SUTURE MANAGEMENT AND TENSIONING DEVICES AND METHODS FOR SOFT TISSUE RECONSTRUCTION OR BONE-TO-BONE FIXATION

• US 20080154260A1
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cayenne Medical Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cayenne Medical Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: HOOF, JORDAN A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,540,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/04 for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials suture materials A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/032 pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04

Abstract

An adjustable, stand-alone tensioning system requires no additional fixturing, weights, or bone surface modification, and allows a single practitioner to provide an adjustable and repeatable tension to a soft tissue graft, and to install the final fixation implant. Its design facilitates introduction of the suture component of the graft into the tensioning process by simplifying retention of the suture. An even, regulated and reproducible tension is easily achieved without requiring the practitioner to manually pull on the suture strands to maintain graft tension.

Claims

1. A suture management device for use during an orthopedic procedure, comprising:

a body, having structure for accommodating a length of suture;

a surface for engaging a portion of a patient'"'"'s body for stabilizing the suture management device relative to a procedural site within the patient'"'"'s body;

a suture tensioning spring; and

a suture tensioning control engaged with said suture tensioning spring, for retracting the length of suture to place soft tissue to which the suture is attached in tension.

2. The suture management device as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a force level indicator for assisting an operator in setting a desired tensioning level.

3. The suture management device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device comprises a stop for limiting a distance through which the suture may be retracted, in order to limit tension imposed on the suture to a desired amount.

4. The suture management device as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a channel disposed in said body for accommodating a tool for performing steps of the orthopedic procedure.

5. The suture management device as recited in claim 1, wherein said suture tensioning control comprises a rotatable knob.

6. The suture management device as recited in claim 1, wherein said surface comprises an outer surface of said body.

7. The suture management device as recited in claim 1, wherein said body comprises a center portion for channeling said length of suture between the soft tissue to be tensioned and the suture tensioning control.

8. The suture management device as recited in claim 7, wherein said body further comprises a first tensioning apparatus connected to the center portion and extending in a first direction, and a second tensioning apparatus connected to the center portion and extending in a second opposed direction.

9. The suture management device as recited in claim 8, wherein the first tensioning apparatus includes said suture tensioning spring and said suture tensioning control, and said second tensioning apparatus includes a second suture tensioning spring and a second suture tensioning control.

10. The suture management device as recited in claim 7, wherein said center body portion comprises a curved surface and a pair of posts for retaining the suture in the center body portion.

11. The suture management device as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said first tensioning apparatus and said second tensioning apparatus further comprise a sliding suture cleat for receiving an end of a suture length opposed to the end connected to the soft tissue to be tensioned, the sliding suture cleat sliding responsive to actuation of the suture tensioning control.

12. The suture management device as recited in claim 1, wherein said surface is disposed on a force displacement arm which extends distally of said body.

13. The suture management device as recited in claim 12, and further comprising a force displacement tube connected to a proximal end of the force displacement arm, a proximal end of the force displacement tube engaging said suture tensioning spring.

14. The suture management device as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a rotatable suture spool for accommodating a portion of the length of suture as the suture is retracted by the suture tensioning control.

15. A method of tensioning a portion of soft tissue during an orthopedic procedure at an operative site in a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:

positioning a body of a suture management device at a desired location in proximity to the operative site;

attaching a first end of a length of suture to a portion of soft tissue to be tensioned, wherein the second end of said length of suture is attached to a suture retaining member disposed within said suture management device body;

actuating a suture tensioning control to retract the length of suture into the body, thereby tensioning the portion of soft tissue; and

limiting the tension applied to the portion of soft tissue to a desired level.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the tension limiting step is performed by pre-setting a tension level using a tension adjusting control on said device.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the tension limiting step is performed by actuating the suture tensioning control until a force gauge indicates that the desired tension level has been applied.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, and further comprising a step of inserting a tool through a channel in said body to deploy an implant.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, and further comprising a step of removing the device from the patient'"'"'s body.