Fully-threaded bioabsorbable suture anchor

• US 20070060922A1
• Filed: 09/13/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Inventors: Dreyfuss, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,521,999 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/326
• 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 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• 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 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 17/10 containing macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 17/145 Coating

Abstract

A suture anchor includes a threaded anchor body having a first central bore in communication with a second central bore. The suture anchor includes an internal eyelet formed of a loop disposed at least partially inside the first central bore. The ends extending from the loop are tied together to form at least one knot which is housed in the second central bore provided at the distal end of the anchor body. The knot increases the pullout strength of the suture even in soft bone, provides increased suture fixation, and eliminates the anchor “pull back.”

Claims

1. A suture anchor comprising:

an anchor body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a loop disposed at least partially within the anchor body, the loop having ends tied in a knot disposed at the distal end of the anchor body.

2. The suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the loop is disposed completely within the anchor body.

3. The suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the knot is located within a socket disposed at the distal end of the anchor body.

4. The suture anchor of claim 3, wherein the loop is located within a bore of the anchor body.

5. The suture anchor of claim 4, wherein the bore has an opening configured to receive a driver head for driving the anchor.

6. The suture anchor of claim 1, further comprising at least one suture strand threaded through the loop.

7. The suture anchor of claim 6, wherein the suture strand further includes a needle attached at one end.

8. The suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the anchor body is threaded from the proximal end to the distal end.

9. The suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the anchor body comprises bioabsorbable material.

10. The suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the loop comprises a suture formed of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.

11. The suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the knot is coated with a glue material.

12. A suture anchor assembly for attachment of tissue to bone, the suture anchor assembly comprising:

a suture anchor comprising an anchor body having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, a first central bore located at the proximal end, and a second central bore located at the distal end;

a first strand of flexible material comprising a loop and a knot, the first strand of flexible material being disposed within the anchor body so that the loop is disposed within the first central bore and the knot is disposed within the second central bore; and

at least a second strand of flexible material attached to the suture anchor and passing slidingly through the loop.

13. The suture anchor assembly of claim 12, wherein the first central bore is in communication with the second central bore through a central passage.

14. The suture anchor assembly of claim 13, wherein the first and second central bores have a first diameter, and the central passage has a second diameter, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter.

15. The suture anchor assembly of claim 12, wherein the loop is recessed from the proximal end of the anchor body by about one third the length of the anchor body.

16. The suture anchor assembly of claim 12, wherein the anchor body comprises a plurality of thread flights extending from the outer surface of the anchor body.

17. The suture anchor assembly of claim 12, wherein the anchor body has an outside diameter of about 5.5 mm.

18. A method of attaching tissue to bone using a suture anchor assembly including a suture anchor comprising:

an anchor body having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis, a first central bore located at the proximal end, and a second central bore located at the distal end;

a first strand of flexible material comprising a loop and a knot, the first strand being disposed within the anchor body so that the loop is disposed within the first central bore and the knot is disposed within the second central bore;

the method comprising the steps of;

providing at least a second strand of flexible material through the loop;

coupling the suture anchor assembly to a driver;

threading the ends of the second strand of flexible material attached to the suture anchor through a cannula of the driver; and

installing the suture anchor assembly into bone, using the driver, to approximate tissue to bone.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second strand of flexible material further comprises a needle attached to one end.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of securing the needle within a cavity of a handle of the driver.