Expandable fastener with compressive grips

• US 20050055027A1
• Filed: 08/05/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey Eric Yeung, Teresa T. Yeung
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Eric Yeung, Teresa T. Yeung
• Inventors: Yeung, Teresa T., Yeung, Jeffrey Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,918,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/75
• 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 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0438 slotted, i.e. having a longitudinal slot for enhancing their elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• 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: A61B 2017/0648 threaded, e.g. tacks with a screw thread
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0805 Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0835 with deformation of anchor parts, e.g. expansion of dowel by set screw
• 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 2002/4435 : Support means or repair of the natural disc wall, i.e. annulus, e.g. using plates, membranes or meshes

Abstract

Anchoring elements of a fastener are made elastically curved. The curvatures of the elements are resiliently straightened by a trocar for tissue insertion. As the trocar is withdrawn, the anchoring elements resume the curved configuration, laterally pressing the elements against tissue to anchor the fastener.

Claims

1. An expandable fastener deployable with a trocar, comprising:

a first leg formed of an elastic material and having a first retainer passage extending through at least a portion thereof, said first leg having a curved position and a resiliently straightened position,

a first plurality of tissue gripping elements located on a concave side of said first leg when said first leg is in said curved position,

a second leg formed of an elastic material and having a second retainer passage extending through at least a portion thereof, said second leg having a curved position and a resiliently straightened position,

a second plurality of tissue gripping elements located on a concave side of said second leg when said second leg is in said curved position,

wherein said first and second retainer passages are sized and configured to retain the trocar.

2. The expandable fastener of claim 1, further comprising a first head portion attached to a proximal end of said first leg and a second head portion attached to a proximal end of said second leg.

3. The expandable fastener of claim 2, wherein said first head portion has at least one alignment opening, and said second head portion has at least one alignment peg that extends into said at least one alignment opening.

4. The expandable fastener of claim 1, further comprising a first groove in said first leg and a second groove in said second leg, said first retainer passage enclosing a portion of said first groove and said second retainer passage enclosing a portion of said second groove.

5. The expandable fastener of claim 1, wherein

said first and second legs are connected by a bridge,

said first retainer passage extends from a proximal end to a distal end of said first leg,

and said second retainer passage extends from a proximal end to a distal end of said second leg.

6. The expandable fastener of claim 1, wherein the trocar is located in said first and second retainer passages, thereby holding said first and second legs in said resiliently straightened positions.

7. The expandable fastener of claim 2, further comprising a retainer ring sized and configured to fit around both of said first and second legs.

21. The expandable fastener of claim 1 or 8, further comprising a suture attached to said expandable fastener.

23. The expandable fastener of claim 4 or 8, wherein said first and second grooves are non semi-cylindrical.

24. The expandable fastener of claim 1 or 8, wherein said passages are cylindrical.

25. The expandable fastener of claim 1 or 8, wherein said first and second passages are D-shaped.

27. The expandable fastener of claim 1 or 8, wherein said first and second legs are tapered.

28. The expandable fastener of claim 7 or 8, wherein said retainer ring is tapered.

29. The expandable fastener of claim 1 or 8, wherein said expandable fastener is formed of modular components.

30. The expandable fastener of claim 1 or 8, wherein said expandable fastener is formed of one or more materials chosen from the group of materials consisting of biocompatible polymers, polypropylene, polyethylene, poly-ether-ether-ketone, acetal resin, polysulfone, polycarbonate, biodegradable materials, polylactate, polyglycolic, poly-lactide-co-glycolide, polycaprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, polydioxanone, polyanhydride, trimethylene carbonate, poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate, polyhydroxyvalerate, poly-gama-ethyl-glutamate, poly-DTH iminocarbonate, poly-bisphenol A iminocarbonate, poly-ortho-ester, polycyanoacrylate and polyphosphazene.

31. The expandable fastener of claim 1 or 8, wherein said expandable fastener is formed of a material chosen from the group of materials consisting of nickel-titanium alloy and spring-tempered stainless steel.

32. The expandable fastener of claim 1 or 8, further comprising a coating on an exterior surface of said expandable fastener.

33. The expandable fastener of claim 32, wherein said coating is chosen from the group of coatings consisting of biocompatible polymers, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, silicon, polyethylene, lubricant, growth factor, nutrient, buffering agent, collagen, hydroxyapatite, analgesic agent, sealant, blood clotting agent, antibiotic agent, water repellent agent, radiopaque agent and echogenic agent.

34. The expandable fastener of claim 2 or 8, wherein said first and second head portions have tissue gripping elements extending therefrom.

35. The expandable fastener of claim 2 or 8, wherein said first and second head portions form and opening for a screw driver.

36. The expandable fastener of claim 2 or 8, wherein said first and second head portions form a bolt-head shape.

37. The expandable fastener of claim 2 or 8, wherein said first and second head portions further comprise at least one tissue ingrowth opening.

