Method and apparatus for securing tissue

• US 20040010287A1
• Filed: 07/07/2003
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bonutti Skeletal Innovations LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bonutti Skeletal Innovations LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M.
• Application Number:
  US10/614,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20040010287A1
• 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 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• 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 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0619 thermoplastic, e.g. for bonding, welding, fusing or cutting the suture by melting it
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0805 Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments

Abstract

An anchor has a pointed end portion may be utilized to form an opening in a bone in a patient'"'"'s body. The anchor is moved into the opening formed in the bone in the patient'"'"'s body with a suture connected to the anchor. The suture may then be utilized to retain body tissue in a desired position relative to the bone. The body tissue may be either hard or soft body tissue. If desired, the anchor may be utilized in conjunction with layers of soft body tissue. When a suture is used it may be secured by connecting a retainer with the suture. Alternatively, sections of the suture may be interconnected. It is believed that it may be preferred to secure the suture in place after at least a predetermined tension has been established in the suture and/or a predetermined force has been transmitted to the body tissue. The suture may be secured in place by exposing a retainer to ultrasonic vibratory energy or by applying the ultrasonic vibratory energy directly to sections of the suture.

Claims

1. A device for securing a suture relative to a body tissue in a patient'"'"'s body, comprising

a body portion defining a longitudinal central axis and including a first end and a second end, the second end including a pointed end portion;

and

a plurality of openings each defining a passage through the body portion orthogonal to the longitudinal central axis.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the body portion is substantially cylindrical.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pointed end portion is conical in shape.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pointed end portion is wedge-shaped.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pointed end portion is formed by the intersection of a plurality of surface.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of surfaces is flat.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of surfaces is concave.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of passages are substantially parallel.

9. A device for securing a suture relative to a body tissue in a patient'"'"'s body, comprising

a cylindrical body defining a longitudinal central axis and a pointed end portion having a central axis which is coincident with the longitudinal central axis of the cylindrical body,

a first opening defining a first passage through the cylindrical body in a direction transverse to the longitudinal central axis of the cylindrical body, and

a second opening defining a second passage through the cylindrical body in a direction transverse to the longitudinal central axis of the cylindrical body.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the first passage and the second passage are substantially parallel.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the pointed end portion forms an opening in the body tissue in the patient'"'"'s body when a force is applied against a trailing end of the cylindrical body in a direction extending along the longitudinal central axis of the cylindrical body.

12. The device according to claim 9, wherein the cylindrical body is made of bone.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the bone is allogenic bone.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the bone is autogenic bone.

15. The device according to claim 12, wherein the bone is xenogenic bone.

16. The device according to claim 12, wherein the bone is cortical bone.

17. The device according to claim 9, wherein the cylindrical body is formed of a single piece of freeze dried bone.

18. The device according to claim 9, wherein the cylindrical body is made of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, biodegradable material, and bioerodible material.

19. The device according to claim 9, wherein the body tissue is soft tissue.

20. The device according to claim 9, wherein the body tissue is bone.

21. A device for securing a suture relative to a body tissue in a patient'"'"'s body, comprising

a cylindrical body defining a longitudinal central axis and including a substantially conical end portion having a central axis which is coincident with the longitudinal central axis of the cylindrical body, wherein the cylindrical body is made of bone;

a first opening defining a first passage through the cylindrical body in a direction transverse to the longitudinal central axis of the cylindrical body; and

a second opening defining a second passage through the cylindrical body substantially parallel to the first opening,

wherein the conical end portion forms an opening in the body tissue in the patient'"'"'s body when a force is applied against a trailing end of the cylindrical body in a direction extending along the longitudinal central axis of the cylindrical body.