Method of using ultrasonic vibration to secure body tissue

• US 20060167495A1
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Original Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Inventors: Cremens, Matthew J., Bonutti, Peter M., Ruholl, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 9,884,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks for applying suture anchors A61B2017/0409; for applying wound clamps A61B17/10; for applying ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0619 thermoplastic, e.g. for bonding, welding, fusing or cutting the suture by melting it suture cutters A61B17/0467; ultrasonic cutters A61B17/320068; electrically heated instruments A61B18/08
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4815 Hot melt adhesives, e.g. thermoplastic adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/5071 and being composed by one single element
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/5085 and comprising grooves, e.g. being E-shaped, H-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/526 Joining bars
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5261 for forming coaxial connections, i.e. the bars to be joined forming a zero angle relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/69 General aspects of joining filaments bundling articles B65B13/00; interconnecting successive lengths of material B65H69/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7379 degradable
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73791 biodegradable
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81423 being concave
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83221 : cooperating reciprocating tools, each tool reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83241 : cooperating pivoting tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/861 : Hand-held tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8614 : Tongs, pincers or scissors
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/951 : by measuring or controlling the vibration frequency and/or the vibration amplitude of vibrating joining tools, e.g. of ultrasonic welding tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9513 : characterised by specific vibration frequency values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9517 : characterised by specific vibration amplitude values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2059/00 : Use of polyacetals , e.g. POM, i.e. polyoxymethylene or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/003 : PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/006 : PBT, i.e. polybutylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/043 : PGA, i.e. polyglycolic acid or polyglycolide
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2077/00 : Use of PA, i.e. polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides or derivatives thereof, as moulding material

Abstract

A suture and a suture retainer are positioned relative to body tissue. Ultrasonic vibratory energy is utilized to heat the suture retainer and effect a bonding of portions of the suture retainer to each other and/or to the suture. Portions of the body tissue may be pressed into linear apposition with each other and held in place by cooperation between the suture and the suture retainer. The suture retainer may include one or more portions between which the suture extends. The suture retainer may include sections which have surface areas which are bonded together. If desired, the suture may be wrapped around one of the sections of the suture retainer. The suture retainer may be formed with a recess in which the suture is received. If desired, the suture retainer may be omitted and the sections of the suture bonded to each other.

Claims

1. A method of using ultrasonic vibration to secure body tissue, the method comprising:

moving a leading end portion of a fastener into engagement with body tissue; and

applying ultrasonic vibratory energy to the fastener to heat material forming the fastener such that the material becomes moldable and flows when subjected to pressure,

wherein compressive force is applied during the application of the ultrasonic vibratory energy.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic vibratory energy is between 20 and 70 kilohertz.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the ultrasonic vibratory energy is applied for a period of time between 0.25 and 1.0 seconds.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of maintaining the compressive force after interruption of the ultrasonic vibration.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the compressive force is maintained for a predetermined amount of time sufficient to allow the material of the fastener to cool.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the compressive force is applied for 1.0 seconds after interruption of the ultrasonic vibratory energy.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the material is a polymer.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the polymer is a biodegradable.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the polymer is an amorphous thermoplastic material.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the polymer is crystalline.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the polymer is amorphous.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the ultrasonic vibratory energy is generated by an apparatus that includes a horn and the horn contacts the fastener during the application of the ultrasonic vibratory energy.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the compressive force is applied by the horn.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein heat is applied to the fastener along with the ultrasonic vibratory energy.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the horn extends into a passage formed in the fastener.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the horn has a generally cylindrical configuration that corresponds to the configuration of the passage.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the horn and the passage have frustroconical configurations.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the fastener is implanted with a force transmitting member and application of the ultrasonic energy bonds the fastener to the force transmitting member.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the force transmitting member is made of a metallic material.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the force transmitting member is a k-wire.