Suture anchor and associated method of implantation

• US 6,306,158 B1
• Filed: 09/07/1999
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edwin C. Bartlett
• Original Assignee: Edwin C. Bartlett
• Inventors: Bartlett, Edwin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGO, LIEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/390,715
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 606/232, 606/233, 606/139, 606/220, 606/251, 604/70, 604/71, 604/72, 604/73, 604/74, 411/508, 411/509, 273/33
• 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 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot

Abstract

A suture anchor is provided comprising a generally quadrilaterally shaped body having a bore-abutting surface with a leading gripping edge at one end of the bore-abutting surface, a trailing gripping edge at the other end, and a closing surface having an arcuate portion and a linear portion engaging the leading and trailing gripping edges, respectively, generally opposite the bore-abutting surface. The body further defines a suture bore extending transversely therethrough and an inserter bore adapted to receive an insertion tool. A suture engages the suture anchor through the bore and is adapted to engage bodily tissue to be secured to the bone. Also provided are a knotless suture anchor configuration, an associated insertion tool, and a suture anchor kit, as well as a method of implanting a suture anchor in a bore in a bone.

Claims

1. An implantable suture anchor for wedging within a bore formed in a bone to secure a suture to the bone, said suture anchor comprising:

a non-conical body having a generally quadrilaterally shaped lateral cross-section,

said body comprising;

a bore-abutting surface having opposed ends, the bore-abutting surface being configured to abut a wall defining the bore upon insertion of the suture anchor into the bore;

a leading gripping edge at the end of the bore-abutting surface last entering the bore, the leading gripping edge comprising an intersection of a leading surface with the bore-abutting surface at an acute angle such that the leading gripping edge has an edge width;

a trailing gripping edge at the end of the bore-abutting surface first entering the bore, the trailing gripping edge comprising an intersection of a trailing surface with the bore-abutting surface at an acute angle; and

a closing surface having an arcuate portion and a substantially linear portion, the arcuate portion engaging the leading surface and the substantially linear portion engaging the trailing surface so as to generally form a quadrilateral, the closing surface being disposed generally opposite the bore-abutting surface for facilitating the rotation of the body about the leading gripping edge within the bore;

said body further defining;

a suture bore extending transversely therethrough adjacent the trailing gripping edge; and

an inserter bore adapted to receive an insertion tool and disposed between the leading gripping edge and the suture bore.

2. A suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein the inserter bore extends through the leading surface such that it is angularly disposed with respect to the bore-abutting surface.

3. A suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein the body is comprised of a biocompatible material.

4. A suture anchor according to claim 3 wherein the body is comprised of a bioabsorbable material.

5. A suture anchor according to claim 4 wherein the body is comprised of at least one of polylactic acid, polydioxanone, and polyglycolic acid.

6. A suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein the body is comprised of polylactic acid.

7. A suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein the inserter bore is uniformly shaped along its length.

8. A suture anchor according to claim 7 wherein the inserter bore is non-circular.

9. A suture anchor according to claim 8 wherein the inserter bore is generally square.

10. A suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein the leading surface is configured to be substantially planar.

11. A suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein the leading surface defines a concave depression adjacent to the intersection of the leading surface with the bore-abutting surface.

12. A suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein the leading surface is stepped between the inserter bore and the intersection of the leading surface with the bore-abutting surface.

13. A suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein the bore-abutting surface defines a notch therealong.

14. A suture anchor according to claim 13 further comprising a suture operably engaged with the suture bore, the suture forming a loop and passing through the suture bore, the suture being further adapted to engage bodily tissue to be secured to the bone and then to wrap about the body to engage the notch before the suture anchor is inserted into the bore in the bone to thereby form a knotless suture anchor.

15. A suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein the leading surface and the bore-abutting surface both widen about the intersection thereof so as to increase the edge width of the leading gripping edge.

16. A suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein the leading surface and the bore-abutting surface both narrow about the intersection thereof so as to decrease the edge width of the leading gripping edge.

17. A suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein the inserter bore defines an axis extending toward the bore-abutting surface between the leading gripping edge and the suture bore.

18. An implantable knotless suture anchor for wedging within a bore formed in a bone to secure a suture to the bone, said suture anchor comprising:

a body having a generally quadrilaterally shaped lateral cross-section, said body

comprising;

a bore-abutting surface having opposed ends;

a leading gripping edge at one end of the bore-abutting surface, the leading gripping edge comprising an intersection of a leading surface with the bore-abutting surface at an acute angle;

a trailing gripping edge at the end of the bore-abutting surface opposite the leading gripping edge, the trailing gripping edge comprising an intersection of a trailing surface with the bore-abutting surface at an acute angle; and

a closing surface having an arcuate portion and a substantially linear portion, the arcuate portion engaging the leading surface and the substantially linear portion engaging the trailing surface so as to generally form a quadrilateral, the closing surface being disposed generally opposite the bore-abutting surface for facilitating the rotation of the body about the leading gripping edge within the bore;

said body further defining;

a suture bore extending transversely therethrough adjacent the trailing gripping edge; and

an inserter bore adapted to receive an insertion tool and disposed between the leading gripping edge and the suture bore;

a notch in the ore-abutting surface, and

a suture operably engaged with the suture bore, the suture forming a loop and passing through the suture bore, the suture further adapted to engage bodily tissue to be secured to the bone and then to wrap about the body to engage the notch before the suture anchor is inserted into the bore in the bone.

19. A knotless suture anchor according to claim 18 wherein the inserter bore extends through the leading surface such that it is angularly disposed with respect to the bore-abutting surface.

20. A knotless suture anchor according to claim 18 wherein the body is comprised of polylactic acid.

21. A knotless suture anchor according to claim 18 wherein the inserter bore is uniformly shaped along its length.

22. A knotless suture anchor according to claim 21 wherein the inserter bore is non-circular.

23. A knotless suture anchor according to claim 22 wherein the inserter bore is generally square.