Absorbable suture apparatus, method and installer

• US 4,750,492 A
• Filed: 02/27/1985
• Issued: 06/14/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Richards Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Richards Medical Company
• Inventors: Jacobs, Randall W.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reilly, Colleen
• Application Number:
  US06/706,006
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 128/334 R, 128/334 C, 128/335, 128/325, 128/326
• US Class Current: 606/230
• 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 17/0487 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 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• 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 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• 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 2017/0488 Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks for applying suture anchors A61B2017/0409; for applying wound clamps A61B17/10; for applying ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/06 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds A61L31/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/148 Materials at least partially resorbable by the body
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/04 Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids, e.g. lactones C08L67/06 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for repairing torn animal body tissue in a single procedure features a suture, anchor attached at one end of the suture to prevent the suture from being pulled through the tissue, and clenching device adapted to grip the suture on the opposite side of the tissue from where the anchor device is disposed so that the torn tissue may be held together by cooperating between the anchor device and the clenching device within the body, all of which are formed of a biodegradable material so that they will all be absorbed into the body over time thereby eliminating the need for another surgical procedure to remove them from the body. The installer is used to install the clenching device with one hand so that the other is free to pull on the suture.

Claims

1. An apparatus for repairing torn cartilage tissue in a single surgical procedure, comprising:

(a) a suture;

(b) anchor means adapted to prevent one end of the suture from being pulled through said cartilage tisue;

(c) clenching means adapted to hold said suture on the side of the cartilage tissue opposite the anchor means and cooperating with the anchor means for holding the torn tissue together, the suture being held in place with the anchor means and clenching means on opposite side of said tear;

(d) the suture, anchor means and clenching means being formed of a biodegradable material adapted to be absorbed into an animal body over time for eliminating the need for anotehr surgical procedure to remove than from the animal body after the tear is healed, wherein said clenching means includes;

a first body member including a first longitudinal opening extending through at least a portion of the body;

a second body member sized and shaped to releasably fit in said longitudinal opening;

the first body member including a second radial opening that intersects the first opening and is adapted to receive a suture therethrough when the second body member does not obstruct the second opening;

the second body member being sized and shaped to clamp the suture when the suture extends through the intersection of the first and second openings and the second body member is moved longitudinally beyond the intersection of the first and second openings.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the second body member includes a third opening that can be aligned with the second opening for receiving the suture.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material of the anchor means suture and clenching means are selected from the group consisting of:

poly(DL-lactide);

a copolymer of glycolide and DL-lactide or L-lactide;

a coplymer of caprolactone and DL-lactide or L-lactide; and

polycaprolactone.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, and further including locking means for locking the first and second body members, against relative movement as they hold the suture in place.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the locking means includes cooperating locking ridges formed on the first and second body portions.