Suture anchor

• US 6,508,830 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation
• Original Assignee: Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation
• Inventors: Steiner, Anton J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hale, Gloria M.
• Application Number:
  US09/844,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20020161401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 606/232, 606/228, 606/230, 606/231, 606/72, 606/73, 606/104, 606/77, 606/78, 606/76
• 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 2017/0409 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 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• 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 606/908 Bioabsorbable material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/909 Bone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/91 Polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/916 Tool for installing or removing orthopedic fastener

Abstract

A suture anchor comprising a cylindrical body portion with in inwardly tapered distal end portion has a screw thread extending along the cylindrical body portion and a plurality of parallel longitudinal grooves cut into the cylindrical body interrupting opposed portions of the screw thread. A suture cavity is transversely cut through the distal end portion and engages the plurality of longitudinal grooves, the suture cavity being dimensioned to hold at least one suture. The distal end portion defines a suture pathway comprising two separated leg members, each of which has an inner angled end surface leading into the suture cavity providing an entry passageway for a suture into the suture cavity and a driver for the suture anchor.

Claims

1. A sterile suture anchor comprising:

a cylindrical body portion with a generally tapered distal end portion,

a screw thread extending along said cylindrical body portion,

a plurality of longitudinal grooves cut into said cylindrical body interrupting opposed portions of said screw thread;

a suture cavity transversely cut through said distal end portion engaging said plurality of longitudinal grooves, said suture cavity being dimensioned to hold at least one suture; and

a suture pathway means formed in said distal end portion communicating with said suture cavity allowing a suture to be inserted via said suture pathway means into said cavity.

2. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein said suture pathway means comprises a V shaped recess leading into said cavity.

3. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein said suture pathway means comprises two separated legs, each of which has an inner angled surface leading into said cavity.

4. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein said suture pathway means comprises two separate leg members, each leg member comprising a rounded tapered outer surface and an inwardly angled end surface directed toward said cavity and providing an entry passageway for a suture into said cavity.

5. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 4 wherein said leg members are slightly flexible from about 1°

to about 2°

to the extent that a suture can be pulled past the leg members into said cavity.

6. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 2 wherein said head portion of said suture anchor is round and has a groove cut therein which interconnects with at least two of said longitudinal grooves.

7. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinal grooves are adapted to receive a portion of said length of suture so as to:

(i) recess said suture within said suture cavity and seat said suture so that said suture will not interfere with the receipt of a torque applying portion of a suture anchor driver, and (ii) allow for sliding movement of said suture relative to said said suture anchor body once said suture anchor has been inserted in a bone mass.

8. A sterile suture anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said suture anchor is constructed of allograft bone.

9. A sterile suture anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said suture anchor is constructed of xenograft bone.

10. A sterile suture anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said suture anchor is constructed of plastic.

11. A sterile suture anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said suture anchor is constructed of metal.

12. A sterile suture anchor as claimed in claim 11 wherein said suture anchor metal is titanium.

13. A sterile suture anchor as claimed in claim 11 wherein said suture anchor metal is stainless steel.

14. A sterile suture anchor as claimed in claim 8 wherein said allograft bone is cortical human bone.

15. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein said suture body has a head portion which is dome shaped.

16. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein said distal portion is split into separated sections defining an angled pathway leading into said suture cavity.

17. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein said distal portion has a smooth rounded outer surface.

18. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 2 wherein said suture pathway means defines a V shaped recess which opens into said cavity with the narrower portion of said cavity opening being slightly smaller than the diameter of the suture being used.

19. A sterile biocompatible absorbable suture anchor comprising:

a cylindrical body portion with a generally tapered distal end portion,

a screw thread extending along said cylindrical body portion,

a plurality of parallel longitudinal grooves cut into said cylindrical body interrupting opposed portions of said screw thread;

a suture cavity transversely cut through said distal end portion engaging said plurality of longitudinal grooves, said suture cavity being dimensioned to hold at least one suture; and

a suture pathway means formed in said distal end portion communicating with said suture cavity allowing a suture to be inserted into said cavity, said suture pathway means comprising two separated legs, each of which has an inner angled surface leading into said cavity and providing an entry passageway for a suture into said cavity.

20. A suture anchor as claimed in claim 19 wherein said suture grooves are cut into the body of said suture anchor to completely contain a suture mounted in said suture anchor such that said bone anchor may be inserted into said bone without frictional contact between said bone and said suture.

