Stabilizer for human joints

• US 5,782,865 A
• Filed: 08/21/1996
• Issued: 07/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Grotz R. Thomas
• Original Assignee: Ultraortho, Inc.
• Inventors: Grotz, Robert Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/712,635
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 606/232, 606/66, 606/67, 606/68, 606/72, 606/73, 606/76, 606/77, 606/104
• 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 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• 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 2017/0403 Dowels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0424 the separate member staying in the anchor after placement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0433 the anchor or the separate member comprising threads, e.g. a set screw or a worm gear for moving spreading members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0438 slotted, i.e. having a longitudinal slot for enhancing their elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• 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 2002/0835 with deformation of anchor parts, e.g. expansion of dowel by set screw
• 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 606/907 Composed of particular material or coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/908 Bioabsorbable material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/916 Tool for installing or removing orthopedic fastener

Abstract

This invention pertains to a medical device for securing bodily tissues to bone, and more particularly to a triangular shaped joint stabilizer comprising sharpened, toothed bone anchors that are forcibly spread into the bone by a central plug.

Claims

1. A soft tissue stabilizing device for securing soft tissue to bone which comprises first and second parts:

(i) wherein the first part comprises a central body defining an opening, the opening defining an axis, said body having proximal and distal faces that extend in a lateral direction with the distal face having bone anchors having distal ends, said ends being movable between a first internal and a second external lateral position, each anchor having a plurality of bone engaging teeth, the teeth increasing in size as they are positioned more distally from the distal face of the central body; and

,

(ii) wherein the second part of said device comprises a central plug positioned within the opening of the central body and said plug has a generally elongate shape forming a head, a shank and a distal portion, wherein the shank is movable through the opening of the central body so that the distal portion of the plug is positionable between a first upper and second lower axial position, and wherein the distal portion of the plug is sized to contact the bone anchors so that when the distal portion of the plug is moved into the second axial position, the distal ends of the bone anchors are moved towards the second lateral position.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the distal face of the central body further comprises ligament combs that are rigid pins that extend axially from the distal face.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the bone anchors have sharp distal ends.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the central body is circular.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said body defines a cylindrical axially extending region, said bone anchors lying substantially completely within the region when the distal ends of the anchors are in the first lateral position with substantial portions of the teeth lying outside the cylindrical region when said distal ends of the anchors are in the second lateral position.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the central body comprises at least one suture fastener.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the suture fasteners are more than one and include hollow passages formed in the central body.

8. The device of claim 1 having more than one suture anchor.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the number of bone anchors is three.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the opening of the central body and the shank of the central peg are frictionally mated without threads using smooth surfaces to position the central peg along the axis defined by the opening.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the head of the central plug sits flush with or is internal to the proximal face of the central core when in the second position.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the head forms a receptor for receiving a driving tool.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is made of a bioabsorbable material.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is made of a stainless steel.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is made of an alloy of titanium.

16. A system for stabilizing soft tissue to bone comprising:

(a) a soft tissue stabilizing device for securing soft tissue to bone which comprises a first and second part;

(i) wherein the first part is a circular central body forming a ring with an opening defining a long axis and further forming three hollow passages that symmetrically traverse the lateral or vertical plane of the central body to serve as suture securing anchors, said body having lateral proximal and distal planar faces with the distal face comprising three bone anchors extending axially from the face said bone anchors symmetrically positioned about the face and having distal ends that are movable from a first internal, lateral position to a second external lateral position, each bone anchor having at least one bone engaging tooth and where said distal face further comprises ligament combs,

(ii) wherein the second part of said system comprises a generally elongate central plug positioned within the opening so that it is movable from a first upper axial position to a lower axial position and said plug having a head, a shank and a distal portion, the shank connects the head and the distal portion, and the distal portion of the plug is sized to contact the bone anchors when the anchors are moved from the first to second lateral positions and move the bone anchors into a second position in which the teeth penetrate into bone; and

,

(b) a driver that is generally elongate having a head, shank and distal portion wherein the head is formed into a handle for applying torque force, the shank is of a diameter that fits within a arthroscopic cannula and of a length that permits the head and proximal portion to extend outside the cannula wherein the distal portion contacts the head of the central plug.

17. A system of claim 16 wherein the distal portion of the driver and the head of the central plug are held in contact by the sutures to prevent separation.

18. A system of claim 17 wherein the distal portion of the driver bears a detent.

19. A system of claim 16 wherein the bone anchors have sharp distal ends.

20. A system of claim 16 which further comprises a trochar for penetrating bone said trochar having a generally elongate shape having a head, shank and distal portion wherein the head is generally planar or concave to accept an axial force and transfer said force evenly along the length of the shank to the distal portion, the distal portion comprising a sharpened end having multiple cutting edges that have an external size and configuration to create a concavity in bone that complements the external configuration of the central body when its bone anchors are in the first position.