Suture anchor

• US 5,554,171 A
• Filed: 10/24/1994
• Issued: 09/10/1996
• 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): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/327,584
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72, 606/232
• 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. Apparatus for attaching a first object to a second object, said apparatus comprising:

a body having a longitudinal axis and a maximum cross-section perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said body being adapted for longitudinal insertion into said second object;

attachment means disposed on said body for attaching said first object to said apparatus; and

retaining means for resisting forces tending to withdraw said apparatus from said second object after its insertion therein, said retaining means comprising at least one flexible element having first and second portions, said first portion being supported by said body and said second portion normally extending outboard from said body so that said second portion is located outwardly of a longitudinal axial projection of said maximum cross-section of said body, said flexible element being substantially elastically deformable such that said second portion of said flexible element is capable of being located substantially within a longitudinal axial projection of said maximum cross-section of said body.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a barb of nickel titanium alloy.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said retaining means second portion is curved when said second portion extends outwardly of said longitudinal projection of said maximum cross-section of said body.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises an opening in said body for receiving a suture, and a slot in a side of said body extending from said opening to permit passage of said suture therethrough.