Medical tensioning system

• US 6,648,903 B1
• Filed: 09/08/1998
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raymond H. Pierson III
• Original Assignee: Raymond H. Pierson III
• Inventors: Pierson, Raymond H. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US09/149,354
• Time in Patent Office: 1,897 Days
• Field of Search: 606/73, 606/74, 606/103, 606/232, 606/72, 606/75
• 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 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/82 for bone cerclage apparatus for manipulating wires or straps A61B17/8861; wires, bands or straps other than cerclage A61B17/842
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8869 Tensioning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00991 Telescopic means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0448 Additional elements on or within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures

Abstract

A medical tensioning cable system provides dynamic tensioning to maintain high tension in a fixation system despite tissue shifting, cable slippage, or other inadvertent loss of tension. An exemplary embodiment of an in-line dynamic tensioning system includes a dynamically tensioning cable retainer, suitably comprising a suture anchor or bone screw, which provides a bias to maintain tension in the cable after installation. The retainer includes a retaining mechanism for retaining the cable or suture and a biasing mechanism connected to the retaining mechanism. In the event of cable slippage or slackening, the biasing mechanism tends to take up the slack and maintain tension. As a result, cable tension is maintained regardless of inadvertent cable slackening after installation.

Claims

1. A device for dynamically maintaining tension on a flexible member affixed to an anatomical structure comprising:

means for attaching a flexible member thereto;

a securing component configured to be secured to an anatomical structure and comprising a generally cylindrical member having an opening at a top end;

means for retaining the securing component within a bone tunnel;

a biasing mechanism affixed to the securing component and connected to the attaching means, and configurable between a first position wherein the flexible member is under a first tension and a second position wherein the flexible member is under a second tension greater than the first tension, the biasing mechanism biased to increase tension in the flexible member, the biasing mechanism comprising a spring retainable within the cylindrical member and biased toward a bottom end of the cylindrical member; and

wherein the flexible member attaching means comprises means for attaching the flexible member adjacent a bottom end of the spring.

2. The device recited in claim 1, wherein:

the securing component retaining means comprises a threaded outer surface of the cylindrical member for being screwingly inserted into the bone tunnel.

3. The device recited in claim 2, wherein the spring comprises a coil spring, and the attaching means comprises a pin disposed across the cylindrical member and means for retaining the pin beneath the spring, the flexible member in use following a path into the cylindrical member opening, downward through an interior of the spring, wrapping around the pin, and back upward out of the cylindrical member opening.

4. The device recited in claim 1, wherein the spring is substantially completely compressed in the first position, movement from the first position thereby unidirectional for taking up developed slack in the flexible member.