Method for surgical repair with hook-and-loop fastener

• US 6,039,741 A
• Filed: 05/21/1999
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert J. Meislin
• Original Assignee: Robert J. Meislin
• Inventors: Meislin, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, HOA B
• Application Number:
  US09/316,221
• Time in Patent Office: 305 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72-78, 623/11, 623/16
• US Class Current: 606/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1146 of tendons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/56 Surgical instruments or methods for treatment of bones or joints; Devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/58 for osteosynthesis, e.g. bone plates, screws , setting implements or the like A61B17/14, A61B17/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/087 Anchor integrated into tendons, e.g. bone blocks, integrated rings
• 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: A61F 2002/30467 using hook and loop-type fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0083 using hook and loop-type fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/005 Ingredients of undetermined constitution or reaction products thereof

Abstract

Surgical repairs of torn or ruptured tendons and ligaments are made by re-fastening the torn or ruptured tendon or ligament with a biocompatible or bioabsorbable hook-and-loop fastener.

Claims

1. A method for re-attaching at least one of a tendon and ligament to bone comprising the steps of:

providing a first sheet of material;

providing a first component comprising hooks located on said first sheet of material;

providing a second sheet of material integrally connected to said first sheet of material;

providing a second component comprising loops on said second sheet of material;

each said first sheet and said second sheet of material, said hooks and said loops consisting essentially of tissue repair material, said hooks and said loops located opposite each other to facilitate coupling of said hooks to said loops;

exposing an unattached portion of at least one of a tendon and ligament requiring attachment;

exposing an attachment site on a bone for said unattached portion of said at least one of a tendon and ligament requiring attachment;

affixing one of said first sheet having said first component comprising hooks and said second sheet having said second component comprising loops to said unattached portion of at least one of a tendon and ligament requiring attachment;

affixing the other of said first sheet having said first component comprising hooks and said second sheet having said second component comprising loops to said attachment site on said bone to permit attachment of said unattached portion of said at least one of a tendon and ligament requiring attachment to said attachment site; and

fastening together said first and second components to provide a secure attachment of said bone to said one of a tendon and ligament.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said unattached portion is an insertion end portion of a supraspinatus tendon.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said attachment site is a greater tubercle of a humerus.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said unattached portion is an insertion end portion of an infraspinatus tendon.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said attachment site is a greater tubercle of a humerus.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said unattached portion is an insertion end portion of a teres minor tendon.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said attachment site is a greater tubercle of a humerus.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said unattached portion is an insertion end portion of a subscapularis tendon.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said attachment site is a lesser tubercle of a humerus.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said unattached portion is an end portion of a medial collateral ligament.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said unattached portion is an end portion of a lateral collateral ligament.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said unattached portion is a meniscus.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second components comprise a collagen-based material.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second components comprise hydroxyapatite coral.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second components comprise a non-immunogenic bioabsorbable polymer.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of affixing one of said first sheet having said first component comprising hooks and said second sheet having said second component comprising loops to said unattached portion of at least one of a tendon and ligament requiring attachment comprises the step of gluing said one of said first sheet and said second sheet to said unattached portion.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of gluing said one of said first sheet and said second sheet to said unattached portion further comprises the step of using fibrin glue.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of affixing the other of said first sheet having said first component comprising hooks and said second sheet having said second component comprising loops to said attachment site on said bone to permit attachment of said unattached portion of said at least one of a tendon and ligament requiring attachment to said bone comprises the step of gluing said other of said first sheet and said second sheet to said bone.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said step of gluing said other of said first sheet and said second sheet to said attachment site further comprises the step of using fibrin glue.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of affixing said one of said first sheet having said first component comprising hooks and said second sheet having said second component comprising loops to said unattached portion of at least one of a tendon and ligament requiring attachment comprises the step of suturing said one of said first sheet and said second sheet to said unattached portion.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of affixing the other of said first sheet having said first component comprising hooks and said second sheet having said second component comprising loops to said attachment site on said bone to permit attachment of said unattached portion of said at least one of a tendon and ligament requiring attachment to said bone comprises the step of gluing said other of said first sheet and said second sheet to said bone.

22. A method for repairing a mid-substance tear comprising the steps of:

providing a first sheet of material;

providing a first component comprising hooks located on said first sheet of material;

providing a second sheet of material integrally connected to said first sheet of material;

providing a second component comprising loops on said second sheet of material;

each said first sheet and said second sheet of material, said hooks and said loops consisting essentially of tissue repair material, said hooks and said loops located opposite each other to facilitate coupling of said hooks to said loops;

exposing a first unattached portion of at least one of a torn tendon and ligament;

exposing a second unattached portion of said at least one of a torn tendon and ligament;

affixing one of said first sheet having said first component comprising hooks and said second sheet having said second component comprising loops to said first unattached portion of said at least one of a torn tendon and ligament;

affixing the other of said first sheet having said first component comprising hooks and said second sheet having said second component comprising loops to said second unattached portion of said at least one of a torn tendon and ligament; and

fastening together said first and second components.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said at least one of a torn tendon and ligament is an achilles tendon.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said at least one of a torn tendon and ligament is a quadriceps tendon.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein said at least one of a torn tendon and ligament is a flexor tendon.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein said first and second components comprise a collagen-based material.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein said first and second components comprise hydroxyapetite coral.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein said first and second components comprise a non-immunogenic bioabsorbable polymer.

29. The method of claim 22 wherein said step of affixing said at least one of said first sheet having said first component comprising hooks and said second sheet having said second component comprising loops to said first unattached portion comprises the step of gluing said at least one of said first sheet and said second sheet to said first unattached portion.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said step of gluing said at least one of said first sheet and said second sheet to said first unattached portion further comprises the step of using fibrin glue.

31. The method of claim 22 wherein said step of affixing the other of said first sheet having said first component comprising hooks and said second sheet having said second component comprising loops to said second unattached portion comprises the step of gluing said other of said first sheet and said second sheet to said second unattached portion.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said step of gluing said other of said first sheet and said second sheet to said second unattached portion further comprises the step of using fibrin glue.

33. The method of claim 22 wherein said step of affixing said at least one of said first sheet having said first component comprising hooks and said second sheet having said second component comprising loops to said first unattached portion comprises the step of suturing said at least one of said first sheet and said second sheet to said first unattached portion.

34. The method of claim 22 wherein said step of affixing the other of said first sheet having said first component comprising hooks and said second sheet having said second component comprising loops to said second unattached portion comprises the step of anchoring said other of said first sheet and said second sheet to said attachment site.