SELF-LOCKING SUTURE ANCHOR

• US 20090099598A1
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DePuy Mitek Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: DePuy Mitek Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Halbrecht, Jeffrey, Caspari, Richard, McDevitt, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US12/334,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20090099598A1
• 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 2017/00862 elastic or resilient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0403 Dowels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0408 Rivets
• 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 2017/0424 the separate member staying in the anchor after placement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0438 slotted, i.e. having a longitudinal slot for enhancing their elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 snug fit 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 2017/0459 Multiple holes in the anchor through which the suture extends and locking the suture when tension is applied
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• 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 tissue anchor having a length of filament held so that an applied force greater than a threshold force will cause the filament to move longitudinally, while an applied force less than the threshold force will not move the filament, and methods of attaching soft tissue to bone using such an anchor.

Claims

1. A method for anchoring a suture, comprising:

implanting an anchor member in bone, the anchor member having a cavity extending therethrough with opposite open ends;

moving a deployment shaft to position insertion element in the cavity in the anchor member, the insertion element and the anchor member engaging a suture extending through the cavity to lock a loop of suture extending from the cavity in a fixed position; and

frangibly detaching the deployment shaft from the insertion element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the suture is held between the anchor member and the insertion element by a compression fit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the deployment shaft comprising pulling the deployment shaft to pull the insertion element into the cavity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein frangibly detaching the deployment shaft from the insertion element comprises applying tension to a frangible portion formed between the deployment shaft and the insertion element.

5. A method for anchoring tissue to bone, comprising:

implanting an anchor member in a bone tunnel;

applying tension to a deployment shaft attached to an insertion element to pull the insertion element into a cavity formed in the anchor member;

applying tension to a frangible portion formed between the deployment shaft and the insertion element to cause the frangible portion to shear to separate the deployment shaft from the insertion element.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the insertion element is held within the cavity of the anchor member by an interference fit.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the anchor member includes a suture extending therethrough, and wherein the suture is engaged between the anchor member and the insertion element.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the suture extends through the cavity, forms a loop segment, and extends back through the cavity.

9. A method for anchoring tissue to bone, comprising:

implanting an anchor element in a bone tunnel, the anchor element having a suture passing through a cavity in the anchor element, forming a loop segment, and passing back through the cavity in the anchor element; and

inserting an insertion element into the cavity in the anchor element to hold the suture therein by interference fit.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the insertion element is inserted into the cavity in the anchor member using a deployment device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the deployment device is attached to the insertion element during deployment, and wherein the deployment device is frangibly sheared from the insertion element after deployment of the insertion element into the anchor member.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the deployment device is pulled to pull the insertion element into the cavity in the anchor member.