Apparatus for Tissue Repair

• US 20100114161A1
• Filed: 01/08/2010
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Sikora, George, Ek, Steven, Bojarski, Ray, Torrie, Paul Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 9,833,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/223
• 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 17/0467 Instruments for cutting sutures surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• 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 17/06066 Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations making needles B21G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 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 lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0437 the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• 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 2017/0458 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 2017/0477 with pre-tied sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 : for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/061 : hollow or tubular suture extending inside a hollow needle A61B2017/06052; hollow sutures A61B2017/06185
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0646 : for insertion into cartillege, e.g. meniscus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 : having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0648 : threaded, e.g. tacks with a screw thread
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0805 : Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 : Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0829 : without deformation of anchor parts, e.g. fixation screws on bone surface, extending barbs, cams, butterflies, spring-loaded pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0852 : Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0858 : Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0882 : Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0888 : Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel

Abstract

An apparatus includes first and second fixation members, a flexible member coupled to the first and second fixation members, and a limiting element coupled to the flexible member. The limiting element is movable relative to the second fixation member and acts to limit loosening of the flexible member relative to the second fixation member. The limiting element can be slidably received by the flexible member. The flexible member can be coupled to the fixation members such that pulling on a free end of the flexible member shortens a length of the flexible member between the fixation members.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

first and second fixation members;

a flexible element comprising a first loop and a first section threaded around and through the first loop and coiled around the first loop, a second section passing through a second loop at least partially formed by the first section and terminating at a free end of the flexible element, wherein one of the fixation members is slidably attached to the first loop and one of the fixation members is substantially immovably attached to the free end of the flexible element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible element comprises a suture.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 being preassembled for use in a surgical procedure.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second fixation members defines a through hole for receiving the flexible element.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the flexible element passes through the through hole in the at least one of the first and second fixation members.

6. A wound closure kit comprising:

a needle having an open tip and defining a longitudinal bore that connects to the open tip;

first and second fasteners disposed within the needle bore; and

a flexible member connecting the first fastener to the second fastener, the flexible member forming a slip knot, such slip knot including a portion defining a loop that can be slipped through the slip knot, one of the first and second fasteners being trapped on the loop by the slip knot and acting to limit slipping of the loop.

7. The kit of claim 6, wherein the needle defines a longitudinal slit that connects to the bore and to the open tip.

8. The kit of claim 7, wherein the first fastener includes a projection that protrudes through the slit.

9. The kit of claim 7, wherein the second fastener includes an appendage that protrudes through the slit, and the flexible member is attached to the appendage.

10. The kit of claim 7, wherein the flexible member is fixed to the first fastener, and movably attached to the second fastener.

11. The kit of claim 6, wherein the flexible member comprises a suture.

12. An apparatus for use in a surgical procedure, comprising:

first and second fixation members, at least one of the first and second fixation members defining through holes, and

a flexible member coupling the first and second fixation members, the flexible member forming a slip knot, the slip knot including two loops surrounding the flexible member that passes through the slip knot, such slip knot being between the fixation members and being preformed prior to use of the apparatus in a form for use, the slip knot including a portion defining a loop that can be slipped through the slip knot, wherein one of the fixation member is trapped on the loop by the slip knot and acts to limit slipping of the loop.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the flexible member comprises a suture.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the flexible member is substantially immovably secured to the first fixation member.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the flexible member is movably coupled to the second fixation member.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of the fixation members defines through holes and the flexible member passes through the through holes.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the flexible member extends substantially from the second fixation member to the first fixation member and terminates prior to extending back to the second fixation member and the flexible member is substantially immovably secured to the first fixation member and movably coupled to the second fixation member.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the knot is spaced from the first and second fixation members.

19. An apparatus for use in a surgical procedure, comprising:

first and second fixation members, at least one of the first and second fixation members defining through holes,

a flexible member coupling the first and second fixation members, the flexible member forming a slip knot, such slip knot being between the fixation members and including a portion defining a loop that can be slipped through the slip knot, one of the fixation members being trapped on the loop by the slip knot and acting to limit slipping of the loop, and

a delivery device to which the first and second fixation members coupled by the flexible member including the slip knot are mounted.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the flexible member comprises a suture.