Knotless tissue anchor

• US 20030109900A1
• Filed: 09/13/2001
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Martinek, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 7,037,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/219
• 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 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• 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 17/062 Needle manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00858 high friction, non-slip on handles A61B2017/00429
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 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 2017/0424 the separate member staying in the anchor after placement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0438 slotted, i.e. having a longitudinal slot for enhancing their elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• 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 2002/0835 with deformation of anchor parts, e.g. expansion of dowel by set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0858 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0882 : Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone
• 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: Y10S 606/908 : Bioabsorbable material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/916 : Tool for installing or removing orthopedic fastener

Abstract

There is disclosed a radially expandable knotless tissue anchor including an expandable outer member defining a bore and an inner member slidably positioned within the bore. Relative longitudinal movement of the inner member relative to the expandable member causes a portion of the expandable member to expand radially outwardly. The tissue anchor further includes a length of suture material having a first end affixed to a distal end of the inner member and a second end preferably affixed to a suturing needle. A transverse bore is provided adjacent the distal end of the inner member. There is also disclosed a method of knotlessly anchoring a section of tissue to a section of bone having a bore drilled therethrough. The method includes passing the suture through the tissue and positioning the expandable member and a section of tissue within the interior of the bore drilled in bone. Expansion of the expandable member secures the suture between the expandable member and the bone to thereby secure the attached tissue to bone. There is also disclosed a method of knotlessly securing a section of ligament within an elongated bore drilled in bone. The method includes passing the length of suture through the ligament and drawing the ligament adjacent the distal end of the inner member and wrapping or lashing the ligament to the distally inner member. Distal movement of the expandable member relative to the inner member causes expansion of the expandable member to secure both the suture and the section of ligament between the expandable member and the bone. Additionally, a distal movement of the expandable member forces the lashed sections of suture off the inner member.

Claims

1. A knotless tissue anchor comprising:

an expandable member defining a bore therethrough and including a radially expandable portion;

an inner member slidably disposed within the bore of the expandable member such that the expandable portion expands radially outwardly in response to longitudinal motion of the expandable member relative to the inner member; and

a length of suture having a first end and a second end, the first end of the suture being affixed to the distal end of the inner member.

2. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 1, wherein the expandable portion includes at least two flexible legs.

3. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 2 wherein the inner member has a camming surface configured to engage the at least two flexible legs to force ends of said legs radially outward in response to relative longitudinal motion between the expandable member and the inner member.

4. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 3, wherein the camming surface engages the at least two legs in response to distal movement of the expandable member relative to the inner member.

5. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 1, wherein a distal portion of the inner member defines a transverse bone therethrough for receipt of the length of suture.

6. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 1, further comprising a needle affixed to the second end of the suture.

7. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 6, wherein the needle is a double pointed incision member and the second end of the suture is affixed to the needle intermediate the points.

8. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least two flexible legs define at least two slots therebetween, the inner member having at least two fins, each one of the at least two fins configured to be slidably received within a corresponding slot of the at least two slots.

9. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner member has circumferential ridges, the ridges engageable with the expandable member to prevent distal motion of the inner member relative to the expandable member after the expandable portion has been radially expanded.

10. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least two expandable legs have ridges on outer surfaces thereof to frictionally engage surrounding bone.

11. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 1, wherein the expandable member has an enlarged head at a proximal end thereof.

12. A method of knotlessly suturing a section of tissue to bone comprising:

providing a tissue fastener having an expandable outer member, an inner member movably mounted within the outer member, the outer member being radially expandable in response to relative longitudinal movement between the expandable member and the inner member and a length of suture having a first end affixed to the inner member and a second free end;

passing the free end of the suture through tissue to be fastened;

inserting the tissue fastener in a bore formed in bone;

positioning a portion of the suture located between the tissue and the second free end between the expandable member and the bore in the bone; and

expanding the expandable member into engagement with the bone such that the portion of the suture is secured between the expandable member and the bone.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the inner member includes a transverse bore in a distal end thereof and the step of positioning includes passing the free end of the suture through the transverse bore.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising applying tension to the second free end of the suture to draw the tissue adjacent the tissue fastener.

15. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the second free end of the suture has a needle affixed thereto and the step of passing includes piercing the tissue with the needle.

16. A method of securing a ligament within a bore formed in bone comprising:

providing a tissue fastener having an expandable member and a length of suture;

securing an end of the ligament to the tissue fastener with the length of suture;

placing the tissue fastener and ligament in the bore formed in bone such that a portion of the ligament extends parallel to the tissue fastener; and

expanding the expandable member to secure the ligament between the expandable member and the bone.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the step of securing includes passing the suture through the ligament.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein the step of securing further includes lashing the ligament to an inner member of the tissue fastener.

19. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein distal movement of the expandable member relative to the inner member expands the expandable member and forces the lashed section of the ligament off the inner member.

20. A mounting member for use with a surgical implantation apparatus comprising:

a shaft having structure for releasably engaging corresponding structure on an implantation apparatus, the shaft having at least one longitudinal access chamber for receipt of driving structure associated with the implantation apparatus.

21. The mounting member as recited in claim 20, further comprising an expandable tissue anchor wherein the shaft has mounting structure at a distal end thereof for releasably engaging the expandable tissue anchor such that the combined mounting member and tissue anchor form a disposable loading unit.