Resorbable tendon and bone augmentation device

• US 5,527,341 A
• Filed: 08/30/1994
• Issued: 06/18/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Synthes USA LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Synthes USA LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Beck, Martin, Gerber, Christian, Schneeberger, Alberto G., Gogolewski, Sylwester, Perren, Stephan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KENEALY, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US08/297,975
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 606/232, 606/233, 606/60, 606/148-151, 606/228, 606/230, 606/69, 606/77, 623/11, 623/16
• 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 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1146 of tendons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1778 for the shoulder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1796 for holes for sutures or flexible wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/58 for osteosynthesis, e.g. bone plates, screws , setting implements or the like A61B17/14, A61B17/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0406 Pledgets
• 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 2017/0459 Multiple holes in the anchor through which the suture extends and locking the suture when tension is applied
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• 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 31/125 having a macromolecular matrix
• 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

The device is implantable in the living body for attachment and augmentation of tendons and/or reinforcement of bones. It comprises a substantially flat membrane having a rounded outer shape and at least two perforations. The membrane contains resorbable or degradable polymeric and/or polymeric-ceramic material, having a Young'"'"'s modulus in the range of 1 to 50 GPa and a tensile strength in the range of 0.1 to 20.0 GPa. It allows a more secure fixation of transosseous sutures.

Claims

1. A method of connecting a first and second tissue in a living body, the first tissue having an outer surface and a distal cut end, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) placing a substantially flat membrane having a rounded outer shape, a tendon/bone facing surface, and two pairs of perforations;

the membrane containing resorbable or degradable polymeric material having a Young'"'"'s modulus in the range of 1 to 50 GPa and a tensile strength in the range of 0.1 to 20.0 GPa on the outer surface of the first tissue with the tendon/bone facing surface contacting the outer surface of the first tissue, the membrane being placed wholly on the first tissue;

(2) pulling a suture, which enters the first tissue through the distal cut end, through the first tissue in a longitudinal direction;

(3) pulling the suture through the outer surface of the first tissue at an area opposite that where the flat membrane is placed;

(4) inserting the suture into the first tissue below a perforation in the flat membrane and pulling the suture through the first tissue and the perforation in the membrane;

(5) inserting the suture into the paired perforation in the membrane and pulling the suture through paired perforation in the membrane and the first tissue;

(6) repeating steps (4) and (5) for remaining paired perforations;

(7) inserting the suture into the first tissue and pulling the suture through the first tissue in the longitudinal direction toward the distal cut end;

(8) attaching the ends of the suture to the second tissue.

2. A method of connecting a first and second tissue in a living body, the first tissue having an outer surface and a distal cut end, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) placing a first substantially flat membrane having a circular outer shape, a tendon/bone facing surface, two perforations and two corresponding cuts;

the membrane containing resorbable or degradable polymeric material having a Young'"'"'s modulus in the range of 1 to 50 GPa and a tensile strength in the range of 0.1 to 20.0 GPa on the outer surface of the first tissue with the tendon/bone facing surface contacting the first tissue, the membrane being placed wholly on the first tissue;

(2) inserting a suture into the distal cut end of the first tissue and pulling the suture longitudinally through the first tissue toward the first circular membrane;

(3) pulling the suture through the outer surface and one of the perforations in the circular membrane;

(4) inserting the suture into the outer surface proximate to the membrane cut corresponding to the membrane perforation and pulling the suture through the first tissue causing the suture to pierce the outer surface of the first tissue, opposite the circular membrane.

(5) pulling the suture into the first tissue below the remaining cut and causing the suture to exit the first tissue proximate to the remaining cut in the membrane;

(6) inserting the suture into the remaining perforation in the membrane and pulling the suture back into the first tissue;

(7) pulling the suture longitudinally through the first tissue to its distal cut end;

(8) repeating steps (1) through (7) for a second membrane;

(9) attaching the ends of the sutures to the second tissue.