Open helical organic tissue anchor and method of facilitating healing

• US 5,662,683 A
• Filed: 08/22/1995
• Issued: 09/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OrthoHelix Surgical Designs, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ortho Helix Limited
• Inventors: Kay, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHMIDT, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US08/517,259
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 606/232, 606/75, 606/73, 606/72, 606/65, 606/60, 606/151, 623/13, 411/392, 411/425, 24/711.2, 24/711.3
• 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 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8685 comprising multiple separate parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/869 characterised by an open form, e.g. wire helix
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0441 the shaft being a rigid coil or spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0649 Coils or spirals
• 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 2002/0858 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• 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 2002/0888 Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/908 Bioabsorbable material

Abstract

The invention relates to a tissue anchor which is an open helix of biocompatible material having a slope of from 0.5 to 10 turns per centimeter, a length from 3 to 75 millimeters, a diameter of from 1.5 to 11 millimeters, and an aspect ratio of from about 3 to about 5 to 1. The anchor can have a head which is capable of securing or clamping tissue together, such as holding a suture to secure a ligament or tendon to bone. The anchor can also have a head which causes an inward, compressive loading for use in fastening bone to bone, orthopedic plates to bone, or cartilage to bone.

Claims

1. An organic tissue anchor comprising a rigid, biocompatible, elongate member having a diameter of from about 0.4 millimeters to about 3 millimeters comprising surgical-grade titanium or stainless steel wire or a bioabsorbable material which forms an open, helical structure having a length from about 3 millimeters to about 75 millimeters, an outer diameter of a constant dimension of from about 1.5 millimeters to about 15 millimeters, a slope from about 0.5 to about 10 turns per centimeter and having at a first end an insertion tip and at a second end an attachment head which is capable of connecting organic tissue to said anchor and which comprises a crossbar having an eyelet for receiving a suture.

2. An anchor according to claim 1, wherein the anchor is from about 2 to about 20 millimeters in length.

3. An anchor according to claim 2, wherein the elongate member has a diameter of from about 0.5 to about 2 millimeters and a length of from about 4 to about 18 millimeters.

4. An anchor according to claim 3, wherein the elongate member has a diameter of from about 1 to about 2 millimeters and a length of from about 8 to about 15 millimeters.

5. An anchor according to claim 3, wherein the helix achieves from about 0.5 to about 20 complete 360°

revolutions.

6. An anchor according to claim 5, wherein the anchor achieves from about 1 to about 4 revolutions.

7. An anchor according to claim 2, wherein the overall outer diameter of the helix is from about 1.5 to about 11 millimeters.

8. An anchor according to claim 1, wherein the attachment head is cannulated.

9. A method of securing tissue comprising:

accessing a surgical site including a tissue anchoring site in bone;

implanting an anchor comprising an open, rigid, biocompatible helix into said site, said helix being formed from an elongate member having a circular cross-section with a diameter of from about 0.2 to about 5 millimeters, and said helix having a length of from about 2 to about 75 millimeters, a slope from about 5 to about 10 turns per centimeter, and an outer diameter of from about 1.5 to about 11 millimeters; and

attaching a tissue to said anchor.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said step of attaching comprises suturing said tissue to said anchor.

11. A method according to claim 9, including a step of making a pilot hole which is about the diameter of the elongate member in the bone prior to the insertion to the anchor in the bone.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said attaching step comprises suturing a ligament or tendon to said anchor.

13. A method of buttressing bone comprising the steps of:

accessing a surgical site including at least a first cortical bone surface aligning a plate having an aperture on said first cortical surface; and

implanting at least one anchor through said plate aperture into at least said first conical surface, said anchor comprising an open helix having a length of from about 5 to about 75 millimeters, a slope of from about 0.5 to about 10 turns per centimeter, and said helix being formed from an elongate member having a circular cross-section having a diameter of from about 0.2 to about 5 millimeters, said helix having a constant outer diameter said helix further having at a first end an insertion tip and at a second end a head capable of applying a compressive force in the direction of the first end.

14. A bone anchor comprising a rigid, biocompatible, elongate member comprising a wire having a regular, solid cross-section with a diameter of from about 1.0 millimeter to about 2 millimeters which forms an open, helical structure having a length from about 3 millimeters to about 75 millimeters, an outer diameter of a constant dimension of from about 3 millimeters to about 9 millimeters, a slope from about 0.5 to about 4 turns per centimeter, and an aspect ratio of about 3 to about 5, said anchor having at a first end a bone insertion tip, and at a second end an attachment head having means for connecting organic tissue to said anchor, said attachment head being one piece with said helical structure, and said head having substantially the same outer diameter as said helix.

15. A bone anchor as set forth in claim 14, wherein said attachment head is welded directly to said helical structure.

16. A method of buttressing bone comprising the steps of:

accessing a surgical site including at least a first cortical bone surface;

implanting at least one anchor into at least said first cortical surface, said anchor comprising an open helix having a length of from about 5 to about 75 millimeters, a slope of from about 0.5 to 10 turns per centimeter, and said helix being formed from an elongate member having a circular cross-section having a diameter of from about 0.2 to about 5 millimeters, said helix having a constant outer diameter, said helix further having at a first end an insertion tip and at a second end a head capable of applying a compressive force in the direction of the first end and wherein said head is cannulated, and further including the steps of using a guide wire to achieve initial bone alignment and subsequently implanting said anchor about said guide wire by means of said cannulation.