Installation tool for suture anchor

• US 5,957,924 A
• Filed: 05/22/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bionx Implants, Oy
• Original Assignee: Bionx Implants, Oy
• Inventors: Tormala, Pertti, Pirhonen, Eija
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, HOA B
• Application Number:
  US08/861,930
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 606/148, 606/144, 606/139, 606/232, 606/72-75, 606/145, 606/147, 112/169, 112/80.03
• US Class Current: 606/139
• 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 2017/0409 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 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0474 Knot pushers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/916 Tool for installing or removing orthopedic fastener

Abstract

A tool for installing a suture anchor which supports first and second suture segments having free ends, the tool including an installation end adapted to accommodate the suture anchor and to transmit mechanical power for driving the suture anchor, and a guiding arrangement adapted to guide and support the first and second suture segments in a non-parallel configuration at the installation end. The guiding arrangement may include at least one suture guide adapted to support the first and second suture segments, respectively, at least at a first and a second support points, which are spaced laterally with respect to a direction of installation of the suture anchor.

Claims

1. A tool for installing a suture anchor which supports first and second suture segments having free ends, the tool comprising:

an installation end adapted to accommodate the suture anchor; and

a guiding arrangement adapted to guide and support the first and second suture segments at a crossing region, said guiding arrangement includes suture guides for the first and second suture segments to cross at the installation end.

2. The tool according to claim 1 wherein a first suture guide is adapted to support the first and second suture segments, respectively, at least at a first and a second support points, which are spaced laterally with respect to a direction of installation of said suture anchor.

3. The tool according to claim 2 wherein said guiding arrangement comprises first and second suture guides which are spaced along said installation axis, wherein the first suture guide is adapted to support the first and second suture segments, respectively, at least at said first and second support points, and wherein the second suture guide is adapted to support the first and second suture segments, respectively, at least at a third and fourth support points, which are spaced laterally with respect to said direction of installation.

4. The tool according to claim 3 wherein said first and second suture guides are separated by a gap through which the first and second suture segments are introduced to said crossing region.

5. The tool according to claim 4 wherein the width of said gap is equal to the thickness of said suture segments.

6. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the distance between the guiding arrangement and the suture anchor is less than the length of the suture anchor.

7. The tool according to claim 2 wherein the distance between the guiding arrangement and the suture anchor is less than the length of the suture anchor.

8. The tool according to claim 3 wherein the distance between the guiding arrangement and the suture anchor is less than the length of the suture anchor.

9. The tool according to claim 8 wherein the distance between the suture anchor and said crossing region is less than the length of the suture anchor.

10. The tool according to claim 4 wherein the distance between the suture anchor and said crossing region is less than the length of the suture anchor.

11. The tool according to claim 5 wherein the distance between the suture anchor and said crossing region is less than the length of the suture anchor.

12. The tool according to claim 1 comprising a tensioning arrangement which supports the free ends of the first and second suture segments, wherein a substantially constant tension is maintained in each of the suture segments between the tensioning arrangement and said guiding arrangement.

13. The tool according to claim 2 comprising a tensioning arrangement which supports the free ends of the first and second suture segments, wherein a substantially constant tension is maintained in each of the suture segments between the tensioning arrangement and said first suture guide.

14. The tool according to claim 3 comprising a tensioning arrangement which supports the free ends of the first and second suture segments, wherein a substantially constant tension is maintained in each of the suture segments between the tensioning arrangement and said first suture guide.

15. The tool according to claim 4 comprising a tensioning arrangement which supports the free ends of the first and second suture segments, wherein a substantially constant tension is maintained in each of the suture segments between the tensioning arrangement and said first suture guide.

16. The tool according to claim 5 comprising a tensioning arrangement which supports the free ends of the first and second suture segments, wherein a substantially constant tension is maintained in each of the suture segments between the tensioning arrangement and said first suture guide.

17. The tool according to claim 6 comprising a tensioning arrangement which supports the free ends of the first and second suture segments, wherein a substantially constant tension is maintained in each of the suture segments between the tensioning arrangement and said guiding arrangement.

18. The tool according to claim 7 comprising a tensioning arrangement which supports the free ends of the first and second suture segments, wherein a substantially constant tension is maintained in each of the suture segments between the tensioning arrangement and said first suture guide.

19. The tool according to claim 4 wherein the width of said gap is larger than the thickness of said suture segments.

20. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the distance between the guiding arrangement and the suture anchor is equal to the length of the suture.

21. The tool according to claim 2 wherein the distance between the guiding arrangement and the suture anchor is equal to the length of the suture anchor.

22. The tool according to claim 3 wherein the distance between the guiding arrangement and the suture anchor is equal to the length of the suture.

23. The tool according to claim 3 wherein the distance between the suture anchor and said crossing region is equal to the length of the suture anchor.

24. The tool according to claim 4 wherein the distance between the suture anchor and said crossing region is equal to the length of the suture anchor.

25. The tool according to claim 24 wherein the distance between the suture anchor and said crossing region is equal to the length of the suture anchor.

26. Th etool according to claim 1, wherein the installation end is adapted to transmit mechanical power for driving the suture anchor upon installation of the anchor into bone.