Device for applying a meniscal staple

• US 6,190,401 B1
• Filed: 07/02/1997
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Geiste, Robert J., Person, Wayne C., Green, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koo, Benjamin K.
• Application Number:
  US08/999,812
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72, 606/75, 606/219, 606/77, 606/221, 606/222, 606/224, 606/225, 606/228, 227/902
• US Class Current: 606/224
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06 Needles ; Sutures; Needle-suture combinations; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials puncturing needles A61B17/34; hypodermic needles A61M5/32 ; sewing needles D05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06066 Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations making needles B21G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• 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 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0403 Dowels other bone dowels A61B17/68; dowels for connecting prosthetic parts A61F2002/30433
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06028 by means of a cylindrical longitudinal blind bore machined at the suture-receiving end of the needle, e.g. opposite to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06033 using adhesives glue applicators A61B17/00491; for connecting prosthetic parts A61F2002/30448
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06057 Double-armed sutures, i.e. sutures having a needle attached to each end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0646 for insertion into cartillege, e.g. meniscus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 227/902 Surgical clips or staples

Abstract

An apparatus for inserting a staple into torn tissue such as the meniscus of the knee. The apparatus includes a pair of shafts individually movable in a longitudinal directing which are actuable from a handle mechanism. The shafts are movable sequentially so that the shafts disjunctively advance the prongs of the staple which is releasably held adjacent distal end portions of the shafts. A further embodiment of the device consists of a pair of needles detachably secured to a pair of anchoring members having a plurality of barb-like projections extending outwardly therefrom. The anchoring members are joined by a suture which connects adjacent the trailing ends of the anchoring members opposite the penetration end of the needles. The needles are engaged with the anchoring members to transmit a first pushing force applied to the needles to advance the anchoring members into the tissue, and are releasable from their engagement with the anchoring members responsive to a second pulling force applied to the needles in a direction opposite the pushing direction.

Claims

1. A tissue tear repair device for repairing torn tissue in a patient, comprising:

a pair of tissue anchoring members, each anchoring member having a central longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end;

a flexible member having a first and fixedly connected adjacent the promixal end of one of said anchoring members and a second end fixedly connected adjacent the proximal end of the other of said anchoring members, each of the first and second ends of the flexible member being connected to the anchoring members at a location offset from the central longitudinal axis of the anchoring member such that the proximal end of each of the anchoring members includes an unobstructed tool engaging surface;

a channel extending over a length of each anchoring member; and

a needle positioned in each channel.

2. The tissue tear repair device of claim 1, wherein each channel has an essentially uniform cross section.

3. The tissue tear repair device of claim 1, wherein each needle includes a shoulder for engaging an end of said anchoring member opposite a penetration end of the needle.

4. The tissue tear repair device of claim 1, wherein said flexible member comprises a resorbable suture.

5. The tissue tear repair device of claim 1, wherein said anchoring members include a plurality of barb-like portions disposed along a length of said anchoring member.

6. The tissue tear repair device of claim 5, wherein said barb-like portions have a tapered shape to permit penetration into tissue, but prevent movement in a reverse direction.

7. The tissue repair device of claim 1, wherein the first end of the flexible member is fixedly connected to the proximal end of one of the pair of anchoring members at a location offset from a centerline of the one anchoring member, and the second end of the flexible member is fixedly connected to the proximal end of the other of the pair of anchoring members at a location offset from the centerline of the other anchoring member.

8. A tissue repair device for repairing torn tissue, comprising:

a pair of tissue connecting members having a central longitudinal axis each of said connecting members having a penetration end, an opposite trailing end proximal of said penetration end, and a channel extending over a length of each of said connecting members;

a plurality of barb-like portions disposed along each of said connecting members for retaining each of said connecting members in torn tissue; and

a flexible member having a first end connected adjacent the trailing end of one of said connecting members and a second end connected adjacent the trailing end of the other of said connecting members, each of the first and second ends of the flexible member being connected at a location offset from the central longitudinal axis of the connecting member such that the trailing end of each connecting member includes an unobstructed tool engaging surface.

9. A tissue tear repair device for repairing torn tissue in a patient, comprising:

a pair of tissue anchoring members;

a flexible member having a first end fixedly connected to one of said anchoring members and a second end fixedly connected to the other of said anchoring members;

a channel extending over a length of each anchoring member; and

a needle positioned in each channel,

wherein each channel tapers in the direction of a penetration end of said needles.

10. A tissue tear repair device comprising:

a pair of anchoring members, each anchoring member having a distal penetration end configured to penetrate body tissue;

a channel extending over a length of each of the anchoring members;

a plurality of barb-like portions disposed along each of the anchoring members; and

a flexible member interconnecting the anchoring members,

wherein the anchoring members are connected to facilitate penetration of body tissue from a common direction,

wherein each of the channels tapers in the direction of the penetration end of the anchoring member.