Tissue fastener

• US 6,623,492 B1
• Filed: 01/25/2000
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Berube, Rod, Lipchitz, John, Ek, Steve, Torrie, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Julian W.
• Application Number:
  US09/490,525
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/72, 606/73, 606/75, 606/76, 606/77, 606/104, 606/213, 606/232, 411/5, 411/6, 411/456, 411/906, 411/907, 411/908, 411/392, 411/916, 411/2, 623/13.11, 623/13.15, 623/13.18, 623/13.19, 623/13.2, 242/98, 243/00, 24/47
• US Class Current: 606/151
• 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 2017/0646 for insertion into cartillege, e.g. meniscus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0841 Longitudinal channel for insertion tool running through the whole tendon anchor, e.g. for accommodating bone drill, guidewire
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0858 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• 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: Y10S 606/908 Bioabsorbable material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/91 Polymer

Abstract

A tissue fastener comprises a shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within the tissue, the shaft having a region that is relatively flexible to render a tissue engaging head disposed at a proximal end of the shaft movable with respect to the shaft. In one embodiment, the region comprises substantially an entire length of the shaft and is made from flexible material, such as a mesh, onto which the member and the head are molded. In another embodiment, the shaft comprises generally rigid material, and the region comprises a flexible joint between the shaft and the head. The flexible joint comprises a breakable (e.g., frangible) section of the shaft, and a flexible member (e.g., a plurality of filaments or a flexible tube) extends between the shaft and the head past the breakable section.

Claims

1. A tissue fastener comprising

a generally rigid shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within the tissue,

a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, and

a frangible section at least partially between the member and the head to render the head movable with respect to the shaft while maintaining the disposition of the head at the end of the shaft.

2. The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the member comprises at least one barb.

3. The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the fastener is made from polymeric material.

4. The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the fastener is made from bioabsorbable material.

5. The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the shaft is hollow and defines an interior passage, the head including an opening in communication with the passage.

6. The tissue fastener of claim 5 wherein the passage is open at a distal end of the shaft.

7. The tissue fastener of claim 5 wherein the passage is closed at a distal end of the shaft.

8. The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the head has a flat distal surface.

9. The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the head has a toothed distal surface.

10. The tissue fastener of claim 1 further comprising a flexible member extending between the shaft and the head past the frangible section.

11. The tissue fastener of claim 10 wherein the frangible section is defined by at least one opening disposed through a wall of the shaft.

12. The tissue fastener of claim 10 wherein the flexible member comprises a plurality of filaments.

13. The tissue fastener of claim 10 wherein the flexible member comprises a flexible tube.

14. A method for tissue attachment comprising

providing a tissue fastener including a hollow shaft defining a substantially void interior passage and having an outer wall at least partially defining an exterior surface of the tissue fastener, the shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within soft tissue, and a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, a region of the shaft being relatively flexible to render the head movable with respect to the shaft, and

inserting the tissue fastener through a first tissue and into a second tissue so that the member lodges within the second tissue and the head urges the first tissue against the second tissue.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the first tissue and the second tissue are regions of a common tissue structure.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the tissue structure is cartilage and, prior to the inserting, the first region is separated from the second region by a tear in the cartilage.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the first tissue is soft tissue and the second tissue is bone.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising removably receiving an element in the interior passage during emplacement of the tissue fastener within soft tissue.

19. A method for making a tissue fastener comprising

providing a generally rigid shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within the tissue, and a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, and

breaking the shaft to form a flexible region of the shaft to render the head movable with respect to the shaft.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing a breakable section of the shaft, and extending a flexible member between the shaft and the head past the breakable section.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising defining the breakable section by at least one opening disposed through a wall of the shaft.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the flexible member comprises a plurality of filaments.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the flexible member comprises a flexible tube.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising extending the flexible member along substantially an entire length of the shaft.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising molding the shaft and the head as an integral unit, and molding the flexible member therewithin.

26. The method of claim 19 further comprising making the tissue fastener from polymeric material.

27. The method of claim 19 further comprising making the tissue fastener from bioabsorbable material.

28. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing the shaft with an interior passage, and forming an opening in the head in communication with the passage.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising opening the passage at a distal end of the shaft.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising closing the passage at a distal end of the shaft.

31. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing the head with a flat distal surface.

32. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing the head with a toothed distal surface.

33. A tissue fastener comprising

a generally rigid, hollow shaft defining a substantially void interior passage and having an outer wall at least partially defining an exterior surface of the tissue fastener, and

a member disposed on the shaft for lodging the shaft within soft tissue, and

a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, the head including an opening in communication with the passage and having a maximum transverse cross-sectional length longer than the maximum transverse cross-sectional length of the hollow shaft,

a region of the shaft being frangible to render the head movably connected to the rest of the shaft wherein the frangible region comprises a mesh.

34. A tissue fastener comprising

a hollow shaft defining a substantially void interior passage and having an outer wall at least partially defining an exterior surface of the tissue fastener, and

a member disposed on the shaft for lodging the shaft within soft tissue, and

a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, the head including an opening in communication with the passage and having a maximum transverse cross-sectional length longer than the maximum transverse cross-sectional length of the hollow shaft,

a region of the shaft being relatively flexible to render the head movable with respect to the rest of the shaft,

wherein the member comprises a plurality of ribs.

35. A tissue fastener comprising a generally rigid, hollow shaft defining a substantially void interior passage and having an outer wall at least partially defining an exterior surface of the tissue fastener, and

a member disposed on the shaft for lodging the shaft within soft tissue, and

a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, the head including an opening in communication with the passage and having a maximum transverse cross-sectional length longer than the maximum transverse cross-sectional length of the hollow shaft,

a region of the shaft being frangible to render the head movably connected to the rest of the shaft,

wherein the tissue fastener is made from bioabsorbable material.