Method and apparatus for attaching connective tissues to bone using a suture anchoring device

• US 20030195564A1
• Filed: 05/07/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Opus Medical, Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Tran, Minh, Foerster, Seth A.
• Application Number:
  US10/431,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195564A1
• 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 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• 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 2017/042 plastically deformed during insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0438 slotted, i.e. having a longitudinal slot for enhancing their elasticity
• 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

Abstract

A bone anchor and methods for using same to secure connective tissue, such as tendons, to bone are disclosed which permit a suture attachment that lies entirely beneath the cortical bone surface. The bone anchor of the invention incorporates a deformable body that creates an increased anchor body diameter after it is inserted into the cancellous bone and deployed beneath the cortical surface of the bone. The increased body diameter, by virtue of its intrinsic geometry, creates both axial and rotational fixation of the bone anchor or suture fixation point.

Claims

1. Apparatus for attaching connective tissue to bone, comprising a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, which is adapted to be inserted into a bone, said shaft including a plurality of spaced slits disposed about said periphery and having an aperture disposed on said proximal end for receiving a suture, said proximal end having a diameter which is no larger than a diameter of said distal end.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said proximal end diameter is smaller than the distal end diameter.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said shaft comprises a peripheral wall bounding a lumen, said aperture being disposed in said peripheral wall.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of spaced slits are generally parallel to said longitudinal axis.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of spaced slits each lie at an acute angle relative to said longitudinal axis.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said acute angle is between 0 and 45 degrees.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of spaced slits comprises at least six slits.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said plurality of spaced slits is sufficient in number such that when an axial length of said shaft is shortened, thereby causing a plurality of ribs which are disposed between each of said plurality of slits to each expand radially to form respective petals, each of said petals overlap adjacent ones thereof.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, and further comprising a second aperture disposed on said peripheral wall in opposed alignment with said first aperture, to thereby create a suture conduit through the lumen of said shaft.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said shaft is cylindrical.

11. Apparatus for attaching connective tissue to bone, comprising a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, which is adapted to be inserted into a bone, said shaft including a plurality of spaced slits disposed about said periphery, said apparatus being of a unitary construction and including no structure which is disposed proximally of said shaft, the proximal end of said shaft having a diameter which is not substantially larger than a diameter of the distal end of said shaft, so that the entire apparatus may be disposed within a hole in the bone to which the connective tissue is to be attached.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, and further comprising an aperture disposed on said proximal shaft end for receiving a suture.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said proximal end diameter is smaller than the distal end diameter.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said shaft comprises a peripheral wall bounding a lumen, said aperture being disposed in said peripheral wall.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said plurality of spaced slits are generally parallel to said longitudinal axis.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said plurality of spaced slits each lie at an acute angle relative to said longitudinal axis.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said acute angle is between 0 and 45 degrees.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said plurality of spaced slits comprises at least six slits.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said plurality of spaced slits is sufficient in number such that when an axial length of said shaft is shortened, thereby causing a plurality of ribs which are disposed between each of said plurality of slits to each expand radially to form respective petals, each of said petals overlap adjacent ones thereof.

20. Apparatus for attaching connective tissue to bone, comprising a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, which is adapted to be inserted into a bone, said shaft including at least six spaced slits disposed about said periphery and at least six ribs, one of which is disposed between each pair of spaced slits, wherein when an axial length of said shaft is shortened, because of the application of a compressive force, center portions of each of said ribs expand radially outwardly, thereby each forming a petal, such that there are a plurality of petals equal in number to the number of ribs.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein said plurality of spaced slits each lie at an acute angle relative to said longitudinal axis.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said acute angle is between 0 and 45 degrees.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein, when said ribs are each in the radially expanded configuration, thereby forming said petal, the formed petals overlap one another to create a relatively strong structure for resisting axial pull-out forces.

24. Apparatus for attaching connective tissue to bone, consisting essentially of a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, which is adapted to be inserted into a bone, said shaft including a plurality of spaced slits disposed about said periphery, said shaft being of a unitary construction.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein the proximal end of said shaft has a diameter which is not substantially larger than a diameter of the distal end of said shaft, so that the entire apparatus may be disposed within a hole in the bone to which the connective tissue is to be attached.

26. A method of fabricating an apparatus for attaching connective tissue to bone, comprising:

making a flat pattern of a bone anchor using a bio-compatible material;

disposing a plurality of spaced slits across a width of said flat pattern; and

roll forming said flat pattern into a generally cylindrical body.

27. The method as recited in claim 26, and further comprising a step of forming a hole in said pattern at a proximal end thereof.

28. The method as recited in claim 26, and further comprising a step of forming two complementary notches in said pattern on opposing sides thereof and at a proximal end thereof, prior to completing said roll forming step.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, and further comprising a step of forming a hole in said pattern in widthwise alignment with each of said two complementary notches, prior to completing said roll forming step.

30. The method as recited in claim 29, wherein said roll forming step further comprises ensuring that said two complementary notches are joined together to form an aperture once said cylindrical body if formed, said aperture being in alignment with said hole to create a suture channel through a lumen of said cylindrical body.

31. The method as recited in claim 27, and further comprising a step of coining said proximal end of the cylindrical body to form a neck therein, on which is disposed said hole.

32. A method for securing connective tissue to bone, comprising:

creating a hole in said bone which extends distally beyond a cortical surface thereof and into a cancellous portion thereof;

inserting an apparatus comprising a shaft having a plurality of spaced slits disposed axially along a peripheral surface of the shaft into said hole, so that no portion of the apparatus is disposed above the hole;

radially expanding a plurality of ribs disposed between said spaced slits to thereby form an anchor structure which is adapted to prevent axial pull-out of said apparatus from said hole; and

securing a suture to said apparatus and to said connective tissue.

33. The method as recited in claim 32, wherein said radially expanding step is performed by applying a compressive force axially on said shaft, to shorten an axial length thereof.

34. The method as recited in claim 32, wherein said suture securing step is performed prior to said radially expanding step.

35. The method as recited in claim 32, wherein said suture securing step is performed after said radially expanding step.