System for anchoring tissue to bone

• US 6,007,566 A
• Filed: 10/31/1997
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitek Surgical Products, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Mitek Surgical Products, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Wenstrom, Richard F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/962,464
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 606/232, 606/72
• 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 2017/0412 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 2017/0438 slotted, i.e. having a longitudinal slot for enhancing their elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/916 Tool for installing or removing orthopedic fastener

Abstract

A system for anchoring tissue to bone includes an anchor member having an outer, bone engaging wall, a distal end, and a proximal end, a suture receiving slot extending partially into the anchor member, forming an internal passageway ending in a suture seat. The suture seat is integral with the anchor member and is formed within the anchor member.

Claims

1. A system for anchoring tissue to bone, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical anchor member having an outer wall, at least a portion of the outer wall including external threads, a distal end forming an apex and defining an opening, a proximal end, and an internal retaining wall defined within the anchor member;

a suture receiving slot formed in the distal end of the anchor member and extending from the opening at the distal end of the anchor member to the internal retaining wall, the slot separating at least a portion of the distal end of the anchor member into two adjacent segments; and

at least one break formed in the external threads, the break being aligned with the suture receiving slot.

2. The system of claim 1, having two breaks formed in the external threads on opposite sides of the anchor member, each break being aligned with the suture receiving slot and each break being formed in each thread over the length of the anchor from the interior retaining wall to the proximal end.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the suture receiving slot is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the anchor member.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the suture receiving slot extends over at least one-half the length of the anchor member.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the suture receiving slot has a width of about 0.010 to 0.036 inches.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the width of the breaks is about 0.010 to 0.036 inches.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a suture thread having an intermediate portion and two free ends, the suture thread being disposed in the suture receiving slot such that an intermediate portion of the suture thread is retained within the anchor member by the internal retaining wall and the two free ends of the suture thread extend past the proximate end of the anchor member and are disposed within the breaks.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising anchor member installation tool having a distal end that is matable with the proximal end of the anchor member.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the anchor member is removably premated on the distal end of the installation tool.

10. A system for anchoring soft tissue to bone, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical anchor member having an outer, bone engaging wall, a distal end forming an apex, a proximal end, and external threads on at least a portion of the outer bone engaging wall, the anchor member having a suture receiving slot extending partially into the anchor member and a suture seat, the suture seat being integral with and interior to the anchor member, two breaks being formed in the threads, each break being aligned with the suture seat and extending through each thread from the suture seat to the proximal end; and

a suture thread having an intermediate portion and two free ends, the suture thread being disposed in the suture receiving slot such that the intermediate portion of the suture thread is retained by the suture retaining surface and the two free ends of suture thread extend along the outer, bone engaging wall of the anchor member disposed within the breaks.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the suture receiving slot is formed in a sidewall of the anchor member and extends to a closed wall within the anchor member, the suture receiving slot forming a non-linear internal passageway.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the suture receiving slot is formed in a distal end of the anchor member and extends to an internal retaining wall within the anchor member, the slot separating at least a portion of the distal end of the anchor member into two adjacent segments.