Method for Tissue Fixation

• US 20090306711A1
• Filed: 06/22/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harper, Ryan, Denham, Gregory J., Stone, Kevin T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,298,262 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 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• 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 2017/0432 the separate member staying in the anchor after placement
• 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

Abstract

A method for securing a strand to a fixation member for arthroscopic fixation, wherein the fixation member includes a channel on an exterior surface and an aperture therethrough. The method includes passing a strand having first and second ends through a flexible sleeve, passing the sleeve through the aperture of the fixation member in a first direction, tensioning the strand, and pulling the sleeve in a second direction different than the first direction to secure the sleeve to the fixation member without tying the strand on the fixation member.

Claims

1. A method for securing a strand to at least one fixation member for a surgical procedure, the at least one fixation member having a central body axis and at least one tissue engaging flange, said fixation member defining a suture coupling aperture therethrough, and a suture accepting channel defined in at least one of the flange or the exterior surface of the fixation member, the method comprising:

passing a strand having first and second ends through a flexible sleeve having a first cross-section such that the first and second ends are outside the flexible sleeve;

passing the sleeve through the aperture and the suture accepting channel of the fixation member in a first direction;

tensioning the strand; and

moving the sleeve in a second direction different than the first direction to secure the sleeve to the fixation member without tying the strand on the fixation member.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flange is a helical flange.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flange is generally perpendicular to the central body axis.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a plurality of tissue engaging flanges.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of tissue engaging flanges are one of perpendicular to the central body axis and helically disposed about the central body axis.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the suture coupling bore is parallel with the central body axis.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the suture coupling bore is generally perpendicular to the central body axis.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

folding the sleeve into a first configuration;

pushing the sleeve through the aperture of the fixation member in the first direction; and

changing the sleeve to a second configuration having a second cross-section that cannot pass through the aperture of the fixation member by pulling the sleeve in the second direction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sleeve has first and second ends and the first and second ends of the strand exit the sleeve from corresponding first and second openings.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein moving the sleeve in a second direction different than the first direction presses first and second ends of the sleeve against the fixation member.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forming a hole in tissue; and

inserting the fixation member in the hole.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein moving the sleeve in a second direction causes the sleeve to press against adjacent tissue, wherein the sleeve pressing against the tissue contributes to the fixation of the construct in the tissue.

13. A method for securing a strand to a plurality of anchors for a surgical procedure, the method comprising:

inserting a plurality of anchors into a tissue;

passing a flexible strand having first and second ends through a plurality of flexible sleeves serially placed on the strand;

passing each sleeve in a first configuration into and through an aperture and channel defined within a corresponding anchor in a first direction; and

deforming each sleeve to a second configuration.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein passing each sleeve in a first configuration includes:

folding the sleeve in a substantially U-shape; and

pushing each sleeve through the aperture of the corresponding fixation member.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein deforming each sleeve to a second configuration includes pressing first and second end portions of the sleeve against the corresponding anchor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein deforming each sleeve to a second configuration includes deforming the sleeve to a bell-like shape.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein passing the sleeve in a first configuration into and through an aperture of a corresponding anchor in a first direction includes:

forming a loop relative to the sleeve with the strand;

passing the first and second ends of the strand member through the aperture of the anchor in the first direction; and

placing the sleeve within a portion of the channel; and

pulling the first and second ends of the strand member through the aperture of the anchor until the sleeve passes through the aperture.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein passing the sleeve in a first configuration into and through an aperture of a corresponding anchor in a first direction is performed before inserting the corresponding anchor into the tissue.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein passing the sleeve in a first configuration into and through an aperture of a corresponding anchor in a first direction is performed after inserting the corresponding anchor into the tissue.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising inserting at least one of the anchors in a pre-formed bore in the bone.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising threading at least one of the anchors into the tissue.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the channel defines a generally flat bearing surface.

23. A method for securing a strand to a plurality of tissue anchors for a surgical procedure comprising:

passing a flexible strand slidably through a plurality of flexible sleeves;

forming a single slipknot on a portion of the strand outside all the sleeves, the slipknot defining a closed loop;

knotlessly securing each sleeve into a channel formed in a corresponding tissue anchor; and

reducing a length of one of the flexible sleeve to collapse at least one flexible sleeve.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein knotlessly securing a sleeve includes:

passing the sleeve through an aperture of a corresponding anchor in a first configuration in a first direction; and

deforming the sleeve to a second configuration that cannot pass through the aperture.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein passing the sleeve through an aperture of a corresponding anchor in a first configuration includes deforming the sleeve in a folded shape.