38. The expandable fastener of claim 1 or 8, wherein a tissue-contacting surface located proximate said first and second legs is smooth.

40. The expandable fastener of claim 2 or 8, wherein said first and second head portions have threading and further comprising a nut sized and configured to rotate about said threading.

8. An expandable fastener, comprising:

a first elastically curved section having a first head portion, a first leg portion extending from said first head portion, a first groove indenting along a length of said first head portion and said first leg portion, and a first passage covering a portion of said first groove,

a second elastically curved section having a second head portion, a second leg portion extending from said second head portion, a second groove indenting along a length of said second head portion and said second leg portion, and a second passage covering a portion of said second groove,

and a retainer ring sized and configured to fit around said first and second elastically curved sections.

9. The expandable fastener of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of tissue gripping elements extending from an outside surface of said first and second elastically curved sections.

10. The expandable fastener of claim 9, wherein said plurality of tissue gripping elements form rings around said expandable fastener along said outside surface.

11. The expandable fastener of claim 9, wherein said plurality of tissue gripping elements form threading along said outside surface.

12. The expandable fastener of claim 11, wherein said threading is configured as a self-tapping screw thread.

13. The expandable fastener of claim 11, wherein said tissue gripping elements are angled.

14. The expandable fastener of claim 9, wherein said tissue gripping elements are barbs.

15. The expandable fastener of claim 14, wherein said tissue gripping elements are pointed in more than one direction.

16. The expandable fastener of claim 9, wherein said tissue gripping elements are semi-circular ridges that extend from said outside surface of said first and second elastically curved sections.

17. The expandable fastener of claim 8, further comprising a needle, said needle sized and configured to fit into said first and second grooves and said first and second passages.

18. The expandable fastener of claim 8, wherein said first and second elastically curved sections may be resiliently straightened such that said first groove aligns with said second groove and a deployment needle may be located through said first and second grooves and said first and second passages, thereby holding said first and second elastically curved sections in straightened positions.

19. The expandable fastener of claim 8, wherein:

a first distance is between a proximal end of said first and second curved sections,

a second distance is between a distal end of said first and second curved sections,

and wherein a curvature of said first curved section is configured such that said second distance is larger than said first distance.

20. The expandable fastener of claim 19, wherein a curvature of said second curved section is configured such that said second distance is larger than said first distance.

22. The expandable fastener of claim 8, wherein said first elastically curved section has a third groove indenting along said first leg portion and said second elastically curved section has a mating tongue extending from said second leg portion.

26. The expandable fastener of claim 8, wherein said first and second grooves extend to an opening in a tip of said first and second elastically curved sections such that a needle may extend out from said tip.

39. The expandable fastener of claim 8, wherein said first and second grooves extend through said first and second head portions.

41. The expandable fastener of claim 8 further comprising a third elastically curved section extending from said first head portion and a fourth elastically curved section extending from said second head portion.

42. The expandable fastener of claim 41, wherein said third and fourth elastically curved sections further comprising plurality of tissue gripping elements.

43. The expandable fastener of claim 8, wherein said retainer ring is located around said first and second curved sections.

44. The expandable fastener of claim 8, wherein said retainer ring is located around said first and second head portions.

45. The expandable fastener of claim 8, further comprising at least one alignment opening located in said first curved section, and at least one alignment peg extending from said second curved section, said at least one alignment peg sized and configured to fit within said at least one alignment opening.

46. The expandable fastener of claim 45, wherein said at least one alignment opening is located in said first head portion and said at least one alignment peg extends from said second head portion.

47. An expandable fastener, comprising:

a first elastically curved section having a first head portion, a first leg portion extending from said first head portion, at least one groove indenting along a length of said first head portion and said first leg portion,

a second elastically curved section having a second head portion, a second leg portion extending from said second head portion, at least one tongue extending along a length of said second head portion and said second leg portion, wherein said at least one tongue is sized and configured to fit in said at least one groove,

and a retainer-ring sized and configured to fit around said first and second elastically curved sections.

48. The expandable fastener of claim 47, wherein said first and second elastically curved sections are held together with a water degradable adhesive.

49. The expandable fastener of claim 47, wherein said first and second elastically curved sections are held together with a water degradable band.

50. An expandable fastener for deployment with a needle, said expandable fastener comprising:

a first leg having tissue gripping elements located on a concave surface thereof, said first leg having a first curved position and a second resiliently straightened position,

a second leg having tissue gripping elements located on a concave surface thereof, said second leg having a first curved position and a second resiliently straightened position,

a head portion located at an end of said first and second legs,

at least one passage extending through at least one of said first and second legs, said at least one passage sized and configured to allow the needle to be located therein,

wherein, when the needle is located within said at least one passage, at least one of said first and second legs is held in said resiliently straightened position.

51. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein said expandable fastener is deployed with a device having two needles, wherein said passage extends through said first leg, said expandable fastener further comprising a second passage extending through said second leg, said head portion connecting a proximal end of said first leg and a proximal end of said second leg.

