METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING SOFT TISSUE TO BONE

• US 20090062854A1
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• 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., Kaiser, Ryan A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,128,658 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 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• 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 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0441 the shaft being a rigid coil or spiral
• 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 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06185 hollow or tubular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0835 with deformation of anchor parts, e.g. expansion of dowel by set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0852 Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0864 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. A bone engaging fastener is coupled to bone. A second fastener is coupled to a suture construction. The second fastener is coupled to the first fastener. Soft tissue is coupled to the suture construction.

Claims

1. A method of coupling soft tissue to bone comprising:

passing a first end of a suture through a first aperture into a 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;

coupling a first fastener to the suture;

coupling a second fastener to the bone;

coupling the first loop to the soft tissue; and

coupling the first fastener to the second fastener.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising passing a second end of the suture through the second aperture into the passage of the suture and out the first aperture so as to place the second end outside of the passage, and define a second loop.

3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising coupling the first loop to the second loop.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the second fastener defines an aperture.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the first fastener is coupled to the aperture.

6. The method according to claim 4 wherein the first fastener is disposed within the aperture.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising coupling a third fastener to the bone;

and

coupling the second loop to the third fastener.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising passing the soft tissue through the second loop.

9. The method according to claim 1 comprising forming the passage within a bore defined by the second fastener.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising forming a locking hook in the second fastener.

11. The method according to claim 10 further comprising coupling at least one of the first and second loops to the locking hook.

12. A method of coupling soft tissue to a bone comprising:

coupling a bone engaging fastener to bone, said bone engaging fastener defining a bore;

passing a first end of a suture through a first aperture into a passage defined by a 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;

threading the suture through a suture bearing fastener;

coupling the first loop to a patient; and

coupling the suture bearing fastener to the bore of the bone engaging fastener.

13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising passing a second end of the suture through the second aperture into the passage of the suture and out the first aperture so as to place the second end outside of the passage, and define a second loop.

14. The method according to claim 12 further comprising coupling the first loop to soft tissue.

15. The method according to claim 12 further comprising passing the first loop through soft tissue.

16. The method according to claim 12 wherein threading the suture through a suture bearing fastener is threading the first loop through the suture bearing fastener.

17. A method of coupling soft tissue to a bone, the method comprising:

coupling at least one suture to bone;

passing a first end of the suture through a first aperture into a 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 structure; and

threading the first structure through soft tissue;

coupling a fastener to the first structure; and

applying tension to at least one end of the suture.

18. The method according to claim 17 further including coupling a fastener to the bone and coupling the at least one suture to the bone through the fastener.

19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising applying tension onto at least one end of the suture to constrict the first structure about the soft tissue.

20. The method according to claim 18 wherein applying tension onto at least one end of the suture includes drawing the soft tissue to the fastener.

21. The method according to claim 18 wherein applying tension onto at least one end of the suture applies compression to the passage.

22. The method according to claim 18 further comprising passing the soft tissue through the first and second loops.