Tissue fastener

• US 20040087981A1
• Filed: 07/23/2003
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Lipchitz, Paul A. Torrie, Rod Berube, Steve Ek
• Original Assignee: John Lipchitz, Paul A. Torrie, Rod Berube, Steve Ek
• Inventors: Lipchitz, John, Berube, Rod, Torrie, Paul A., Ek, Steve
• Application Number:
  US10/624,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20040087981A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0646 for insertion into cartillege, e.g. meniscus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0841 Longitudinal channel for insertion tool running through the whole tendon anchor, e.g. for accommodating bone drill, guidewire
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0858 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0888 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 606/91 Polymer

Abstract

A tissue fastener comprises a shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within the tissue, the shaft having a region that is relatively flexible to render a tissue engaging head disposed at a proximal end of the shaft movable with respect to the shaft. In one embodiment, the region comprises substantially an entire length of the shaft and is made from flexible material, such as a mesh, onto which the member and the head are molded. In another embodiment, the shaft comprises generally rigid material, and the region comprises a flexible joint between the shaft and the head. The flexible joint comprises a breakable (e.g., frangible) section of the shaft, and a flexible member (e.g., a plurality of filaments or a flexible tube) extends between the shaft and the head past the breakable section.

Claims

1. A tissue fastener comprising

a shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within the tissue, and

a tissue engaging head disposed at a proximal end of the shaft,

a region of the shaft being relatively flexible to render the head movable with respect to the shaft.

2. The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the region comprises substantially an entire length of the shaft.

3. The tissue fastener of claim 2 wherein the region comprises flexible material.

4. The tissue fastener of claim 3 wherein the flexible material comprises a mesh.

5. The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the shaft comprises a mesh material, the member and the head being molded onto the mesh.

6. The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the member comprises at least one barb.

7. The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the shaft comprises generally rigid material and the region comprises a flexible joint between the shaft and the head.

8. The tissue fastener of claim 7 wherein the flexible joint comprises a frangible section of the shaft, and further comprising a flexible member extending between the shaft and the head past the frangible section.

9. The tissue fastener of claim 8 wherein the breakable section is defined by at least one opening disposed through a wall of the shaft.

10. The tissue fastener of claim 8 wherein the flexible member comprises a plurality of filaments.

11. The tissue fastener of claim 8 wherein the flexible member comprises a flexible tube.

12. The tissue fastener of claim 8 wherein the flexible member extends along substantially an entire length of the shaft.

13. The tissue fastener of claim 8 wherein the shaft and the head comprise an integral molded unit, the flexible member being molded therewithin.

14. The tissue fastener of claim 1 made from polymeric material.

15. The tissue fastener of claim 1 made from bioabsorbable material.

16. The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the shaft is hollow and defines an interior passage, the head including an opening in communication with the passage.

17. The tissue fastener of claim 16 wherein the passage is open at a distal end of the shaft.

18. The tissue fastener of claim 16 wherein the passage is closed at a distal end of the shaft.

19. The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the head has a flat distal surface.

20. The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the head has a toothed distal surface.

21. A tissue fastener comprising

a shaft,

a member disposed at a distal region of the shaft for lodging the shaft within the tissue, and

a tissue engaging head disposed at a proximal end of the shaft,

the shaft being relatively flexible between the member and the head to render the head movable with respect to the shaft.

22. The tissue fastener of claim 21 wherein the shaft comprises a mesh extending between the member and the head.

23. A tissue fastener comprising

a generally rigid shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within the tissue,

a tissue engaging head disposed at a proximal end of the shaft, and

a flexible joint between the shaft and the head to render the head movable with respect to the shaft.

24. The tissue fastener of claim 23 wherein the flexible joint comprises a breakable section of the shaft, and further comprising a flexible member extending between the shaft and the head past the breakable section.

25. The tissue fastener of claim 24 wherein the breakable section is frangible.

26. The tissue fastener of claim 23 wherein the flexible member comprises a plurality of filaments.

27. The tissue fastener of claim 23 wherein the flexible member comprises a flexible tube.

28. Apparatus comprising

a tissue fastener comprising a shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within the tissue, and a tissue engaging head disposed at a proximal end of the shaft, a region of the shaft being relatively flexible to render the head movable with respect to the shaft, and

an insertion tool engageable with the tissue fastener for inserting the tissue fastener into tissue.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein

the member is disposed at a distal region of the shaft for lodging the shaft within the tissue, the tissue engaging head is disposed at a proximal end of the shaft, and the shaft is relatively flexible between the member and the head,

the insertion tool comprising an engagement portion for engaging the member.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the head includes an aperture, the engagement portion of the tool being configured to extend through the aperture when engaged with the member.

31. A method for tissue attachment comprising

providing a tissue fastener comprising a shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within the tissue, and a tissue engaging head disposed at a proximal end of the shaft, a region of the shaft being relatively flexible to render the head movable with respect to the shaft, and

inserting the tissue fastener through a first tissue and into a second tissue so that the member lodges within the second tissue and the head urges the first tissue against the second tissue.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the first tissue and the second tissue are regions of a common tissue structure.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the tissue structure is cartilage and, prior to the inserting, the first region is separated from the second region by a tear in the cartilage.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the first tissue is soft tissue and the second tissue is bone.

35. A method for making a tissue fastener comprising

providing a shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within the tissue, and a tissue engaging head disposed at a proximal end of the shaft, and

making a region of the shaft relatively flexible to render the head movable with respect to the shaft.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising making the region comprise substantially an entire length of the shaft.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising making the region from flexible material.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the flexible material comprises a mesh.

39. The method of claim 35 wherein the shaft comprises a mesh material, and further comprising molding the member and the head onto the mesh.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein the shaft comprises generally rigid material, the making comprising forming a flexible joint between the shaft and the head in the region.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the forming comprises providing a breakable section of the shaft, and further comprising extending a flexible member between the shaft and the head past the breakable section.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising forming the breakable section to be frangible.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising defining the breakable section by at least one opening disposed through a wall of the shaft.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein the flexible member comprises a plurality of filaments.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein the flexible member comprises a flexible tube.

46. The method of claim 41 further comprising extending the flexible member along substantially an entire length of the shaft.

47. The method of claim 41 further comprising molding the shaft and-the head as an integral unit, and molding the flexible member therewithin.

48. The method of claim 35 further comprising making the tissue fastener from polymeric material.

49. The method of claim 35 further comprising making the tissue fastener from bioabsorbable material.

50. The method of claim 35 further comprising providing the shaft with an interior passage, and forming an opening in the head in communication with the passage.

51. The method of claim 50 further comprising opening the passage at a distal end of the shaft.

52. The method of claim 50 further comprising closing the passage at a distal end of the shaft.

53. The method of claim 35 further comprising providing the head with a flat distal surface.

54. The method of claim 35 further comprising providing the head with a toothed distal surface.