Suture-Retaining Device And Anchor

• US 20090043337A1
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daniel L. Martin
• Original Assignee: Daniel L. Martin
• Inventors: Martin, Daniel L.
• Application Number:
  US12/187,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20090043337A1
• 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 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

Abstract

A device for repairing a rotator cuff tendon injury provides a robust means for reattaching the rotator cuff tendon to the underlying humeral head. The device includes a suture-retaining device and an anchor that is mechanically coupled to a cortex of the humerus and the suture-retaining device. The anchor is attached to the cortex of the humerus to provide a robust means of holding the rotator cuff tendon in the desired position against the humeral head. The suture-retaining device, which is positioned in the intramedullary cavity of the humerus, allows a plurality of sutures that are sewn into the rotator cuff tendon to be tied thereto, and allows any suture knots to be located inside the intramedullary cavity.

Claims

1. A device used for reattaching a rotator cuff tendon that has detached from a head of a humerus, comprising:

a suture-retaining device to which sutures that are sewn into the rotator cuff tendon are to be attached; and

an anchor that is mechanically coupled to the suture-retaining device and having a threaded end configured for engagement with a cortex of the humerus.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the anchor is at least 50 mm.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the threaded portion is at least 5 mm.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the anchor has a head portion to which the suture-retaining device is mechanically coupled.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the anchor has an adjustable length.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the anchor comprises a cannulated screw with internal threads and a secondary screw that is engaged with the internal threads of the cannulated screw, and wherein the suture-retaining device is mechanically coupled to the secondary screw.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the suture-retaining device comprises a loop to which a plurality of sutures can be tied.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the suture-retaining device comprises a through-hole in which the sutures are to be received and a clamp that is configured to hold the sutures received in the through-hole in place.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the surface of the clamp is polymer.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the anchor comprises a bone screw.

11. A device for supporting sutures, comprising:

a head portion for engagement with a plurality of sutures; and

an adjustable length body portion having a threaded end for engagement with a bone.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the adjustable length body portion comprises a cannulated screw having the threaded end and an internal threaded portion, and a secondary screw engaged with the internal threaded portion and attached to the head portion.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the head portion comprises a loop.

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein the head portion comprises a through-hole into which the sutures are to be inserted and a clamp for holding the sutures inserted into the through-hole in place.

15. A method for repairing a rotator cuff tendon that has detached from a head of a humerus, comprising the steps of:

anchoring a screw in a cortex of the humerus; and

attaching a plurality of sutures that have been sewn into the rotator cuff tendon to a suture-retaining device that is mechanically coupled to the screw.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of forming a hole through the head of the humerus and inserting the screw into the hole prior to the step of anchoring.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of mechanically coupling the suture-retaining device to the screw prior to the step of inserting.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of adjusting the position of the suture-retaining device relative to the point on the cortex of the humerus at which the screw is anchored.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the suture-retaining device is a loop and the sutures are attached to the loop by tying.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the suture-retaining device comprises a through-hole and a clamp and the sutures are attached by inserting them into the through-hole and holding them in place with the clamp.