Apparatus and method for manipulating and anchoring tissue
First Claim
1. An apparatus for insertion into a hole of predetermined diameter drilled into a bone, the apparatus providing a mechanism for anchoring tissue to the bone and characterized by:
- an anchor member having a base, the anchor member having two spaced apart legs extending from one side of the base in generally parallel relationship with one another so that the anchor member base and legs fit inside a hole of a predetermined diameter in a bone; and
a suture attached to the anchor member to extend therefrom.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for manipulating and anchoring tissue is provided. The invention is directed to solving the problem of manipulating and anchoring tissue within a joint when access to that tissue is limited, for example, during arthroscopic surgery. The apparatus includes an anchor member (10, 50) with attached suture (12, 52). The anchor member (10, 50) is lodged within the tip of a needle (14, 54), which is inserted into a joint. A tube (16, 55) fits within the needle (14, 54) and is pushed toward the needle tip to expel the anchor member (10, 50) into or behind the tissue to be manipulated or anchored. The suture (12, 52) is thereafter available for manipulating or anchoring the tissue. In one embodiment, the anchor member (80) is configured to provide anchorage of its attached suture (82) within a hole (100) drilled into a bone (96). A retainer (68, 69) slides over the suture (12, 52, 82) and secures tissue to the anchor member (12, 52) or to the bone (96) in which the anchor member (82) is anchored.
874 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for insertion into a hole of predetermined diameter drilled into a bone, the apparatus providing a mechanism for anchoring tissue to the bone and characterized by:
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an anchor member having a base, the anchor member having two spaced apart legs extending from one side of the base in generally parallel relationship with one another so that the anchor member base and legs fit inside a hole of a predetermined diameter in a bone; and a suture attached to the anchor member to extend therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for insertion into and through tissue to provide a mechanism for manipulating and anchoring tissue within a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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an elongated anchor member insertable into and through the tissue and shaped to normally assume a substantially straight configuration; a suture attached to the anchor member between opposite ends of the anchor member the suture having an end free for manipulating the tissue, the suture being flaccid in the vicinity of the anchor member so that the suture and anchor member do not assume a predetermined relative orientation; insertion means for inserting the anchor member into and through the tissue, including; a hollow needle having a tip and a butt; an expulsion member positionable within the hollow needle to be slidable therein, the anchor member being positionable within the needle tip and expelled therefrom by the expulsion member; and a retainer that is slidable with relatively little resistance along the suture toward the anchor member and slidable with relatively high resistance away from the anchor member, the retainer and suture configured for retaining tissue near the anchor member.
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10. An apparatus for insertion into and through tissue to provide a mechanism for manipulating and anchoring tissue within a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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an elongated anchor member insertable into and through the tissue and shaped to normally assume a substantially straight configuration; a suture attached to the anchor member between opposite ends of the anchor member the suture having an end free for manipulating the tissue, the suture being flaccid in the vicinity of the anchor member so that the suture and anchor member do not assume a predetermined relative orientation; insertion means for inserting the anchor member into and through the tissue, including; a hollow needle having a tip and a butt; an expulsion member positionable within the hollow needle to be slidable therein, the anchor member being positionable within the needle tip and expected therefrom by the expulsion member; and the anchor member being formed of resilient material and deformable into the deformed position within the needle tip, wherein the opposing ends of the anchor member are near each other when the anchor member is in the deformed position, the ends of the anchor member moving apart when the anchor member is expelled from the needle.
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11. A method for anchoring an end of a suture to tissue within the joint of a patient during a surgical procedure, comprising:
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(a) piercing a piece of fibrous tissue with the tip of a hollow needle having lodged therein an anchoring device and a suture threaded through an aperture in said anchoring device and extending away from said tip through the bore of said hollow needle; (b) pushing said anchoring device out of said tip of said hollow needle into a location behind said piece of fibrous tissue; (c) causing said anchoring device to assume a position extending generally transversely with respect to said suture; and (d) withdrawing said needle from said fibrous tissue, leaving said suture anchored to said fibrous tissue by said anchoring device preventing said suture from being withdrawn from said fibrous tissue. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An apparatus for insertion into and through tissue to provide a mechanism for manipulating and anchoring tissue within a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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an elongated anchor member insertable into and through the tissue and shaped to normally assume a substantially straight configuration; and a suture attached to the anchor member between opposite ends of the anchor member the suture having an end free for manipulating the tissue, the suture being flaccid in the vicinity of the anchor member so that the suture and anchor member do not assume a predetermined relative orientation; and the anchor member having opposing end faces, at least one end face being formed in a plane that is slanted relative to the longitudinal axis of the anchor member. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method for manipulating tissue within a patient characterized by the steps of:
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(a) positioning within a hollow member an elongated anchor member having a flaccid suture attached thereto; (b) inserting the hollow member into the tissue; (c) expelling the anchor member from the hollow member so that one end of the elongated anchor member follows another end of the anchor member; and (d) applying tension to the suture to manipulate the anchor member into a preselected position relative to the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for anchoring a suture in a bone, the apparatus comprising:
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a base, the base having a tapered end; means for attaching a suture to the base; and two leg members extending from the base, the leg members being spaced apart by a distance such that upon insertion of the apparatus into the bone, with the tapered end inserted first, the apparatus fits tightly therein. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for insertion into and through tissue to provide a mechanism for manipulating and anchoring tissue within a patient, characterized by:
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an elongated anchor member insertable into and through the tissue; a suture having a uniform cross-sectional shape along the entire length of the suture, the suture being attached to the anchor member, the suture having an end free for manipulating the tissue; a hollow needle having a tip and a butt; and an expulsion member positionable within the hollow needle to be slidable therein, the anchor member being positionable within the needle tip and expelled therefrom by the expulsion member.
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24. An apparatus for insertion into and through tissue to provide a mechanism for manipulating and anchoring tissue within a patient, characterized by:
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an elongated anchor member insertable into and through the tissue; a suture attached to the anchor member, the suture having an end free for manipulating the tissue; and the anchor member having opposing end faces, at least one end face being formed in a plane that is slanted relative to the longitudinal axis of the anchor member.
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Specification