SUTURE LOCKING DEVICE

• US 20080091237A1
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Herbert Schwartz, John Margetts, Robert-Jan Enzerink, Thomas May
• Original Assignee: Herbert Schwartz, John Margetts, Robert-Jan Enzerink, Thomas May
• Inventors: Schwartz, Herbert, Enzerink, Robert-Jan, May, Thomas, Margetts, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,323,315 B2
• 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 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 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0448 Additional elements on or within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0451 Cams or wedges holding the suture by friction
• 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

Abstract

A device for locking a suture in place without the need for tying knots once the suture is placed within tissue is provided. The device comprises an anchor having a cannula and a locking mechanism for securing the suture within the cannula.

Claims

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

positioning a first anchor on a first side of the defect;

positioning a second anchor on a second side of the defect;

coupling a suture to the first anchor and the second anchor such that the suture extends between the first anchor and the second anchor only once; and

tensioning the suture such that the first anchor and the second anchor are moved toward each other.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising locking the suture in place relative to the first anchor and the second anchor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein locking the suture in place between the first anchor and the second anchor comprises operating a locking mechanism of the first anchor to lock the suture in place relative to the first anchor.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein locking the suture in place between the first anchor and the second anchor comprises (i) operating a first locking mechanism of the first anchor to lock the suture in place relative to the first anchor and (ii) operating a second locking mechanism of the second anchor to lock the suture in place relative to the second anchor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling a suture to the first anchor and the second anchor comprises threading the suture through an aperture defined in the first anchor and an aperture defined in the second anchor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein tensioning the suture comprises pulling the suture through at least one of the first anchor and the second anchor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein tensioning the suture comprises tensioning the suture such that the first side of the defect and the second side of the defect are moved toward each other.

8. A device for repairing a defect in a soft tissue, the soft tissue having an external surface, the device comprising:

a first anchor configured to engage a first portion of the external surface of the soft tissue;

a second anchor configured to engage a second portion of the external surface of the soft tissue;

a suture coupled to the first anchor and the second anchor such that tension on the suture reduces the distance between the first anchor and the second anchor to move a first side and a second side of the defect toward each other; and

a locking mechanism configured to lock the suture in place relative to the first anchor and the second anchor.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism is integrated with one of the first anchor and the second anchor.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a first locking mechanism integrated with the first anchor and a second locking mechanism integrated with the second anchor.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a knot in the suture.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the suture is threaded through the first anchor and the second anchor.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the suture is coupled to the first anchor and the second anchor such that the suture extends therebetween only once.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein each of the first and the second anchors include an aperture defined therethrough, the suture being threaded through the apertures of the first and second anchors.

15. A device for repairing a defect in a soft tissue, the device comprising:

a first anchor positioned in contact with the soft tissue;

a second anchor positioned in contact with the soft tissue;

a suture coupled to the first anchor and the second anchor such that the suture extends between the first anchor and the second anchor only once and tension on the suture reduces the distance between the first anchor and the second anchor to move a first side and a second side of the defect toward each other.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the suture in place relative to at least one of the first anchor and the second anchor.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the locking mechanism is integrated with at least one of the first anchor and the second anchor.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the suture extends through the first anchor and the second anchor.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein each of the first anchor and the second anchor includes an aperture defined therethrough, the suture being threaded through the apertures of the first and second anchors.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein a portion of the suture extends across the defect in the soft tissue.