Method of using ultrasonic vibration to secure body tissue

• US 20030225438A1
• Filed: 06/10/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Original Assignee: MarcTec LLC
• Inventors: Cremens, Matthew J., Bonutti, Peter M., Ruholl, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,429,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/232
• 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 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0619 thermoplastic, e.g. for bonding, welding, fusing or cutting the suture by melting it
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4815 Hot melt adhesives, e.g. thermoplastic adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/5071 and being composed by one single element
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/5085 and comprising grooves, e.g. being E-shaped, H-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/526 Joining bars
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5261 for forming coaxial connections, i.e. the bars to be joined forming a zero angle relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/69 General aspects of joining filaments bundling articles B65B13/00; interconnecting successive lengths of material B65H69/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7379 degradable
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73791 biodegradable
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81423 being concave
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83221 : cooperating reciprocating tools, each tool reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83241 : cooperating pivoting tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/861 : Hand-held tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8614 : Tongs, pincers or scissors
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/951 : by measuring or controlling the vibration frequency and/or the vibration amplitude of vibrating joining tools, e.g. of ultrasonic welding tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9513 : characterised by specific vibration frequency values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9517 : characterised by specific vibration amplitude values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2059/00 : Use of polyacetals , e.g. POM, i.e. polyoxymethylene or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/003 : PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/006 : PBT, i.e. polybutylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/043 : PGA, i.e. polyglycolic acid or polyglycolide
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2077/00 : Use of PA, i.e. polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides or derivatives thereof, as moulding material

Abstract

A suture and a suture retainer are positioned relative to body tissue. Ultrasonic vibratory energy is utilized to heat the suture retainer and effect a bonding of portions of the suture retainer to each other and/or to the suture. Portions of the body tissue may be pressed into linear apposition with each other and held in place by cooperation between the suture and the suture retainer. The suture retainer may include one or more portions between which the suture extends. The suture retainer may include sections which have surface areas which are bonded together. If desired, the suture may be wrapped around one of the sections of the suture retainer. The suture retainer may be formed with a recess in which the suture is received. If desired, the suture retainer may be omitted and the sections of the suture bonded to each other.

Claims

1. A method of securing a suture relative to body tissue comprising:

positioning a suture through first and second layers of body tissue;

tensioning the suture;

positioning a suture retainer in operable relation to the suture;

transmitting a force from the suture retainer to the body tissue, such that the first and second layers of body tissue are in proximal relationship; and

applying ultrasonic energy to the suture retainer to thereby bond the suture to the suture retainer

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the suture retainer includes first and second suture portions.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein positioning the suture retainer in operable relation to the suture comprises:

positioning the suture between the first and second portions of the suture retainer; and

compressing the first and second portions of the suture retainer together.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the first portion of the suture retainer includes a first groove configured for receiving the suture, such that the suture is disposed in the first groove when the first and second portions of the suture retainer are compressed.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the second portion of the suture retainer includes a second groove configured for receiving the suture, the second groove is positioned opposite the first groove, such that the suture is disposed in the first and second grooves when the first and second portions of the suture retainer are compressed.

8. The method according to claim 3 further comprising wrapping the suture around a center portion of the suture retainer.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the suture includes first and second suture sections, such that the first and second suture sections are wrapped about the center portion of the suture retainer.

10. The method according to claim 3 wherein the suture retainer includes a center portion interposed between the first and second portions and the center portion of the suture retainer is cylindrical in shape and includes a groove about the circumference of the cylindrical shape configured for receiving the suture.

11. The method according to claim 3 wherein the suture retainer includes a center portion interposed between the first and second portions and the first portion of the suture retainer includes a first groove and the center portion of the suture retainer includes a second groove opposite the first groove, such that the suture is disposed in the first and second grooves when the first and second portions of the suture retainer are compressed.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein:

the suture includes first and second suture sections; and

the second portion of the suture retainer includes a third groove and the center portion of the suture retainer includes a fourth groove opposite the third groove, such that the first section of the suture is disposed in the first and second grooves and the second section of the suture is disposed in the third and fourth grooves when the first and second portions of the suture retainer are compressed.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein the suture retainer includes a base section and at least one arm section defining at least one recess configured for receiving the suture.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein positioning the suture retainer in operable relation to the suture comprises:

positioning the suture in the at least one recess; and

compressing the at least one arm and base sections together.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the suture retainer includes a first arm section defining a first recess and a second arm section defining a second recess, with the first and second recesses on opposite sides of the base section.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising positioning a first suture section within the first recess and a second suture section within the second recess.

