SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ATTACHING SOFT TISSUE TO BONE

• US 20090318966A1
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott W. Tate
• Original Assignee: KFX Medical Corporation
• Inventors: Green, Michael L., Bojanowski, Bart, Tauro, Joseph C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,529,601 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 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00986 Malecots, e.g. slotted tubes, of which the distal end is pulled to deflect side struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0408 Rivets other bone rivets A61B17/68; rivets for connecting prosthetic parts A61F2002/30433, A61F2220/0041
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/042 plastically deformed during insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0422 by insertion of a separate member into the body of the anchor
• 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 2017/045 snug fit within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0451 Cams or wedges holding the suture by friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0817 Structure of the anchor

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods and devices for securing soft tissue to a rigid material such as bone. A bone anchor is described that comprises a base and a top such that suture material may be compressed between surfaces on the base and top to secure the suture to the anchor. Also described is an inserter that can be used to insert the bone anchor into bone and move the anchor top relative to the anchor base to clamp suture material there between. Also described is a soft-tissue and bone piercing anchor and associated inserter. Methods are described that allow use of the bone anchors to provide multiple lengths of suture material to compress a large area of soft tissue against bone.

Claims

1. An anchor for securing a suture to bone, comprising:

an anchor base adapted to be securely fixed into the bone, said anchor base defining a longitudinal axis; and

a suture securing mechanism coupled to said anchor base and positioned proximally relative to said anchor base, the mechanism comprising a suture-receiving space and being configured to allow a suture to be moved in a lateral motion relative to the axis of the anchor base from a point outside of the anchor base directly into the suture-receiving space.

2. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the anchor base comprises lateral protrusions adapted to resist removal of the anchor base from bone.

3. The anchor of claim 2, wherein the lateral protrusions include threads adapted to allow the anchor base to be screwed into bone.

4. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the suture securing mechanism comprises at least two surfaces adapted to secure a suture by clamping the two surfaces together.

5. The anchor of claim 4, wherein the two surfaces are adapted to be positioned such that the suture can be freely moved laterally between the surfaces prior to clamping.

6. An anchor for securing a suture to bone, said anchor having an axis and comprising:

an anchor base adapted to be securely fixed into the bone, said anchor base comprising a first proximal surface, a portion of which is perpendicular to the axis of the anchor base; and

an anchor top, said anchor top comprising a distal member coupled to said anchor base and a first proximal member comprising a first distal surface, a portion of which is perpendicular to the axis of the anchor top, wherein said anchor top is adapted to couple to said anchor base in at least two configurations, one of said configurations such that said first distal surface is above the bone'"'"'s surface when said anchor base is securely fixed into the bone, such that a suture can be freely passed between said first proximal and first distal surfaces above the bone'"'"'s surface, and the other of said configurations such that said first distal surface is in close proximity to said first proximal surface, such that a suture can be clamped between said first proximal and first distal surfaces including the perpendicular portions thereof.

7. The anchor of claim 6, wherein the anchor base comprises an axial bore adapted to receive the distal member of the anchor top.

8. The anchor of claim 7, wherein the axial bore comprises lateral protrusions and the distal member of the anchor top comprises indentations adapted to engage the lateral protrusions for inhibiting proximal movement of the distal member relative to the axial bore.

9. The anchor of claim 6, wherein the first proximal surface comprises indentations and the first distal surface comprises protrusions adapted to fit within the first proximal surface'"'"'s indentations.

10. The anchor of claim 6, wherein the anchor top further comprises a second proximal member comprising a second distal surface and wherein the first proximal member comprises a second proximal surface, wherein the first and second proximal members are adapted to be positioned relative to each other in at least two configurations, one of said relative configurations such that a gap is present between the second proximal and second distal surfaces so that a suture can be freely passed between the second proximal and second distal surfaces above the bone'"'"'s surface, and the other of said relative configurations such that the second proximal and second distal surfaces are in close proximity so that a suture can be clamped between the second proximal and second distal surfaces.

11. An anchor for securing a suture to bone, said anchor having proximal and distal ends and comprising:

an anchor base adapted to be securely fixed into the bone, said anchor base comprising an anchor base suture gripping structure in its proximal end;

an anchor top comprising a distally facing anchor top suture gripping structure, wherein one of the anchor base or anchor top suture gripping structures comprises a circular groove and the other one of the anchor base or anchor top suture gripping structures comprises a circular protrusion, wherein the circular protrusion is adapted to fit within the circular groove to thereby form a passageway between the surfaces of the groove and the surfaces of the protrusion such that a suture may be clamped between the surfaces of the groove and the surfaces of the protrusion.

