Suture anchor

• US 5,192,303 A
• Filed: 03/18/1992
• Issued: 03/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitek Surgical Products, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Mitek Surgical Products, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: O'Leary, James, Nicholson, James E., Gatturna, Roland F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US07/853,261
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72, 606/74, 606/220, 606/232, 606/75, 606/78
• 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 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• 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 2017/0437 the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• 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: 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 2002/0829 without deformation of anchor parts, e.g. fixation screws on bone surface, extending barbs, cams, butterflies, spring-loaded pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0864 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor elements, e.g. by additional screws in the anchor, anchor crimped around tendon
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0882 Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone
• 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: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/00 Pneumatic or hydraulic massage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/907 Composed of particular material or coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/908 Bioabsorbable material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/911 : Memory material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/916 : Tool for installing or removing orthopedic fastener

Abstract

A suture anchor for anchoring one end of a conventional suture to bone comprising a coupling member, at least one barb made of a resilient elastic material projecting form said coupling member, and means for attaching one end of a suture to said suture anchor. The coupling member and the at least one barb and adapted to securely anchor one end of the suture in bone when the suture is attached to the attachment means so that the other end of the suture extending outside the bone can be used to attach objects to the bone. A novel application tool is also provided.

Claims

1. A post and post anchor assembly for attaching a post to bone, said post and post anchor assembly comprising:

(a) a post having a first end and a second end;

(b) a coupling member; and

(c) at least one barb, said barb having a first end and a second end and being curved in its normal unstressed state and being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight length when desired, said barb extending transversely from said coupling member so that said second end of said barb is substantially laterally spaced from said coupling member when said barb is in its normal unstressed state but is capable of being aligned with said coupling member when said barb is deformed to a substantially straight length, and said post being attached to said coupling member at said first end of said post so that said second end of said post is free for use in attaching objects to a bone when said post anchor is anchored in said bone.

2. A post and post anchor assembly according to claim 1 wherein said at least one barb is made out of a nickel titanium alloy.

3. A post and post anchor assembly according to claim 1 wherein there are at least three barbs.

4. A prosthesis and prosthesis anchor assembly for attaching a prosthesis to bone, said prosthesis and prosthesis anchor assembly comprising:

(a) a prosthesis having a first end and a second end;

(b) a coupling member; and

(c) at least one barb, said barb having a first end and a second end and being curved in its normal unstressed state and being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight length when desired, said barb extending transversely from said coupling member so that said second end of said barb is substantially laterally spaced from said coupling member when said barb is in its normal unstressed state but is capable of being aligned with said coupling member when said barb is deformed to a substantially straight length, and said prosthesis being attached to said coupling member at said first end of said prosthesis so that said second end of said prosthesis is free for use when said prosthesis anchor is anchored in said bone.

5. A prosthesis and prosthesis anchor assembly according to claim 4 wherein said at least one barb is made out of a nickel titanium alloy.

6. A prosthesis and prosthesis anchor assembly according to claim 4 wherein there are three barbs.

7. Apparatus for anchoring a post in a hole formed in a bone, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a post having a first end and a second end;

(b) a fastening assembly comprising a rigid coupling member and at least one barb;

said coupling member having first and second opposite ends and a longitudinal axis, and being so dimensioned that the diameter of a first minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member is smaller than the diameter of said hole,

each said barb being curved in its unrestrained state and extending from said coupling member both longitudinally and radially outwardly relative to said longitudinal axis such that said barb projects radially outwards from said coupling member beyond said first minimum cylinder by a distance such that a second minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member and said at least one barb has a diameter at least equal to the diameter of said hole, said barb also being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight configuration generally within said first minimum cylinder; and

(c) attachment means for attaching said first end of said post to said coupling member such that said second end of said post is free for use in attaching objects to said bone when said fastening assembly is anchored in said hole in said bone.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said at least one barb is made out of nickel titanium alloy.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein there are at least three barbs.

10. Apparatus for anchoring a prosthesis to a bone having a hole formed therein, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a prosthesis having a first end and a second end;

(b) a fastening assembly comprising a rigid coupling member and at least one barb;

said coupling member having first and second opposite ends and a longitudinal axis, and being so dimensioned that the diameter of a first minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member is smaller than the diameter of said hole,

each said barb being curved in its unrestrained state and extending from said coupling member both longitudinally and radially outwardly relative to said longitudinal axis such that said barb projects radially outwards from said coupling member beyond said first minimum cylinder by a distance such that a second minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member and said at least one barb has a diameter at least equal to the diameter of said hole, said barb also being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight configuration generally within said first minimum cylinder; and

(c) attachment means for attaching said first end of said prosthesis to said coupling member so that said second end of said prosthesis is free for use when said fastening assembly is anchored in said hole in said bone.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said at least one barb is made out of nickel titanium alloy.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein there are at least three barbs.

13. Apparatus for attaching a first object to a second object having a hole therein, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a coupling member adapted for location in said hole;

(b) at least one barb, said barb having a first end and a second end and being curved in its normal unstressed state and being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight length when desired, said barb extending transversely from said coupling member so that said second end of said barb is substantially laterally spaced from said coupling member when said barb is in its normal unstressed state but is capable of being aligned with said coupling member when said barb is deformed to a substantially straight length; and

(c) attachment means associated with said coupling member for attaching said first object to said apparatus.

14. Apparatus for anchoring a first object to a second object having a hole formed therein, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a fastening assembly comprising a rigid coupling member and at least one barb;

said coupling member having first and second opposite ends and a longitudinal axis, and being so dimensioned that the diameter of a first minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member is smaller than the diameter of said hole,

each said barb being curved in its unrestrained state and extending from said coupling member both longitudinally and radially outwardly relative to said longitudinal axis such that said barb projects radially outwards from said coupling member beyond said first minimum cylinder by a distance such that a second minimum cylinder enclosing said coupling member and said at least one barb has a diameter at least equal to the diameter of said hole, said barb also being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight configuration generally within said first minimum cylinder; and

(b) attachment means for attaching said first object to said fastening assembly.

15. Apparatus for attaching a first object to a surface of a second object, said second object including walls defining a hole extending along a first longitudinal axis inwardly from said surface of said second object, said apparatus comprising:

an anchor including a rigid coupling member, at least one barb and attachment means;

said coupling member having first and second opposite ends and a second longitudinal axis extending between said first and second opposite ends, said coupling member being so dimensioned as to fit within said hole when said first and said second longitudinal axes are aligned;

each said barb being curved in its normal, unstressed state but being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight configuration, and extending longitudinally and radially relative to said second longitudinal axis from said coupling member to an outer end transversely spaced from said coupling member such that said outer end of each said barb will engage said walls defining said hole in said second object when said coupling member is disposed therein; and

said attachment means being associated with said coupling member for connecting said first object to said anchor.