6. The method according to 4 wherein:

the suture includes first and second suture sections; and

the first portion of the suture retainer includes a second groove configured for receiving the suture, such that the first section of the suture is disposed in the first groove and the second section of the suture is disposed in the second groove when the first and second portions of the suture retainer are compressed.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the second portion of the suture retainer includes a third groove positioned opposite the first groove and a fourth groove positioned opposite the second groove, such that the first section of the suture is disposed in the first and third grooves and the second section of the suture is disposed in the second and fourth grooves when the first and second portions of the suture retainer are compressed.

17. A method of securing a suture relative to body tissue comprising:

providing a suture retainer including first and second portions;

positioning a suture through first and second layers of body tissue;

tensioning the suture;

positioning the suture between the first and second portions of the suture retainer;

transmitting a force from the suture retainer to the body tissue, such that the first and second layers of body tissue are in proximal relationship;

compressing the first and second portions of the suture retainer together; and

applying ultrasonic energy to the suture retainer to thereby bond the suture to the suture retainer.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the first portion of the suture retainer includes a first groove configured for receiving the suture, such that the suture is disposed in the first groove when the first and second portions of the suture retainer are compressed.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the second portion of the suture retainer includes a second groove configured for receiving the suture, the second groove is positioned opposite the first groove, such that the suture is disposed in the first and second grooves when the first and second portions of the suture retainer are compressed.

22. The method according to claim 17 further comprising wrapping the suture around a center portion of the suture retainer.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the suture includes first and second suture sections, such that the first and second suture sections are wrapped about the center portion of the suture retainer.

24. The method according to claim 17 wherein a center portion of the suture retainer is cylindrical in shape and include a groove about the circumference of the cylindrical shape configured for receiving the suture.

25. The method according to claim 17 wherein the first portion of the suture retainer includes a first groove and a center portion of the suture retainer includes a second groove opposite the first groove, such that the suture is disposed in the first and second grooves when the first and second portions of the suture retainer are compressed.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein:

the suture includes first and second suture sections; and

the second portion of the suture retainer includes a third groove and the center portion of the suture retainer includes a fourth groove opposite the third groove, such that the first section of the suture is disposed in the first and second grooves and the second section of the suture is disposed in the third and fourth grooves when the first and second portions of the suture retainer are compressed.

20. The method according to 18 wherein:

the suture includes first and second suture sections; and

the first portion of the suture retainer includes a second groove configured for receiving the suture, such that the first section of the suture is disposed in the first groove and the second section of the suture is disposed in the second groove when the first and second portions of the suture retainer are compressed.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the second portion of the suture retainer includes a third groove positioned opposite the first groove and a fourth groove positioned opposite the second groove, such that the first section of the suture is disposed in the first and third grooves and the second section of the suture is disposed in the second and fourth grooves when the first and second portions of the suture retainer are compressed.

27. A method of securing a suture relative to body tissue, comprising;

providing a suture retainer including a base section and at least one arm section defining at least one recess configured for receiving the suture;

positioning a suture through first and second layers of body tissue;

tensioning the suture;

positioning the suture in the at least one recess;

transmitting a force from the suture retainer to the body tissue, such that the first and second layers of body tissue are in proximal relationship;

compressing the at least one arm and base sections together; and

applying ultrasonic energy to the suture retainer to thereby bond the suture to the suture retainer.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein the suture retainer includes a first arm section defining a first recess and a second arm section defining a second recess, wherein the first and second recesses are on opposite sides of the base section.

29. The method according to claim 28 further comprising position in a first suture section within the first recess and a second suture section within the second recess.