Suture loop locking device

• US 5,383,905 A
• Filed: 10/09/1992
• Issued: 01/24/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Howansky, Steven, Golds, Ellen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graysay, Tamara L.
• Application Number:
  US07/959,202
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/157, 606/191, 606/213, 606/215, 606/216, 606/218, 606/232, 606/74, 24/194, 24/16 PB, 24/30.5 P, 24/357, 24/136 L, 24/136 R, 24/115 M, 24/503, 24/30.5 S
• 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 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• 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 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• 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 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 snug fit within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3973 Rope clamped between cone and socket

Abstract

A device for securing a suture loop about bodily tissue includes a bead member having a longitudinal bore and an anchor member adapted to be slidably inserted within the bore of the bead member. The anchor member includes at least two axial compressible sections which define a passageway to receive two end portions of a suture loop. The axial sections collapse radially inwardly upon insertion of the anchor member within the bore of the bead member to securely wedge the suture end portions received within the passageway. The device has application in conventional and endoscopic surgical procedures including laparoscopic procedures.

Claims

1. A device for securing a suture loop about bodily tissue, which comprises:

a bead member having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, said longitudinal bore defining a cross sectional dimension which is substantially constant throughout the length of said longitudinal bore; and

an anchor member slidably insertable within said bore of said bead member and defining a longitudinal passageway therethrough for reception of two end portions of a suture looped about tissue, said anchor member comprising a base portion and at least two axial compressible sections integrally connected at respective first end portions thereof to said base portion, each said at least two axial sections tapering generally outwardly towards a second end portion thereof relative to a longitudinal axis defined by said anchor member, said at least two axial sections adapted to collapse radially inwardly towards said longitudinal axis defined by said anchor member upon at least partial insertion of said anchor member within said bore of said bead member to securely wedge the suture end portions received within said passageway of said anchor member to secure the suture looped about tissue.

2. The suture device according to claim 1 wherein the crosssectional dimension of said longitudinal bore is substantially circular.

3. A suture device for securing a suture loop about a tissue portion, which comprises:

an individual suture adapted to be looped about tissue;

a bead member having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough wherein two end portions of said looped suture are passed through said longitudinal bore; and

an anchor member comprising first and second pairs of opposed axial sections, said first and second pairs of axial sections including inner wedging surfaces and defining therebetween a longitudinal passageway for reception of said two end portions of said looped suture, said first and second pairs of axial sections being adapted to collapse radially inwardly towards a longitudinal axis defined by said anchor member when said anchor member is at least partially inserted within said bore of said bead member to securely wedge said suture end portions received within said passageway between said wedging surfaces thereof to retain said looped suture about the tissue, wherein said wedging surfaces of said first pair of said axial sections is generally straight and said wedging surfaces of said second pair of axial sections include arcuate recesses.

4. A method for securing a suture about tissue, comprising the steps of:

looping a suture about tissue;

sliding a bead member having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough over the two ends of the suture such that the suture ends are received within said longitudinal bore;

advancing said bead member to a predetermined position adjacent the tissue portion;

inserting the two suture ends within a longitudinal passageway defined in an anchor member; and

advancing said anchor member along the two suture end portions and into said longitudinal bore of said bead member such that said anchor member assumes a collapsed condition whereby the suture end portions are securely wedged between inner wedging surfaces of said anchor member to retain the looped suture about the tissue.

5. A method for securing a suture about tissue, comprising the steps of:

looping a suture about tissue;

sliding a locking device including a bead member defining a longitudinal bore therethrough and an anchor member partially inserted within said bore of said bead member over the two ends of the suture such that the suture ends are received within a longitudinal passageway defined in said anchor member;

advancing said bead member and said partially inserted anchor member along the two suture end portions to a predetermined position adjacent the tissue portion; and

driving said anchor member within said bead member such that said anchor member is fully received therewithin to collapse the anchor member and securely wedge the suture end portions between inner wedging surfaces of said anchor member to retain the looped suture about the tissue.

