METHOD FOR USE IN REPAIRS OF INJURED SOFT TISSUE

• US 20080058867A1
• Filed: 10/02/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dean & Webb, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dean & Webb, LLC
• Inventors: DEAN, JOHN
• Granted Patent: US 7,972,360 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/216
• 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 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0829 without deformation of anchor parts, e.g. fixation screws on bone surface, extending barbs, cams, butterflies, spring-loaded pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0864 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor elements, e.g. by additional screws in the anchor, anchor crimped around tendon

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for augmenting the surgical repair of soft tissue injuries, in which a first end of a bridge member attaches to a first portion of healthy tissue, and a second end of the bridge member attaches to a second portion of healthy tissue. The bridge member (or bridge members) used to augment the soft tissue repair may be interconnected or function independently. Flexibility and elasticity of the bridge member are determined by the situation and may be altered to improve healing. The device may be used in arthroscopic procedures, and may be manufactured in a variety of lengths, or may be manufactured one length and be cut to the desired length, or otherwise altered to provide an optimal length of the bridge member.

Claims

1. A soft tissue surgical repair method comprising the steps of:

attaching a first end of a bridge member on one side of a soft tissue injury by coapting the first end to soft tissue with mating members of a cleat;

attaching a second end of the bridge member to bone tissue using a fastener; and

using a bridging section between the first and second ends to support forces associated with the intervening soft tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein coapting the first end to the soft tissue with the mating members of the cleat comprises:

positioning the first end against one surface of the soft tissue;

passing at least one spike of one of the mating members through an aperture in the first end;

perforating the soft tissue with the at least one spike; and

connecting the at least one spike to another of the mating members on an opposing surface of the soft tissue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a screw, and wherein the method comprises:

positioning the screw through an aperture in the second end; and

positioning the screw through soft tissue; and

screwing the screw into the bone tissue to coapt the soft tissue between the second end and the bone tissue.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a suture anchor, and wherein the method comprises:

screwing the suture anchor into the bone tissue; and

suturing the second end of the bridge member along with soft tissue to the suture anchor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises suture, and wherein the method comprises:

creating a bone tunnel in the bone tissue; and

suturing the second end of the bridge member along with soft tissue to the bone tissue through the bone tunnel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching the first end further comprises coapting one or more ends of one or more additional bridge members to the soft tissue along with the first end using the same mating members of the cleat.

7. A soft tissue surgical repair method comprising the steps of:

attaching a first end of a bridge member on one side of a soft tissue injury by coapting the first end to soft tissue with mating members of a first cleat;

attaching a second end of the bridge member on another side of the soft tissue injury; and

using a bridging section between the first and second ends to support forces associated with the intervening soft tissue between the sides of the soft tissue injury.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein coapting the first end to the soft tissue with the mating members of the first cleat comprises:

positioning the first end against one surface of the soft tissue;

passing at least one spike of one of the mating members through an aperture in the first end;

perforating the soft tissue with the at least one spike; and

connecting the at least one spike to another of the mating members on an opposing surface of the soft tissue.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein attaching the second end comprises coapting the first end to soft tissue with mating members of a second cleat.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein coapting the second end to the soft tissue with the mating members of the second cleat comprises:

positioning the second end against one surface of the soft tissue;

passing at least one spike of one of the mating members through an aperture in the second end;

perforating the soft tissue with the at least one spike; and

connecting the at least one spike to another of the mating members on an opposing surface of the soft tissue.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein attaching the first end further comprises coapting one or more ends of one or more additional bridge members to the soft tissue along with the first end using the same mating members of the first cleat.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein attaching the second end comprises suturing the second end to soft tissue.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein suturing the second end comprises passing suture through one or more of a plurality of apertures on the second end of the bridge member.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second end of the bridge member comprises at least two spit portions, each split portion having a plurality of apertures, and wherein suturing the second end comprises passing suture through one or more of the apertures on the at least two split portions.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the method comprises building an interconnected network of bridge members across the soft tissue injury by coapting first ends of the bridge members to soft tissue on one side using mating members of cleats and suturing second ends of the bridge members to soft tissue on another side of the soft tissue injury.

16. A soft tissue surgical repair method comprising the steps of:

attaching a first end of a bridge member on one side of a soft tissue injury;

attaching a second end of the bridge member on another side of the soft tissue injury; and

using a bridging section between the first and second ends to support forces associated with the intervening soft tissue.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein attaching the first end comprises suturing the first end to soft tissue using first suture through at least one aperture in the first end, and wherein attaching the second end comprises suturing the second end to soft tissue using second suture through at least one aperture in the second end.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein attaching the first end comprises coapting the first end to soft tissue with mating members of a first cleat, and wherein attaching the second end comprises coapting the second end to soft tissue with mating members of a second cleat.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein attaching the first end comprises coapting the first end to soft tissue with mating members of a cleat, and wherein attaching the second end comprises suturing the second end to soft tissue using suture through at least one aperture in the second end.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein attaching the second end of the bridge member on the other side of the soft tissue injury comprises attaching the second end along with soft tissue to bone tissue.