Soft tissue repair system

• US 20060064126A1
• Filed: 10/18/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stryker Endoscopy (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Stryker Endoscopy (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Miller, M. Todd, Fallin, T. Wade, Baker, Gordon
• Application Number:
  US11/253,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20060064126A1
• 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 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• 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 lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• 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 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0459 Multiple holes in the anchor through which the suture extends and locking the suture when tension is applied
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0646 for insertion into cartillege, e.g. meniscus

Abstract

A suture anchor delivery system includes a handle having a needle extending therefrom. A suture anchor assembly is slidably received on the needle. The suture anchor assembly includes a proximal anchor, a distal anchor, and a suture extending therebetween. The suture is secured to the proximal anchor by forming a loop in the suture and passing the loop at least partially through a passageway in the proximal anchor. One end of the suture is then secured to the distal anchor. The other end of the suture is passed through the loop and terminates in a free end to selectively lock the suture against the proximal anchor. A retraction line is passed through the loop to allow a surgeon to selectively adjust the length of the suture between the two anchors and/or to selectively unlock the suture from the proximal anchor.

Claims

1. A suture anchor assembly comprising:

an anchor having a first passageway extending through at least a portion of the anchor;

a suture comprising a proximal end and an opposing distal end, a portion of the suture between the proximal end and the distal end being formed into a loop, the loop being at least partially passed through the first passageway, at least one of the proximal end or the distal end of the suture being passed through the loop such that pulling on at least one of the proximal end or the distal end of the suture that is passed through the loop causes the suture to selectively lock against the anchor; and

a retraction line threaded through the loop of the suture such that the application of tension by the retraction line on the loop causes the suture to selectively unlock from the anchor.

2. A suture anchor assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second passageway extending through at least a portion of the anchor, a portion of the proximal end or the distal end of the suture that is passed through the loop passing through the second passageway before passing through the loop.

3. A suture anchor assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a third passageway extending through at least a portion of the anchor, a portion of the proximal end or the distal end of the suture that is not passed through the loop passing through the third passageway.

4. A suture anchor assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a channel recessed on the anchor, the channel intersecting with the first passageway.

5. A suture anchor assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second anchor, the suture being secured to the second anchor distal of the loop.

6. A suture anchor assembly comprising:

an anchor having a first passageway and a spaced apart second passageway each extending through at least a portion of the anchor;

a suture comprising a proximal end and an opposing distal end, a portion of the suture between the proximal end and the distal end passing through the first passageway and the second passageway so as to form a loop, at least one of the proximal end or the distal end of the suture being passed through the loop such that pulling on at least one of the proximal end or distal end of the suture that is passed through the loop causes the suture to selectively lock against the anchor; and

a retraction line threaded through the loop of the suture such that the application of tension by the retraction line on the loop causes the suture to selectively unlock from the anchor.

7. The suture anchor assembly recited in claim 6, wherein the loop is coiled so as to form a closed loop, the suture and retraction line passing through the closed loop.

8. The suture anchor assembly recited in claim 6, wherein the proximal end of the suture is passed through the loop.

9. The suture anchor assembly recited in claim 6, further comprising a third passageway extending through the anchor, the suture passing through the third passageway prior to passing through the loop.

10. A suture anchor assembly comprising:

an anchor comprising;

a top surface and an opposing bottom surface;

an elongated channel recessed into the bottom surface; and

a first passageway and a spaced apart second passageway extending from the top surface to the channel; and

a suture comprising a proximal end and an opposing distal end, a portion of the suture between the proximal end and the distal end being formed into a loop, the loop being at least partially passed through the first passageway, at least one of the proximal end or the distal end of the suture being passed through the second passageway and then through the loop such that pulling on the proximal end or the distal end of the suture that is passed through the loop causes the suture to selectively lock against the anchor.

11. A suture anchor assembly as recited in claim 10, further comprising a retraction line threaded through the loop of the suture such that tension can be applied on the loop through the retraction line.

12. A suture anchor assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the anchor further comprises a third passageway, wherein the proximal end or the distal end of the suture that is not passed through the loop is passed through the third passageway.

13. A suture anchor assembly as recited in claim 12, further comprising a second anchor, wherein the proximal end or the distal end of the suture that is not passed through the loop is secured to the second anchor.

14. A suture anchor assembly as recited in claim 13, further comprising a channel recessed on the anchor, the channel intersecting with the first passageway and the second passageway.