6. A suture device for securing a suture loop about tissue portion, which comprises:

an individual suture adapted to be looped about tissue;

a bead member having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough wherein two end portions of said looped suture are passed through said longitudinal bore; and

an anchor member comprising at least two axial compressible sections, said at least two axial sections defining therebetween a longitudinal passageway for reception of said two end portions of said looped suture, said at least two axial sections including inner wedging surfaces and being adapted to collapse radially inwardly towards a longitudinal axis defined by said anchor member when said anchor member is at least partially inserted within said bore of said bead member to securely wedge said suture end portions received within said passageway to retain said looped suture about the tissue, said at least two axial sections each including at least one flange portion disposed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, said flange portions correspondingly dimensioned and positioned to increase the effective outer diameter of said anchor member so as to maximize the amount of inward movement of said axial sections towards said longitudinal axis defined by said anchor member upon insertion thereof in said bore of said bead member.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said flange portions taper outwardly towards a rear end portion of said anchor member to facilitate insertion of said anchor member within said bead member.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein said at least two axial sections each comprise a pair of said flange portions.

9. A suture device for securing a suture loop about a tissue portion, which comprises:

an individual suture adapted to be looped about tissue;

a bead member having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough wherein two end portions of said looped suture are passed through said longitudinal bore; and

an anchor member comprising four axial compressible sections, each said axial compressible section defining an inner wedging surface, said four axial sections defining therebetween a longitudinal passageway for reception of said two end portions of said looped suture and being adapted to collapse radially inwardly towards a longitudinal axis defined by said anchor member when said anchor member is at least partially inserted within said bore of said bead member to securely wedge said suture end portions between said inner wedging surfaces to thereby retain said looped suture about the tissue.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein said four axial compressible sections are generally quadrantal-shaped in cross-section.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said wedging surfaces of said four axial compressible sections each define an arcuate recess, said arcuate recesses configured and dimensioned to accommodate said two suture end portions of said looped suture.

12. A suturing device, which comprises:

a flexible suture adapted to be looped about bodily tissue and having first and second end portions;

a bead member having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough and dimensioned for reception of said first and second end portions of said suture thereby forming a loop about the bodily tissue;

an anchor member slidably insertable within said bore of said bead member and defining a longitudinal passageway therethrough for reception of said first and second end portions of said suture looped about tissue, said anchor member comprising a base portion and at least two axial compressible sections integrally connected at respective first end portions thereof to said base portion, each said at least two axial sections tapering generally outwardly towards a second end portion thereof relative to a longitudinal axis defined by said anchor member, said at least two axial sections adapted to collapse radially inwardly towards said longitudinal axis defined by said anchor member upon at least partial insertion of said anchor member within said bore of said bead member to selectively secure said suture loop at a desired tension about tissue.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein said anchor member is generally frusto-conically shaped.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the outer diameter of at least a portion of said anchor member is greater than the diameter of said longitudinal bore of said bead member.

15. The device according to claim 12 wherein said anchor member comprises four said axial sections, and wherein said anchor member has a generally frusto-conical shape.

16. The device according to claim 12, wherein said bead member comprises nonabsorbable synthetic fibers selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyesters, polyethylene, polyamides, polyvinyl chlorides, polypropylenes, polytetrafluoroethylene and polysulfones.

17. The device according to claim 12, wherein said bead member comprises bioabsorbable fibers selected from the group consisting of catgut and synthetic materials including polymers and copolymers of lactide, glycolide, dioxanone, caprolactone and trimethylene carbonate.

18. The device according to claim 12, wherein said anchor member comprises nonabsorbable synthetic fibers selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyesters, polyethylene, polyamides, polyvinyl chlorides, polypropylenes, polytetrafluoroethylene and polysulfones.

19. The device according to claim 12, wherein said anchor member comprises bioabsorbable fibers selected from the group consisting of catgut and synthetic materials including polymers and copolymers of lactide, glycolide, dioxanone, caprolactone and trimethylene carbonate.