Surgical Suture System

• US 20120101524A1
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Published: 04/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ziptek LLC
• Original Assignee: Ziptek LLC
• Inventors: Bennett, William F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,814,904 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 17/0466 Suture bridges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/842 Flexible wires, bands or straps A61B17/72, A61B17/82, A61B17/86 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• 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 2017/0441 the shaft being a rigid coil or spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 snug fit within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0456 Surface features on the anchor, e.g. ribs increasing friction between the suture and the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0462 One way system, i.e. also tensioning the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06176 with protrusions, e.g. barbs

Abstract

A surgical suture system for tissue repair and reattachment of torn tissue to a tissue substrate, medical prosthesis or medical implant. The system includes an elongated flexible suture member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced protuberances along a length thereof and a plurality of tissue engaging members each including two spaced apart locking apertures sized to receive the suture member passed therethrough to allow longitudinal movement of the suture member in only one direction through the locking apertures for suture member tightening.

Claims

1. A surgical suture system for tissue repair and reattachment of torn tissue to a tissue substrate or medical implant to tissue comprising:

an elongated flexible suture member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced protuberances along a length thereof;

a plurality of tissue engaging members each including two closely spaced apart locking apertures sized to receive said suture member passed therethrough for longitudinal movement of said suture member in only one direction through said locking apertures.

2. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

one of said plurality of tissue engaging members is a tapering conical-shaped threaded tissue anchor having said locking apertures formed through a head or body thereof.

3. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

one of said plurality of tissue engaging members is shaped similar to a grapnel-type anchor having said locking apertures formed through an elongated shank thereof.

4. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

one of said plurality of tissue engaging members is mushroom button-shaped having said locking apertures formed transversely therethrough.

5. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

one of said plurality of tissue engaging members has a domed button shape having one said locking aperture positioned centrally thereof and one said suture member permanently secured in another of said locking apertures.

6. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

one of said plurality of tissue engaging members is formed having an annular ring with a suture engaging bar extending centrally between an inner surface of said annular ring;

said locking apertures being formed through said suture engaging bar.

7. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

one of said plurality of tissue engaging members is a prosthesis or medical implant.

8. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

one of said plurality of tissue engaging members is a flat, thin disc having said locking apertures formed centrally therethrough.

9. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tissue engaging member is taken from the group consisting of:

a tapering conical-shaped threaded tissue anchor having said locking apertures formed through a head or body thereof;

a grapnel-type anchor having said locking apertures formed through an elongated shank thereof;

a domed-shaped button having said locking apertures formed transversely therethrough;

a domed-shaped button having said suture member permanently secured in one of said locking apertures;

an annular ring with a suture engaging bar extending centrally between an inner surface of said annular ring, said locking apertures being formed through said suture engaging bar;

a prosthesis or medical implant; and

a flat, thin disc having said locking apertures formed centrally therethrough.

10. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said suture member has one end portion thereof which is absent protuberances for wrapping engagement around a torn tissue segment.

11. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said suture member has a mid-portion thereof which is absent protuberances for wrapping engagement around a torn tissue segment.

12. A surgical suture system for tissue repair and reattachment of torn tissue to a tissue substrate, medical prosthesis, or medical implant comprising:

an elongated slender flexible suture member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced protuberances along a length thereof;

a plurality of tissue engaging members each including two closely spaced apart locking apertures each sized to receive said suture member passed therethrough to cooperatively restrict longitudinal movement of said suture member to only one direction through said locking apertures.

13. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

one of said plurality of tissue engaging members is a tapering conical-shaped threaded tissue anchor having said locking apertures formed through a head or body thereof.

14. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

one of said plurality of tissue engaging members is shaped similar to a grapnel-type anchor having said locking apertures formed through an elongated shank thereof.

15. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

one of said plurality of tissue engaging members is mushroom button-shaped having said locking apertures formed transversely therethrough.

16. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

one of said plurality of tissue engaging members has a domed button shape having one said locking aperture positioned centrally thereof and one said suture member permanently secured in another of said locking apertures.

17. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

one of said plurality of tissue engaging members is formed having an annular ring with a suture engaging bar extending centrally between an inner surface of said annular ring;

said locking apertures being formed through said suture engaging bar.

18. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

one of said plurality of tissue engaging members is a prosthesis or medical implant.

19. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

one of said plurality of tissue engaging members is a flat, thin disc having said locking apertures formed centrally therethrough.

20. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said tissue engaging member is taken from the group consisting of:

a tapering conical-shaped threaded tissue anchor having said locking apertures formed through a head or body thereof;

a grapnel-type anchor having said locking apertures formed through an elongated shank thereof;

a domed-shaped button having said locking apertures formed transversely therethrough;

a domed-shaped button having said suture member permanently secured in one of said locking apertures;

an annular ring with a suture engaging bar extending centrally between an inner surface of said annular ring, said locking apertures being formed through said suture engaging bar;

a prosthesis or medical implant; and

a flat, thin disc having said locking apertures formed centrally therethrough.

21. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said suture member has one end portion thereof which is absent protuberances for wrapping engagement around a torn tissue segment.

22. A surgical suture system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said suture member has a mid-portion thereof which is absent protuberances for wrapping engagement around a torn tissue segment.