Interference fit knotless suture anchor fixation

• US 6,641,597 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2002
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Inventors: Grafton, R. Donald, Dreyfuss, Peter J., Burkhart, Stephen S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/153,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20030004545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72, 606/73, 606/74, 606/232, 606/113, 606/144, 606/148
• 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 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot

Abstract

A suture anchor includes a body having a distal end and a proximal end. Projections in the form of ribs or threads are formed on the body for retaining the anchor in a hole formed in bone. An eyelet formed on the distal end of the body accepts suture. The eyelet preferably is formed by a loop of suture. Where the body of the anchor is formed of a polymer, the suture loop can be formed by insert-molding the suture into the body. Tissue is reattached to bone using the suture anchor by securing a length of suture to the tissue, and threading the length of suture through the eyelet on the distal end of the anchor, leaving lengths of suture extending from either side of the eyelet. Installing the suture anchor into the bone wedges the lengths of suture between the suture anchor and the bone, thereby securing the tissue without the need for tying knots. Pullout strength can be enhanced by twisting the lengths of suture prior to installation of the anchor into the bone.

Claims

1. A suture anchor comprising:

a body having a distal end and a proximal end;

projections formed on the body for retaining the anchor in a hole formed in bone;

a drive head formed on the proximal end of the body; and

an eyelet formed on the distal end of the body.

2. The suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the body is cylindrical.

3. The suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the projections are selected from the group consisting of ribs and threads.

4. The suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the eyelet is formed by a loop of suture.

5. The suture anchor of claim 4, wherein the body is formed of a polymer, and the loop of suture is insert molded in the body.

6. The suture anchor of claim 5, further comprising an eyelet formed on the proximal end of the body.

7. A method of reattaching tissue to bone using a suture anchor having an eyelet formed on a distal end of the anchor and a drive head formed on a proximal end of the anchor, the method comprising the steps of:

securing a length of suture to tissue;

threading the length of suture through the eyelet on the distal end of the anchor, leaving lengths of suture extending from either side of the eyelet; and

installing the suture anchor into the bone, whereby the lengths of suture are wedged between the suture anchor and the bone.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of forming twists in the length of suture such that the twists are wedged between the installed suture anchor and the bone.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the twists are formed by rotating the suture.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of creating an opening in the bone for receiving the suture anchor.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the opening in the bone is a socket formed in a keyhole shape.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the anchor is ribbed, and the installation step includes impaction of the anchor.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the anchor is threaded, and the installation step includes rotation of the anchor.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the anchor has a length, and a length of suture left between the anchor eyelet and the tissue is equal to the length of the anchor.