Slide and kit for delivering implants

• US 20040267276A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Schwartz, Herbert E., Kemppainen, John W., Camino, Thomas S., Zannis, Anthony D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,563,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/99
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0805 Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments

Abstract

A slide instrument has a longitudinal slide portion and spaced walls defining longitudinal channels. The slide instrument may be sized so that it can be inserted through standard arthroscopic portals to position the distal end of the slide instrument at a damaged tissue site. The slide instrument may be used to deliver an implant to the damaged tissue site. The implant has edges that fit within the longitudinal channels so that the implant can be moved along the slide portion to the distal end of the slide to deliver the implant to the damaged tissue site. The shape of the slide instrument protects the implant from damage as the implant is delivered from outside the patient'"'"'s body to the damaged tissue site.

Claims

1. A slide for delivering an implant to a damaged tissue site in the body of a patient, the slide comprising:

a proximal end, a distal end and an elongate longitudinal slide portion between the proximal and distal ends; and

walls defining spaced longitudinal channels along the longitudinal slide portion;

wherein the channels are sized and shaped so that a portion of the implant can be received within each channel; and

the slide has a longitudinal profile including a curved portion at the distal end and a straight portion at the proximal end.

2. The slide of claim 1 wherein the slide has a maximum transverse dimension between the walls defining the longitudinal channels sized so that the distal end of the slide can be introduced arthroscopically to the damaged tissue site.

3. The slide of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal slide portion comprises a surface that is substantially flat in transverse cross-section.

4. The slide of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal slide portion comprises two surfaces meeting at an angle in transverse cross-section.

5. The slide of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal slide surface comprises a curved surface in transverse cross-section.

6. The slide of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal slide portion is smooth from the proximal end to the distal end of the device so that the implant can slide along the longitudinal slide portion without damage to the implant.

7. The slide of claim 2 wherein the maximum transverse dimension of the instrument is 20 mm.

8. The slide of claim 1 wherein the slide is open between the walls defining the spaced longitudinal channels.

9. The slide of claim 1 in combination with an elongate guide member for moving the implant along the longitudinal slide portion in the distal direction.

10. The slide of claim 9 wherein the elongate guide member and longitudinal channels are complementary so that parts of the elongate guide member are receivable in the longitiudinal channels, wherein the elongate guide member is slidable in the longitudinal channels in a proximal-distal direction and wherein the longitudinal channels constrain movement of the elongate guide member to sliding in the proximal-distal direction.

11. The slide and elongate guide member of claim 9 wherein the elongate guide member has a distal end including a textured surface for temporarily gripping the implant.

12. The slide and elongate guide member of claim 10 wherein the elongate guide member has a distal end, and wherein the distal end of the elongate guide member is wedge-shaped in longitudinal cross-section.

13. The slide and elongate guide member of claim 9 in combination with an implant comprising a sheet of biocompatible material.

14. The slide, elongate guide member and implant of claim 13 wherein the implant includes naturally occurring extracellular matrix material.

15. The slide of claim 1 in combination with an implant comprising a sheet of biocompatible material having edges received in the longitudinal channels.

16. The slide and implant of claim 15 wherein the implant includes naturally occurring extracellular matrix material.

17. The slide and implant of claim 13 wherein the implant includes a synthetic biocompatible material.

18. The slide and implant of claim 13 wherein the implant comprises an orthopaedic implant and the damaged tissue site comprises a damaged joint site.

19. The slide and implant of claim 18 wherein the damaged joint site comprises an intra-articular site.

20. A surgical kit for delivering an implant to a damaged tissue site in a patient'"'"'s body, the kit comprising:

an elongate guide member; and

a slide comprising a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal slide portion between the proximal and distal ends, the longitudinal slide portion having walls defining integral spaced longitudinal channels;

wherein the elongate guide member and longitudinal channels are complementary so that parts of the elongate guide member are receivable in the longitiudinal channels, wherein the elongate guide member is slidable in the longitudinal channels in a proximal-distal direction and wherein the longitudinal channels constrain movement of the elongate guide member to sliding in the proximal-distal direction.

21. The surgical kit of claim 20 wherein the slide has a maximum transverse dimension between the walls defining the longitudinal channels sized so that the distal end of the slide can be introduced arthroscopically to the damaged tissue site.

22. The surgical kit of claim 20 wherein the longitudinal slide portion comprises a surface that is substantially flat in transverse cross-section.

23. The surgical kit of claim 20 wherein the longitudinal slide portion comprises two surfaces meeting at an angle in transverse cross-section;

24. The surgical kit of claim 20 wherein the longitudinal slide portion comprises a surface that is curved in transverse cross-section.

25. The surgical kit of claim 20 wherein the elongate guide member has a distal end including a textured surface for temporarily gripping the implant.

26. The surgical kit of claim 20 wherein the elongate guide member has a distal end, and wherein the distal end of the elongate guide member is wedge-shaped in longitudinal cross-section.

27. The surgical kit of claim 20 further comprising an implant comprising a sheet of biocompatible material.

28. The surgical kit of claim 27 wherein the implant includes naturally occurring extracellular matrix material.

29. The surgical kit of claim 27 wherein the sheet of biocompatible material includes edges received in the longitudinal channels.

30. The surgical kit of claim 29 wherein the implant includes naturally occurring extracellular matrix material.

31. The surgical kit of claim 27 wherein the implant includes synthetic biocompatible material.

32. The surgical kit of claim 27 wherein the implant comprises an orthopaedic implant and the damaged tissue site comprises a damaged joint site.

33. The surgical kit of claim 32 wherein the damaged joint site comprises an intra-articular site.

34. A surgical kit for delivering an orthopaedic implant to a damaged tissue site in a patient'"'"'s body, the kit comprising:

an elongate guide member having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a slide for delivering an orthopaedic implant to the damaged tissue site, the slide comprising a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal slide portion between the proximal and distal ends;

wherein at least one of the elongate guide member and the slide has walls defining integral spaced longitudinal channels;

wherein the elongate guide member has a maximum transverse dimension so that the distal end of the elongate guide member can be introduced arthroscopically to the damaged tissue site;

wherein the slide has a maximum transverse dimension so that the distal end of the slide can be introduced arthroscopically to the damaged tissue site;

wherein the elongate guide member and slide have complementary structures to allow the elongate guide member and slide to be connected to each other while allowing relative movement between the elongate guide member and slide in the proximal-distal direction while the elongate guide member and slide are connected.

35. The surgical kit of claim 34 wherein the complementary structures comprise channel members and edges sized to fit within the channel members.

36. The surgical kit of claim 35 wherein the channel members are associated with the slide.