Tissue repair system

• US 6,656,183 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Colleran, Dennis, Gabriel, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US09/986,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20030088250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72, 606/232, 606/75, 606/60, 606/139
• 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 2017/0412 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 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0437 the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0438 slotted, i.e. having a longitudinal slot for enhancing their elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0456 Surface features on the anchor, e.g. ribs increasing friction between the suture and the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures

Abstract

A bone anchor includes an anchor body configured to be retained within bone. The anchor body includes a restrictor defining an opening having a first portion for permitting passage of a member therethrough, and a second portion restricting passage of the member therethrough. The member is movable between the first and second portions in a direction non-parallel to a direction of passage of the member through the opening. The restrictor includes an edge lining the opening oriented obliquely to a direction of passage of the member through the opening. The anchor body includes one or more resilient members with sharp, proximal edges for penetrating bone tissue.

Claims

1. A bone anchor comprising:

an anchor body configured to be retained within bone, the anchor body defining a path for passage of a member through the anchor body, the anchor body including a restrictor defining an opening having a first portion permitting passage of the member therethrough, and a second portion restricting passage of the member therethrough,

the restrictor being configured such that movement of the member between the first and second portions is not in a direction of passage of the member along the path through the anchor body.

2. The bone anchor of claim 1 wherein the restrictor includes an edge lining a wall of the opening.

3. The bone anchor of claim 2 wherein the edge is oriented obliquely to a direction of passage of the member through the opening.

4. The bone anchor of claim 2 wherein the restrictor includes multiple edges lining the wall of the opening.

5. The bone anchor of claim 4 wherein at least some of the edges are oriented at the same oblique angle relative to a direction of passage of the member through the opening.

6. The bone anchor of claim 4 wherein at least some of the edges are oriented parallel to each other.

7. The bone anchor of claim 4 wherein the edges are located in the first and second portion.

8. The bone anchor of claim 1 wherein a dimension of the second portion is narrower than a diameter of the member.

9. The bone anchor of claim 1 wherein the opening is triangular in shape.

10. The bone anchor of claim 1 configured such that the member is movable between the first and second portions substantially perpendicularly to a direction of passage of the member through the opening.

11. The bone anchor of claim 1 wherein the anchor body includes a tissue penetrating tip.

12. The bone anchor of claim 1 wherein the anchor body includes a central body member.

13. The bone anchor of claim 12 wherein the central body includes a driver coupling.

14. The bone anchor of claim 1 wherein the anchor body includes a resilient member for engaging bone tissue.

15. The bone anchor of claim 14 wherein the resilient member has a sharp, proximal edge for penetrating bone tissue.

16. The bone anchor of claim 1 wherein the anchor body includes multiple resilient members.

17. The bone anchor of claim 1 wherein the anchor body comprises a unitary body.

18. The bone anchor of claim 1 wherein the restrictor is configured such that moving the member along the path in a first direction causes the member to be moved from the first portion to the second portion.

19. The bone anchor of claim 18 wherein the restrictor is configured such that moving the member along the path in a second direction opposite the first direction causes the member to be moved from the second portion to the first portion.

20. The bone anchor of claim 1 wherein the second portion is proximal to the first portion.

21. The bone anchor of claim 1 wherein the restrictor is configured such that when the member is within the second portion the member is restricted from moving along the path in a first direction.

22. The bone anchor of claim 21 wherein the restrictor is configured such that the member is moved from the second portion to the first portion when the member is moved along the path in a second direction opposite the first direction.

23. The bone anchor of claim 22 wherein the restrictor is configured such that when the member is within the first portion, passage of the member along the path in the second direction is permitted.

24. The bone anchor of claim 1 wherein the restrictor is configured such that movement of the member along the path in a first direction acts to restrict passage of the member along the path, and movement of the member along the path in a second direction acts to permit passage of the member along the path.

25. A tissue repair system comprising:

a first bone anchor including a first anchor body configured to be retained within bone,

a second bone anchor including a second anchor body configured to be retained within bone, and

a flexible member coupling the first and second bone anchors, at least one of the first and second anchor bodies includes a restrictor defining an opening having a first portion for passage of the flexible member therethrough, and a second portion limiting passage of the flexible member therethrough, the flexible member being movable between the first and second portions in a direction non-parallel to a direction of passage of the member through the opening.

26. A bone anchor, comprising:

an anchor body configured to be retained within bone, the anchor body including a restrictor defining an opening for passage of a member therethrough, the restrictor including an edge lining a wall of the opening oriented such that upon movement of the member through the opening in a first direction, the member is also moved non-parallel to the first direction.

27. The bone anchor of claim 26 wherein the edge is oriented such that upon movement of the member through the opening in a second direction opposite the first direction, the member is also moved not along the path.

28. The bone anchor of claim 26 wherein the restrictor includes a second edge lining the wall of the opening.

29. A method comprising:

placing a bone anchor in bone, the bone anchor defining a path for passage of a member through the bone anchor, the bone anchor including a restrictor defining an opening having a first portion for permitting passage of the member therethrough, and a second portion restricting passage of the member therethrough, and

moving the member between the first and second portions not in a direction of passage of the member along the path through the anchor body.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising engaging the member with an edge lining a wall of the opening.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein moving the member to the second portion comprises moving the member in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction moved by the member through the first portion.

32. The method of claim 29 further comprising placing a second bone anchor in bone, the second bone anchor being coupled to the first bone anchor by the member.