Suture anchor and drive assembly

• US 5,690,676 A
• Filed: 08/01/1995
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Dwyer, James W., Small, Alan Attridge, DiPoto, Gene Philip, Carlozzi, Gerard S., Cerier, Jeffrey C., DiCarlo, Paul, Warren, Russell F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shai, Daphna
• Application Number:
  US08/509,966
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 606/65, 606/73, 606/86, 606/104, 606/139, 606/170, 606/220, 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 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06142 having needle- or suture- retaining members, e.g. holding tabs or needle parks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/91 Polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/916 Tool for installing or removing orthopedic fastener

Abstract

A suture anchor and anchor driver device for securely and accurately positioning and installing the suture anchor in place. The anchor has a rounded or pointed head and one or more ridges around it to help force fit the anchor into a hole and to hold it in place. A suture is positioned through the anchor for subsequent use during the surgical procedure. The driver device has a handle and an elongated shaft and is used to position and install the anchor in place. The anchor preferably snap fits onto the end of the shaft. A depth guide can be integrally or removably positioned on the shaft to ensure correct depth of placement. Alternately, the driver shaft is hollow and the anchor is positioned inside it and is implanted with a pusher member. The ends of the suture are affixed to the driver handle. Grooves can be provided on the driver and the anchor to prevent the suture from interfering with the positioning and installation procedure.

Claims

1. An anchor for securing a suture to bone, comprising:

an elongated body having a proximal region terminating in a proximal end, and a distal region terminating in a distal end configured for insertion into a hole in the bone;

said proximal region including an element configured for positive axial interengagement with a corresponding element of a driver for insertion of said anchor into the hole, said element of said proximal region including one of a protrusion or a recess which axially interlocks with a corresponding recess or protrusion, respectively, of the corresponding driver element;

at least one ridge, disposed on an exterior surface of said body, for engaging the bone after insertion to resist withdrawal of said anchor; and

a suture mount carried by said elongated body.

2. The anchor of claim 1 wherein said recess includes an opening in said proximal region of said anchor or in said driver.

3. The anchor of claim 1 in which said element of said anchor includes a projection extending from said elongated body for engaging a matching socket of the corresponding driver element.

4. The anchor of claim 1 in which said element of said anchor is narrower in cross-section along a first dimension than along another cross-sectional dimension.

5. The anchor of claim 1 in which said element of said anchor includes a socket defined by said elongated body which has an opening communicating with said proximal end of said body, and said socket is narrower in cross-section along a first dimension than along another cross-sectional dimension.

6. The anchor of claim 5 in which said socket also becomes smaller in width in said first dimension progressing distally to a distal base of said socket.

7. The anchor of claim 1 in which said elongated body further defines a passageway for receiving a guide wire during insertion of said anchor.

8. The anchor of claim 7 in which said suture mount includes a hole in said elongated body, and said passageway does not intersect said hole.

9. The anchor of claim 1 wherein said element of said proximal region of said anchor is configured to provide a snap fit with the corresponding element of the driver.

10. The anchor of claim 9 wherein said element of said proximal region of said anchor is further configured so that the snap fit is sufficiently strong to allow said anchor to be removed from the bone hole after insertion.

11. The anchor of claim 1 wherein said element of said proximal region of said anchor comprises a projection on said elongated body and the element of the driver includes a recess that receives said projection to provide the positive axial interengagement.

12. The anchor of claim 1 wherein said element of said proximal region of said anchor comprises a recess on said elongated body and the element of the driver includes a projection which is received in the recess to provide the positive axial interengagement.

13. An anchor and driver assembly comprising:

an anchor member including an elongated body having a proximal region terminating in a proximal end, and a distal region terminating in a distal end configured for insertion into a hole in a bone;

a driver member having a handle member and a shaft member, said shaft member having a drive element at its distal end;

said proximal region of said anchor member including an element configured for positive axial interengagement with said drive element for insertion of said anchor into the hole by said driver member, said element of said anchor member including one of a protrusion or a recess which axially interlocks with a corresponding recess or protrusion, respectively, of said drive element;

at least one ridge, disposed on an exterior surface of said body, for engaging the bone after insertion to resist withdrawal of said anchor member; and

a suture mount carried by said elongated body.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said driver member has a passageway therethrough, and said anchor member has an opening therein communicable with said passageway and with said suture mount.

15. The assembly of claim 13 further comprising a suture member attached to said anchor member by said suture mount, passing through said opening, and being positioned in said passageway.

16. The anchor of claim 13 in which said anchor member and said driver member each define a passageway alignable with each other to receive a guide wire through both said passageways to assist placement during insertion of said anchor member.

17. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said driver element includes a pin arranged transversely to a longitudinal axis of said shaft member, and said element of said anchor member includes a socket in said elongated body for receiving said pin.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said socket includes a slot having an open proximal end and a closed distal end, said closed distal end being substantially the same size as said pin and said slot being narrower than said pin, thereby to provide the positive axial interengagement with said pin.