FENESTRATED SUTURE ANCHOR AND METHOD FOR KNOTLESS FIXATION OF TISSUE

• US 20120165868A1
• Filed: 03/05/2012
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John A. Sodeika, Peter J. Dreyfuss, Reinhold Schmieding, Stephen S. Burkhart
• Original Assignee: John A. Sodeika, Peter J. Dreyfuss, Reinhold Schmieding, Stephen S. Burkhart
• Inventors: Burkhart, Stephen S., Dreyfuss, Peter J., Sodeika, John A., Schmieding, Reinhold
• Granted Patent: US 10,045,770 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 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0408 Rivets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture 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 2017/045 snug fit within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/8655 with special features for locking in the bone

Abstract

A fenestrated suture anchor for fixation of tissue to bone. In a preferred embodiment, the suture includes an implant, such a swivel implant with a forked tip for capturing suture. The implant is secured in a hole in bone by advancing a fixation device, such as a cannulated interference screw, to engage and fully seat the implant. The cannulated fixation device is provided with a plurality of openings or fenestrations of various dimensions and geometries to provide multiple pathways through the anchor (i.e., though the interior of the body and through the fenestrations) to allow blood to flow to increase the healing zone, for example, for rotator cuff repair, while also promoting bone in-growth.

Claims

1. A method of tissue fixation, comprising:

providing a suture;

securing a first portion of the suture to a tissue to be fixated;

providing a bone socket; and

anchoring a second portion of the suture into the bone socket using a swivel implant and a cannulated fixation device having a threaded body provided with a plurality of openings or side fenestrations to provide multiple pathways for blood to pass through the threaded body and up through the cannulation of the fixation device when the cannulated fixation device is inserted into the bone socket, wherein the suture is anchored into the bone socket by the steps of;

capturing the suture attached to the tissue with a swivel implant;

inserting the swivel implant with the captured suture into the bone socket; and

advancing the fixation device into the bone socket by turning a driver coupled to the fixation device while keeping the implant stationary, to engage and fully seat the swivel implant in bone, thereby securing the suture and providing tissue fixation without tying any knots in the suture.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the suture comprises a plurality of suture loops and the swivel implant comprises a forked tip for capturing the suture.