12. The anchor of claim 11, wherein the groove comprises groove inner and outer side surfaces and the protrusion comprises protruding inner and outer side surfaces such that when a suture is clamped within the passageway, the suture runs between the groove outer side surface and the protrusion outer side surface at two locations and between the groove inner side surface and the protrusion inner side surface at two locations.

13. The anchor of claim 11, wherein the anchor base comprises a central bore and the anchor top comprises an elongated shaft configured to fit within the central bore.

14. The anchor of claim 11, wherein the central bore comprises gripping structures configured to grip the elongated shaft.

15. The anchor of claim 11, wherein the gripping structures are ratchet structures.

16. An anchor for securing a suture to bone, said anchor comprising:

an anchor top comprising a distal shaft and a proximal head, wherein the proximal head comprises a distally facing suture clamping surface having a diameter larger than the distal shaft;

an anchor base adapted to be securely fixed into the bone, said anchor base comprising a central bore and a proximally facing suture clamping surface encircling an opening of the bore, wherein the central bore is configured to receive the distal shaft; and

wherein the anchor is configured to clamp a suture between the distally facing suture clamping surface and the proximally facing suture clamping surface beside the distal shaft.

17. The anchor of claim 16, wherein the distally facing suture clamping surface comprises a distally facing surface and a plurality of side facing surfaces.

18. The anchor of claim 16, wherein the proximally facing suture clamping surface comprises a proximally facing surface and a plurality of side facing surfaces.

19. The anchor of claim 16, wherein the distally facing suture clamping surface comprises a circular protrusion.

20. The anchor of claim 16, wherein the proximally facing suture clamping surface comprises a circular groove.

21. An anchor for securing a suture to bone, said anchor comprising:

a substantially hollow cylinder comprising an open end and comprising a portion of its walls cut in such a manner so as to allow the cylinder to deform under stress and form lateral protrusions;

a substantially pointed tip coupled to the cylinder opposite the open end, wherein the pointed tip is adapted to pierce the bone; and

a suture receiver coupled to said pointed tip and positioned so that a suture may be attached to the suture receiver and extend through the cylinder and out of the open end.

22. The anchor of claim 21, wherein the lateral protrusions consist of two protrusions opposite each other.

23. The anchor of claim 21, further comprising a stress inducing member coupled to the tip and extending through the cylinder and out of the open end, wherein the cylinder is adapted to deform when force is applied to pull the stress inducing member proximally out of the cylinder.

24. The anchor of claim 23, wherein after the cylinder has deformed, the stress inducing member is adapted to break free from the tip upon continued application of force.

25. The anchor of claim 23, wherein the stress inducing member is a wire.

26. The anchor of claim 21, wherein the suture receiver comprises an eyelet.

27. A bone anchor, comprising a cylindrical body having cuts formed in its side such that the body can deform under axial force to form one or more lateral features, wherein at least some of the cuts define two convex edges adapted to roll against each other during deformation.

28. The anchor of claim 27, comprising a substantially pointed tip positioned on a first end of the cylindrical body.

29. The anchor of claim 28, comprising a suture attached to the tip and extending through the cylindrical body and out a second end of the cylindrical body that is opposite the first end.

30. The anchor of claim 27, configured to form two lateral features after deformation.

31. The anchor of claim 27, wherein at least some of the cuts define an upper and lower portion of one of the lateral features and wherein one of the convex edges is an edge of the upper portion of the lateral feature and the other convex edge is an edge of the lower portion of the lateral feature.

32. A bone anchor, comprising a cylindrical body having cuts formed in its side such that the body can deform under axial force to form one or more lateral features, wherein at least some of the cuts define one or more hinges about which a first portion of the side of the body can bend during deformation and define an edge of said first portion adapted to contact a second portion of the side of the body, wherein said first portion forms part of one of the lateral features after deformation.

33. The anchor of claim 32, wherein said first portion and said second portion are connected to each other through the hinges.

34. The anchor of claim 32, wherein the hinges comprise a third portion of the side of the cylindrical body.

35. The anchor of claim 32, wherein the first portion forms a lower portion of one of the lateral features.

36. The anchor of claim 32, wherein the second portion comprises a part of the cylindrical body that is uncut around its circumference.

37. The anchor of claim 32, wherein the second portion comprises a part of the cylindrical body that does not deform under the axial force that forms the one or more lateral features.

38. The anchor of claim 32, comprising a substantially pointed tip positioned on a first end of the cylindrical body.

39. The anchor of claim 38, comprising a suture attached to the tip and extending through the cylindrical body and out a second end of the cylindrical body that is opposite the first end.

40. The anchor of claim 38, wherein the tip is attached to the second portion.