METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING SOF TISSUE TO A BONE

• US 20080312689A1
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Denham, Gregory J., Stone, Kevin T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,118,836 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 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00845 of moving parts with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00858 high friction or non-slip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0406 Pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/042 plastically deformed during insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• 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 2017/0448 Additional elements on or within the anchor
• 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 2017/0475 : using sutures having a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0477 : with pre-tied sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 : for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0618 : elastic, e.g. stretchable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06185 : hollow or tubular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 : Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0805 : Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 : Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0823 : Modular anchors comprising a plurality of separate parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0852 : Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0858 : Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/087 : Anchor integrated into tendons, e.g. bone blocks, integrated rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0882 : Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0888 : Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 1/06 : Braid or lace serving particular purposes
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 1/12 : Cords, lines, or tows
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2509/00 : Medical; Hygiene
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2509/04 : Sutures

Abstract

A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a member to pull the soft tissue implant into a femoral tunnel. The member includes a suture having first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with the longitudinal passage to form a pair of loops, A collapsible tube is positioned about the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel and the collapse of the tube to form an anchor.

Claims

1. A method of surgically implanting a suture comprising:

forming a bore in a bone;

said suture having a collapsible tube defining a through passage;

passing an end of the suture through the through passage defined by the collapsible tube;

positioning the collapsible tube within the bore; and

applying a tensile load to a portion of the suture to form an anchoring mass having a locking profile.

2. The method of surgically implanting a suture according to claim 1 wherein forming a bore in a bone is forming one of a femoral or tibial tunnel.

3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising threading the collapsible tube through the femoral tunnel;

threading a soft tissue through a suture loop; and

applying tension onto the suture to apply a load to the soft tissue.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein applying tension onto the suture applies the compressive load onto the collapsible tube.

5. The method according to claim 2 wherein applying tension onto the suture includes drawing the soft tissue into one of the femoral or tibial tunnel.

6. The method according to claim 1 comprising sliding the suture with respect to the collapsible tube.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the suture and the collapsible tube are the same structure.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein passing the suture is passing a first end of the suture through a first aperture defined by the suture into the through passage defined by the suture and out a second aperture defined by the suture so as to place the first end outside of the passage and form a first loop.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising passing a second end of the suture through the second aperture into the passage and out the first aperture so as to place the second end outside of the passage portion and form a second loop, and applying tension to the first and second ends.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the collapsible tube is a portion of the suture and the first aperture is located between the second end and the second aperture.

11. The method according to claim 9 further comprising passing the first end through the first aperture a second time and through the passage portion and out the second aperture a second time.

12. The method according to claim 10 further comprising passing the second end through the second aperture a second time, and further passing the second end through the passage and through the first aperture a second time.

13. The method according to claim 9 wherein applying tension onto the first and second ends to constrict at least one of the first and second loops collapses the collapsible tube.

14. A method of surgically implanting a suture comprising:

passing an end of the suture through an aperture defined by a collapsible tube defined in the suture so as to form at least one suture loop;

connecting soft tissue to a portion of the suture;

applying tension to a portion of the suture so as to collapse the tube into an anchoring mass;

coupling the anchoring mass to a patient; and

coupling the soft tissue to bone.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein coupling the anchoring mass to a patient is passing the collapsible tube through a tunnel formed in a patient anatomy.

16. The method according to claim 14 further comprising sliding the collapsible tube with respect to the suture.

17. The method according to claim 14 wherein coupling the anchoring mass is coupling the anchoring mass to a bone.

18. A method of surgically implanting a suture comprising:

forming a first tunnel in a first bone;

providing a suture having an integral collapsible tube with a first profile which allows insertion of the collapsible tube into the first tunnel and a second profile which allows engagement with a positive locking surface upon the collapsing of the collapsible tube;

passing the suture through a through first passage defined in the collapsible tube;

passing a first end of the suture through a first aperture into a second passage defined by the suture and out a second aperture defined by the suture so as to place the first end outside of the passage and define a first loop; and

threading the first loop and the collapsible tube through the first tunnel;

threading soft tissue through the first loop so as to engage bearing surfaces on the first loop; and

collapsing the collapsible tube.

19. The method according to claim 18 further including collapsing the collapsible tube outside of the first tunnel.

20. The method according to claim 18 further comprising applying tension onto the first and second ends to constrict the first loop about the soft tissue.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein applying tension onto the first and second ends includes drawing the soft tissue into the first tunnel.

22. The method according to claim 20 wherein applying tension onto the first and second ends applies compression to the collapsible tube.

23. The method according to claim 19 further comprising coupling the soft tissue to a second bone with a bone engaging fastener and applying additional tension onto the first and second ends until the soft tissue has a predetermined tension.