INTEGRATED ADJUSTABLE BUTTON-SUTURE-GRAFT CONSTRUCT WITH TWO FIXATION DEVICES

• US 20100256677A1
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Inventors: Morgan, Craig D., Jolly, Jacob A., Albertorio, Ricardo, Zajac, Eric S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,439,976 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 17/0485 Devices or means, e.g. loops, for capturing the suture thread and threading it through an opening of a suturing instrument or needle eyelet
• 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 2017/0403 Dowels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• 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 2002/087 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

An adjustable button/loop device for securing biologic material in bone, such as for ACL reconstruction. The device has a pair of button/loop constructs, each including a flexible, adjustable loop integrated with a fixation device (for example, a wedge). Biologic material (for example, soft tissue, graft, ligament or tendon) is secured to the two fixation devices, and the construct is inserted into a pair of bone sockets/tunnels, such as into a tunnel in the tibia and a socket in the femur. The biologic material is secured within the bone by passing the buttons though respective bone sockets/tunnels, flipping and seating the buttons outside the bone, and then adjusting the lengths of the flexible adjustable loops passing through the buttons and the respective fixation devices, with the graft extending between the fixation devices thereby appropriately secured in the bone.

Claims

1. A fixation system for tissue reconstruction, comprising:

a first button/loop construct having a first button with a first configuration, and a first adjustable loop connected to the first button;

a second button/loop construct having a second button with a second configuration, and a second adjustable loop connected to the second button;

a first fixation device connected to the first adjustable loop;

a second fixation device connected to the second adjustable loop; and

tissue mountable, in use, between the first and second fixation devices.

2. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second adjustable loops has two adjustable eyesplices that are interconnected.

3. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second fixation devices is one of a wedge, a plug, an implant, an anchor or a screw.

4. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the first fixation device is a wedge having at least two holes to allow at least two portions of the first adjustable loop to pass thereto and to connect the first fixation device to the first button.

5. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the second fixation device is a wedge having at least two holes to allow at least two portions of the second adjustable loop to pass thereto and to connect the second fixation device to the second button.

6. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the first fixation device is positioned over a first eyesplice interconnection of the first button/loop construct, and the second fixation device is positioned over a second eyesplice interconnection of the second button/loop construct.

7. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the tissue is soft tissue, graft, tendon, ligament, synthetic material, biological material, bone, or a combination of such materials.

8. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the tissue is a graft, a tendon or a ligament.

9. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the tissue is an autograft or an allograft.

10. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the first configuration is different from the second configuration.

11. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the tissue is secured to the first and second fixation devices through at least one flexible member.

12. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second adjustable loops is formed of a high strength suture.

13. An ACL construct for fixation within femoral and tibia tunnels or sockets, comprising:

a first fixation device connected to a second fixation device by a biologic construct extending between the first and second fixation devices, the biologic construct being secured to each of the first and second fixation devices; and

a first loop of flexible material attached to the first fixation device, and a second loop of flexible material attached to the second fixation device,

wherein each of the first and second loops have an adjustable length, to allow positioning of the biologic construct within the femoral and tibia tunnels or sockets.

14. The ACL construct of claim 13, wherein the construct has a length which is about equal to a length of the femoral tunnel, the tibia tunnel and of an intraarticular distance between the femoral tunnel and the tibia tunnel.

15. The ACL construct of claim 13, wherein the first loop is further connected to a first button having a first configuration, and wherein the second loop is further connected to a second button having a second configuration.

16. The ACL construct of claim 15, wherein the first configuration is different from the second configuration.

17. The biologic construct of claim 15, wherein the first button and the second button are adapted for engagement on the femur and tibia, respectively.

18. The biologic construct of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second buttons is formed of a metal or a metal alloy.

19. The biologic construct of claim 13, wherein the biologic construct is a graft, a tendon, or a ligament.

20. A method of tissue reconstruction, comprising:

providing a biologic construct comprising a first fixation device connected to a second fixation device by biologic material extending between the first and second fixation devices, the biologic material being secured to each of the first and second fixation devices, the biologic construct further comprising a first loop of flexible material attached to the first fixation device, and a second loop of flexible material attached to the second fixation device;

inserting the biologic construct within a first bone tunnel and a second bone tunnel; and

adjusting the length of at least one of the first and second loops, to fixate the biologic construct within the first and second bone tunnels.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein each of the first and second loops have an adjustable length, to allow positioning of the biologic construct within the first and second bone tunnels.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of securing each of the first and second loops to each of the first and second bone tunnels.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

attaching the first loop to a first member with a first configuration and provided with a plurality of first apertures;

attaching the second loop to a second member with a second configuration and provided with a plurality of second apertures;

advancing the first member through the first bone tunnel so as to exit the first bone and to pivot and engage a cortical surface of the first bone; and

advancing the second member through the second bone tunnel so as to exit the second bone and to pivot and engage a cortical surface of the second bone.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first member is a button with a circular body and circular apertures, and the second member is a button with an oblong body and oblong apertures, and wherein the first loop is passed through the circular apertures and the second loop is passed through the oblong apertures.