52. The expandable fastener of claim 51, wherein each of said passages has an opening with a D-shaped cross section.

53. The expandable fastener of claim 52, wherein said first and second curved positions are configured such that said first and second legs curve apart and rounded edges of said D-shaped cross sections are located toward convex sides of curvatures of said first and second legs.

54. The expandable fastener of claim 52, wherein said first and second curved positions are configured such that said first and second legs curve together and rounded edges of said D-shaped cross sections are located toward convex sides of curvatures of said first and second legs.

55. The expandable fastener of claim 50, further comprising a retainer ring located around said first and second legs proximate said head portion.

56. The expandable fastener of claim 55, wherein said retainer ring is tapered.

57. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein said passage forms a portion of a first groove extending the length of said first leg, said expandable fastener further comprising a second passage forming a portion of a second groove extending the length of said second leg, and wherein, when the needle is located within said first and second passages, said first and second legs are held together in said straightened positions.

58. The expandable fastener of claim 57, wherein said first groove has a first recess sized and configured to receive said second passage and wherein said second groove has a second recess sized and configured to receive said passage forming said portion of said first groove.

59. The expandable fastener of claim 57, wherein, when said first and second legs are in said straightened positions, the tissue gripping elements located on said first and second legs form rings around said legs.

60. The expandable fastener of claim 59, wherein said tissue gripping elements are angled, such that when said first and second legs are in said resiliently straightened positions, said tissue gripping elements simulate threading along an outer surface of said first and second legs.

61. The expandable fastener of claim 60, wherein said threading is configured as a self-tapping screw thread.

62. The expandable fastener of claim 50, further comprising a suture attached to said expandable fastener.

63. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein said first leg has a groove indenting along a length thereof and said second leg has a mating tongue extending therefrom.

64. The expandable fastener of claim 50, further comprising at least one alignment opening indenting into said first leg and at least one alignment peg extending from said second leg.

65. The expandable fastener of claim 64, wherein said at least one alignment opening is a groove, and said at least one alignment peg is a tongue that extends into said groove.

66. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein said at least one passage is a non-cylindrical shape.

67. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein said at least one passage is cylindrical.

68. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein said at least one passage extends to an opening in a tip of said at least one of said first and second legs such that the needle may extend out from said tip.

69. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein said first and second legs are tapered.

70. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein said tissue gripping elements are barbs.

71. The expandable fastener of claim 70, wherein said tissue gripping elements are pointed in more than one direction.

72. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein said expandable fastener is formed of modular components.

73. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein said fastener is formed of one or more materials chosen from the group of materials consisting of biocompatible polymers, polypropylene, polyethylene, poly-ether-ether-ketone, acetal resin, polysulfone, polycarbonate, biodegradable materials, polylactate, polyglycolic, poly-lactide-co-glycolide, polycaprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, polydioxanone, polyanhydride, trimethylene carbonate, poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate, polyhydroxyvalerate, poly-gama-ethyl-glutamate, poly-DTH iminocarbonate, poly-bisphenol A iminocarbonate, poly-ortho-ester, polycyanoacrylate and polyphosphazene.

74. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein said fastener is formed of a material chosen from the group of materials consisting of nickel-titanium alloy and spring-tempered stainless steel.

75. The expandable fastener of claim 50, further comprising a coating on an exterior surface of said expandable fastener.

76. The expandable fastener of claim 75, wherein said coating is chosen from the group of coatings consisting of biocompatible polymers, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, silicon, polyethylene, lubricant, growth factor, nutrient, buffering agent, collagen, hydroxyapatite, analgesic agent, sealant, blood clotting agent, antibiotic agent, water repellent agent, radiopaque agent and echogenic agent.

77. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein said head portion has tissue gripping elements extending therefrom.

78. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein said head portion forms and opening for a screw driver.

79. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein said head portion forms a bolt head shape.

80. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein said head portion further comprises at least one tissue ingrowth opening.

81. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein a tissue-contacting surface located proximate said first and second legs is smooth.

82. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein said at least one passage opens through said head portion.

83. The expandable fastener of claim 50, wherein said head portion has threading and further comprising a nut sized and configured to rotate about said threading.

84. A method of deploying an expandable fastener with a needle, the method comprising the steps of:

a) puncturing the tissue with the needle;

b) pressing on a head of the expandable fastener to slide along the outside of the needle, thereby delivering elastic legs of the expandable fastener into the tissue;

c) withdrawing the needle;

d) and allowing the elastic legs to curve, thereby pressing tissue gripping elements into the tissue and anchoring the expandable fastener within the tissue.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein said method is used to fasten tissue.

86. The method of claim 84, wherein said method is used to reattach a torn ligament.

87. The method of claim 84, further comprising the step of:

e) using a sleeve to hold the expandable fastener in the tissue while the needle is being withdrawn.