. The bone anchor of claim 1 wherein the anchor body includes a bone-engaging ridge for retaining the bone anchor in a bone hole.

14. The bone anchor of claim 1 wherein said anchor body comprises a unitary body.

15. The bone anchor of claim 1 wherein said anchor body includes a post about which the flexible member is positionable.

16. A tissue repair system, comprising:

a first anchor body including a member that engages bone to retain the anchor within the bone, the first anchor body defining an opening for receiving suture and a restrictor forming a one-way passage through the opening,

a second anchor body including a member that engages bone to retain the anchor within the bone, the second anchor body defining an opening for receiving suture and a restrictor forming a one-way passage through the second anchor body opening, and

suture coupling the first and second anchor bodies, the suture extending through the one-way passages.

17. A bone anchor, comprising:

an anchor body configured to be retained within bone and to receive a flexible member such that after implantation of the anchor body within bone, the flexible member can be moved through the anchor body while, without the aid of an enlarged portion on the flexible member, subsequent movement of the anchor body can be restricted.

18. A tissue repair system, comprising:

a flexible member, and

first and second bone anchors coupled together by the flexible member, each bone anchor including an anchor body configured to be retained within bone, at least one of the bone anchors configured to receive the flexible member such that the flexible member can be pulled to shorten a length of the flexible member between the bone anchors, while, without the aid of an enlarged portion on the flexible member, subsequent lengthening of the flexible member between the bone anchors can be restricted.

19. A bone anchor comprising:

an anchor body configured to be retained within bone, the anchor body defining a one-way passage configured to pass a suture in a first direction and restrict passage of the suture in a second direction opposite the first direction.

20. The bone anchor of claim 19 further comprising a restrictor defining the one-way passage.

21. The bone anchor of claim 20 wherein the restrictor includes a sloped surface configured to compress the suture to permit passage of the suture through the one-way passage.

22. The bone anchor of claim 20 wherein the restrictor includes opposing edges for engaging the flexible member to restrict passage of the flexible member through the one-way passage.

23. A bone anchor comprising:

an anchor body configured to be retained within bone, the anchor body including a restrictor defining an opening having a first portion for permitting passage of a member therethrough, and a second portion restricting passage of the member therethrough without the aid of an enlarged portion on the member.

24. A method comprising:

placing an anchor in bone,

moving a flexible member through the anchor in a first direction, and

restricting movement of the flexible member through the anchor in a second, opposite direction.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising placing a second anchor in bone, the second anchor being coupled to the first anchor by the flexible member, wherein the step of moving the flexible member in the first direction shortens a length of the flexible member between the anchors.