Tissue fixation device

• US 20060100627A1
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Arthrotek Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Denham, Gregory J., Meridew, Jason D., Walters, Troy M., Stone, Kevin T., Hawkins, H. Gene, Kaiser, Ryan A., Hoffman, Zachary M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,914,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/426
• 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 17/3472 for bones, e.g. intraosseus injections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
• 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 2002/0858 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0882 Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2839 Bone plugs or bone graft dowels

Abstract

A fixation device for securing tissue to a bone. The fixation device includes an anchor having a hollow body defining a longitudinal passage, and a plug configured to be received in at least a portion of the passage. The body comprises a cylindrical portion and a tapered tip portion. The cylindrical portion comprises a plurality of thin-walled window covers such that after implantation the window covers are resorbed first relative to other portions of the cylindrical portion for defining a plurality of apertures on the cylindrical portion.

Claims

1. A fixation device for securing tissue to a bone or repairing tissue, the fixation device comprising:

an anchor having a hollow body defining a longitudinal passage, the body comprising a cylindrical portion and a tapered tip portion, the cylindrical portion comprising a plurality of thin-walled window covers such that after implantation the window covers are resorbed first relative to other portions of the cylindrical portion for defining a plurality of apertures on the cylindrical portion; and

a plug configured to be received in at least a portion of the passage.

2. The fixation device of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical portion comprises a plurality of threads and the tapered tip portion comprises a partial winding that extends less than one complete turn around the tapered tip portion.

3. The fixation device of claim 2, wherein the threads of the cylindrical portion and partial winding of the tapered tip portion have blunt non-cutting edges.

4. The fixation device of claim 1, wherein the portion of the passage that receives the plug and the plug have mating shapes.

5. The fixation device of claim 1, wherein the window covers are substantially confined between the threads of the cylindrical portion and the longitudinal ribs.

6. The fixation device of claim 5, wherein the window covers extend between longitudinal ribs that define an asymmetric opening of the plug-receiving portion of the passage.

7. The fixation device of claim 1, wherein the plug comprises osteoinductive/osteoconductive material.

8. The fixation device of claim 7, wherein the plug is made of material selected from the group consisting of calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, tricalcium phosphate, allograft bone, autograft bone, demineralized bone matrix, coral material, ProOsteon, and combinations thereof.

9. The fixation device of claim 1 in combination with an inserter assembly.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the inserter assembly comprises:

an anchor sleeve configured for engaging a proximal end of the anchor; and

a driver configured for engaging the longitudinal passage of the anchor through the anchor sleeve.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the anchor sleeve is sized to receive the plug for insertion into the longitudinal passage of the anchor.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein the driver is cannulated.

13. The fixation device of claim 6, wherein the longitudinal ribs comprise asymmetric lobes.

14. The fixation device of claim 13, wherein the lobes are configured to engage a driver adapted for engaging another anchor having a passage with symmetric opening.

15. A fixation device for securing tissue to a bone or repairing tissue, the fixation device comprising:

an anchor having a hollow body defining a longitudinal passage, the body comprising portions of varying rates of resorption such that, after implantation, a plurality of apertures are formed by earlier resorption relative to other portions through an outer surface of the body.

16. The fixation device of claim 15, further comprising a plug configured to be received in at least a portion of the passage.

17. The fixation device of claim 15, wherein the portions of varying rates of resorption comprise a plurality of thin-walled window covers on the outer surface of the body.

18. The fixation device of claim 15, wherein the portions of varying rates of resorption comprise portions having a reduced thickness relative to other portions, such that the portions with the reduced thickness are resorbed first.

19. A method for securing tissue to a bone comprising:

forming a tunnel in a bone;

passing the tissue through the tunnel;

providing a cannulated anchor defining a longitudinal passage;

implanting the cannulated anchor between the tissue and the tunnel; and

resorbing portions of the implanted anchor for defining apertures through an outer surface of the anchor before resorbing other portions of the anchor.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising inserting a plug into a portion of the passage of the anchor.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

coupling an anchor sleeve to the anchor;

inserting a cannulated driver through the anchor sleeve into the anchor;

rotating the driver for implanting the anchor; and

removing the driver.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein inserting a plug into the anchor comprises:

inserting the plug into the anchor sleeve;

pushing the plug into the anchor with the driver; and

removing the driver and the anchor sleeve.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising injecting a biologic material into the longitudinal passage.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein inserting the plug into the anchor sleeve comprises:

coupling a plug sleeve to the anchor sleeve;

inserting the plug into the plug sleeve; and

pushing the plug into the anchor sleeve.

25. A method for repairing a defect in tissue, the method comprising:

providing an anchor defining a longitudinal passage;

implanting the anchor through the defect; and

resorbing portions of the implanted anchor for defining apertures through an outer surface of the anchor before resorbing other portions of the anchor.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising inserting a plug into a portion of the passage of the anchor.

27. A fixation device for securing tissue to a bone or repairing tissue, the fixation device comprising an anchor having an anchor body, the anchor body substantially defined by:

a plurality of longitudinal ribs positioned to define a hollow interior passage; and

a thread extending about the plurality of longitudinal ribs.

28. The fixation device of claim 27, further comprising a plug configured to be received in at least a portion of the interior passage.

29. The fixation device of claim 27, wherein the longitudinal ribs and the thread define a wall-less region therebetween in the form of a plurality of apertures.

30. The fixation device of claim 27, wherein the longitudinal ribs are substantially parallel.

31. The fixation device of claim 27, wherein the anchor further comprises a tapered tip portion having a partial winding that extends less than one complete turn around the tapered tip portion.