21. A sterile suture anchor as claimed in claim 19 wherein said suture anchor is constructed of allograft bone.

22. A sterile suture anchor as claimed in claim 19 wherein said suture anchor body is constructed of human cortical bone.

23. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 19 wherein said suture body has a head portion which is dome shaped with a groove cut in said dome shaped head portion leading into at least two of said longitudinal groove.

24. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 19 wherein said separated legs form a composite inner surface angle leading into said cavity from about 20°

to about 45°

.

25. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 24 wherein said separated legs have a smooth rounded outer surface.

26. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 19 wherein said suture cavity is oval and can hold at least two sutures.

27. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 19 wherein said suture cavity is oblong and can hold at least one suture.

28. A sterile suture anchor for insertion into bone comprising:

an anchor body constructed of cortical bone, said bone anchor body having a driver end and a lead-in end, said bone anchor body having a threaded surface formed by broken threads with said threaded surface having a plurality of suture grooves extending longitudinally along said anchor body and cut into said bone anchor body at a depth to hold a suture;

said suture grooves extending into a suture cavity formed transverse to a longitudinal axis of the bone anchor body and extending through said bone anchor body, and a suture loading slot extending from said lead-in end into said suture cavity.

29. A sterile suture anchor as claimed in claim 28 wherein said suture anchor slot is substantially V shaped.

30. A sterile suture anchor as claimed in claim 28 wherein said suture anchor slot is formed by two opposing separated members which forms said suture loading slot.

31. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 28 wherein said suture body has a head portion which is dome shaped with a groove cut therein which engages said longitudinal suture grooves.

32. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 28 wherein said lead-in end is tapered inward from about 10°

to about 20°

from the longitudinal axis of the suture anchor and is split into separated sections defining an angled pathway leading into said suture cavity.

33. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 32 wherein said lead-in end separated sections have a smooth rounded outer surface.

34. A sterile suture anchor comprising:

a cylindrical body portion with a generally tapered distal end portion,

said cylindrical body portion and generally tapered distal end portion being provided with a substantially smooth outer surface,

a plurality of parallel longitudinal grooves cut into said cylindrical body a depth greater than the diameter of the suture used in the suture anchor;

a suture cavity transversely cut through said distal end portion engaging said plurality of longitudinal grooves, said suture cavity being dimensioned to hold at least one suture; and

a suture pathway means formed in said distal end portion communicating with said suture cavity allowing a suture to be inserted into said cavity, said suture pathway means comprising a distal portion split into separated sections defining a pathway leading into said suture cavity.

35. A sterile suture anchor as claimed in claim 34 wherein said suture anchor is constructed of bone.

36. A sterile suture anchor as claimed in claim 34 wherein said suture anchor body is constructed of human cortical bone.

37. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 34 wherein said suture body has a head portion which is dome shaped.

38. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 34 wherein said suture pathway means comprises two separated leg members, each of which has an inner angled end surface providing an entry passageway for a suture into said cavity.

39. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 34 wherein said distal portion has a smooth rounded outer surface.

40. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 34 wherein said distal portion leg sections are moveable when engaged by a suture from about 1°

to about 2°

.

41. A sterile suture anchor according to claim 34 wherein said suture anchor body ranges from about 4.0 mm to about 6.0 mm in diameter and 8.0 mm to 12.0 mm in length.

42. A sterile suture anchor and drive kit comprising:

a suture anchor with a cylindrical body portion with a generally tapered distal end portion,

a screw thread extending along said cylindrical body portion,

a plurality of parallel longitudinal grooves cut into said cylindrical body interrupting opposed portions of said screw thread;

a suture cavity transversely cut through said distal end portion engaging said plurality of longitudinal grooves, said suture cavity being dimensioned to hold at least one suture; and

a suture pathway means formed in said distal end portion communicating with said suture cavity allowing a suture to be inserted into said cavity, said suture pathway means comprising two separated legs, each of which has an inner angled surface leading into said cavity and providing an entry passageway for a suture into said cavity;

a driver adapted to be mounted to said suture anchor, said driver comprising a hollow tube with inwardly projecting drive ribs adapted to be inserted into said suture anchor longitudinal grooves and engage groove side walls of said suture anchor at a distance less than one half the depth of the groove to apply driving torque to said suture anchor.