KNOTLESS GRAFT FIXATION ASSEMBLY

• US 20160095588A1
• Filed: 12/16/2015
• Published: 04/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Inventors: ElAttrache, Neal S., Burkhart, Stephen S., Dreyfuss, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,775,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8645 Headless screws, e.g. ligament interference screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00907 for light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0403 Dowels other bone dowels A61B17/68; dowels for connecting prosthetic parts A61F2002/30433
• 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 2017/044 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 2017/0448 Additional elements on or within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 snug fit within the anchor
• 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 2002/0835 with deformation of anchor parts, e.g. expansion of dowel by set screw
• 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 2002/0888 Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel

Abstract

An illustrative example inserter assembly for securing soft tissue in a position adjacent bone includes an inserter having a proximal end and distal end. The inserter includes a handle near the proximal end and a shaft between the handle and the distal end. An anchor body is situated near the distal end of the inserter. A suture includes a portion establishing a suture loop near the distal end where the suture loop is distal of the anchor body. The suture includes a portion within the shaft. The suture has two ends that protrude from the inserter near the proximal end.

Claims

1. A method of securing soft tissue in a position adjacent bone using an anchor assembly that includes an inserter, an anchor body near a distal end of the inserter, and a suture situated at least partially within the inserter, the suture establishing a suture loop near the distal end of the inserter, the method comprising:

manipulating a portion of the suture that protrudes from the inserter near a proximal end of the inserter to capture a portion of the soft tissue within the suture loop;

placing at least the suture loop and the portion of the soft tissue within a blind hole in bone; and

causing relative motion between the suture loop and the anchor body to thereby secure the anchor body within the blind hole in a position where the anchor body traps at least the portion of the soft tissue in the bone.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising performing the manipulating and placing without passing a suture through the soft tissue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the suture that protrudes from the inserter near the proximal end of the inserter comprises two ends of the suture.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the suture has a length and a portion of the length extends through the inserter.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the two ends of the suture protrude from the inserter near a handle of the inserter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the relative motion comprises moving a portion of the inserter relative to another portion of the inserter.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the relative motion comprises movement of the anchor body in a distal direction toward the suture loop.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the relative motion comprises causing movement of at least a portion of the anchor body relative to the bone.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein causing the relative motion comprises moving the entire anchor body relative to the bone.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising removing the suture loop from the blind hole subsequent to the portion of the soft tissue being trapped in the bone by the anchor body.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising wedging the soft tissue between the anchor and the bone.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the placing comprises pushing the inserter and the portion of the soft tissue in a distal direction into the blind hole.

13. An assembly for securing soft tissue in a position adjacent bone, the assembly comprising:

an inserter having a proximal end and distal end, the inserter including a handle near the proximal end, the inserter including a shaft between the handle and the distal end;

an anchor body near the distal end of the inserter; and

a suture including a portion establishing a suture loop near the distal end, the suture loop being distal of the anchor body, the suture including a portion within the shaft, the suture having two ends that protrude from the inserter near the proximal end.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein

the assembly has a first condition including the anchor body in a first position relative to the suture loop;

the first condition includes the suture loop being configured to gather soft tissue near the distal end;

relative movement between the suture loop and the anchor body establishes a second condition of the assembly; and

the second condition includes the anchor body being in a second position relative to the suture loop where the anchor body is situated for securing soft tissue to bone.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the handle includes a portion that is moveable relative to another portion of the inserter for causing the relative movement between the anchor body and the suture loop.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the relative movement comprises movement of the anchor body in a distal direction toward the suture loop.

17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the portion of the handle causes movement of at least a portion of the anchor body relative the suture loop.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the portion of the handle causes movement of the entire anchor body relative to the suture loop.

19. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the suture is removable from the inserter.

20. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the anchor body has an exterior that is configured to trap soft tissue between the exterior and bone.

21. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the ends of the suture protrude from the handle.

22. The assembly of claim 13, wherein

the shaft comprises an outer shaft;

and

the anchor body has a proximal end received against a distal end of the outer shaft.

23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the outer shaft is moveable relative to another portion of the inserter for moving the anchor body relative to the suture loop.

24. A tissue securing assembly, comprising:

an inserter including a distal end and a proximal end, the inserter including a handle near the proximal end, the inserter having a longitudinal axis between the distal end and the proximal end;

an anchor body near the distal end, the anchor body being configured to be received in a hole in bone for trapping at least a portion of soft tissue in bone;

a tissue gathering portion near the distal end, the tissue gathering portion being distal of the anchor body, the tissue gathering portion being configured to facilitate at least temporarily gathering a portion of soft tissue near the distal end of the inserter for moving the portion of soft tissue with the distal end of the inserter into a hole in bone;

a second portion coupled to the tissue gathering portion, the second portion extending along the longitudinal axis from the tissue gathering portion to near the proximal end, the second portion being at least partially within the inserter, the second portion being moveable relative to the handle to change a position of the tissue gathering portion relative to the anchor body.

25. The assembly of claim 24, comprising a suture and wherein

the tissue gathering portion is a portion of the suture that establishes a suture loop near the distal end;

and

the second portion is another portion of the suture between the suture loop and ends of the suture.

26. The assembly of claim 25, wherein the suture is removable from the inserter.

27. The assembly of claim 24, wherein

the inserter comprises a shaft along the longitudinal axis;

and

the second portion is within the shaft.

28. The assembly of claim 26, wherein the anchor body has a proximal edge that is received against a distal edge of the shaft.

29. The assembly of claim 28, comprising a rotatable member near the handle and wherein rotational movement of at least one of the handle or the rotatable member causes a change in position of the anchor body relative to the suture gathering portion.

30. The assembly of claim 29, wherein the rotational movement of at least one of the handle or the rotatable member causes movement of the exterior shaft and the anchor body in a distal direction.