Apparatus and method for suture attachment

• US 5,156,616 A
• Filed: 02/10/1992
• Issued: 10/20/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bruce F. Meadows, William S. Ogden
• Original Assignee: Bruce F. Meadows, William S. Ogden
• Inventors: Meadows, Bruce F., Ogden, William S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US07/832,964
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72, 606/73, 606/86, 606/232, 411/395
• 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 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
• 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 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0888 Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/916 Tool for installing or removing orthopedic fastener

Abstract

A cannulated bone screw is illustrated that retains a knotted suture and which is anchored to bone. The cannulated bone screw comprises a biocompatible body having a proximal end and a distal end, and the body includes exterior screw threads for inserting and retaining the body into the bone. The body is cylindrical and has a passageway that extends axially therethrough. The passageway includes a central portion, a distal portion and a proximal portion. The central portion has a diameter less then the distal portion and is sized to receive a suture thread therethrough. The distal portion is sized to receive a suture thread knot. The suture thread knot received within the distal portion is retained by the central portion, which is sufficiently small to prevent the knot from being drawn therethrough. The proximal portion includes a hexagonal cavity for cooperating with an external drive tool for rotating the body and thereby driving the body into the bone.

Claims

1. A cannulated bone screw useful for anchoring a suture thread to bone which comprises:

a biocompatible body having a proximal end and a distal end, said body including exterior screw threads for inserting and retaining said body into the bone,

said body defining a passageway extending therethrough, the passageway including a central portion and a distal portion, the central portion being sized to receive a suture thread therethrough, the distal portion being sized to receive a suture thread knot, the central portion being sized smaller than the distal portion, the central portion being sufficiently large as to receive a suture thread therethrough but sufficiently small as to prevent a suture thread knot from being drawn therethrough,

said body further defining means for cooperating with an external drive tool for rotating said body and for thereby driving said body into the bone.

2. The bone screw of claim 1 in which said body defines self-tapping exterior screw threads.

3. The bone screw of claim 1 in which said body is cylindrical and has a central axis, and in which the passageway extends axially therethrough.

4. The bone screw of claim 3 in which said body defines self-tapping exterior screw threads.

5. The bone screw of claim 1 in which said means for cooperating with an external drive tool comprises a proximal cavity configured to receive an external drive tool.

6. The bone screw of claim 5 in which the proximal cavity is sized larger than the central portion of the passageway and has a hexagonal cross-section for cooperation with an external hex driver.

7. The bone screw of claim 5 in which said body defines self-tapping exterior screw threads.

8. The bone screw of claim 5 in which said body is cylindrical and has a central axis, and in which the passageway extends axially therethrough.

9. The bone screw of claim 8 in which said body defines self-tapping exterior screw threads.

10. The bone screw of claim 9 in which the proximal cavity is sized larger than the central portion of the passageway and has a hexagonal cross-section for cooperation with an external hex driver.

11. A method of attaching suture thread to bone which comprises the steps of:

a. providing a bone screw comprising a biocompatible body having a proximal end and a distal end, said body including exterior screw threads for inserting and retaining said body into the bone, said body defining a passageway extending therethrough, the passageway including a central portion and a distal portion, the central portion being sized to receive a suture thread therethrough, the distal portion being sized to receive a suture thread knot, the central portion being sized smaller than the distal portion, the central portion being sufficiently large as to receive a suture thread therethrough but sufficiently small as to prevent a suture thread knot from being drawn therethrough, said body further defining means for cooperating with an external drive tool for rotating said body and for thereby driving said body into the bone;

b. passing suture thread through the passageway of the body of said bone screw to extend from the distal end;

c. tying a knot in the suture thread extending from the distal end of the passageway;

d. withdrawing the suture thread from the proximal end of said bone screw and thereby drawing the knot into the distal section until it abuts the central portion having a smaller cross-sectional area, thereby blocking the passage of the knot; and

e. inserting said bone screw into the bone.