Helical orthopedic fixation and reduction device, insertion system, and associated methods

• US 6,663,633 B1
• Filed: 10/26/2000
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2000
• 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): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schopfer, Kenneth G
• Application Number:
  US09/697,451
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 606/71, 606/72, 606/73, 606/213, 606/216, 606/144, 606/148
• US Class Current: 606/148
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06066 Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations making needles B21G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/72 Intramedullary pins, nails or other devices A61B17/744 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/869 characterised by an open form, e.g. wire helix
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8872 Instruments for putting said fixation devices against or away from the bone A61B17/7074, A61B17/808 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06076 helically or spirally coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06171 helically or spirally coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0649 Coils or spirals

Abstract

A system for fixation of a soft tissue tear includes a flexible, generally helical fixation element biased to a predetermined pitch. A hollow, generally helical insertion element is dimensioned to admit at least a distal portion of the fixation element into a lumen thereof. The insertion element'"'"'s pitch along a central portion is larger than that of the fixation element. The insertion element is insertable in a screwing motion across the soft tissue tear and is positionable with the central portion bridging the tear. The fixation element is insertable into the insertion element, and the insertion element is removable in a reverse screwing motion, leaving the fixation element positioned across the tear. The positioning of the central portion permits the fixation element to contract following removal of the insertion element to bring the two bridged sides of the tear together, permitting them to heal. An orthopedic system for stabilizing two sections of a bone in spaced-apart relation includes an elongated guide element and a coil element having a bore dimensioned for threading over the guide element. The coil element is biased in an outward direction for fixating two sections of bone in a desired spaced-apart orientation.

Claims

1. An orthopedic system for fixation of a soft tissue tear comprising:

a generally helical fixation element; and

a hollow, generally helical insertion element dimensioned to admit at least a distal portion of the fixation element into a lumen thereof, the insertion element insertable in a screwing motion across the soft tissue tear and positionable with a portion between a distal end and a proximal end bridging the tear, the insertion element removable in a reverse screwing motion, leaving the fixation element positioned in bridging relation across the tear;

a guide needle having a diameter smaller than a bore of the insertion element and insertable across a soft tissue tear, the insertion element insertable across the tear in encompassing relation to the needle.

2. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising a cannula adapted to pierce a skin of a patient and into the soft tissue proximal of the tear, the cannula adapted to admit the insertion element and the guide needle therethrough for positioning across the tear.

3. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the fixation element is biased to a predetermined pitch and wherein the insertion element has a first pitch along a distal portion, a second pitch along a central portion, and a third pitch along a proximal portion, the second pitch larger than the first and the third pitches and than the fixation element pitch, wherein upon removal thereof the fixation element contracts along a central portion to bring two sides of the tear into closer apposition.

4. An orthopedic system for fixation of a soft tissue tear comprising:

a generally helical fixation element;

a hollow generally helical insertion element dimensioned to admit at least a distal portion of the fixation element into a lumen thereof, the insertion element insertable in a screwing motion across the soft tissue tear and positionable with a portion between a distal end and a proximal end bridging the tear, the insertion element removable in a reverse screwing motion, leaving the fixation element positioned in bridging relation across the tear;

a cannula adapted to pierce a skin of a patient and into the soft tissue proximal of the tear, the cannula adapted to admit the insertion element therethrough for positioning across the tear; and

a guide needle having a diameter smaller than a bore of the insertion element and insertable across a soft tissue tear, the insertion element insertable across the tear in encompassing relation to the needle.

5. An orthopedic system for fixation of a soft tissue tear comprising:

a generally helical fixation element comprising a substantially flexible core and a shape-retaining material in overlying relation thereto, the shape-retaining material comprising a bioresorbable material; and

a hollow, generally helical insertion element dimensioned to admit at least a distal portion of the fixation element into a lumen thereof, the insertion element insertable in a screwing motion across the soft tissue tear and positionable with a portion between a distal end and a proximal end bridging the tear, the insertion element removable in a reverse screwing motion, leaving the fixation element positioned in bridging relation across the tear.

6. A method of fixating a soft tissue tear comprising the steps of:

inserting a generally helical insertion element across a soft tissue tear in a screwing motion, the insertion element having a first pitch along a distal portion, a second pitch along a central portion, and a third pitch along a proximal portion, the second pitch larger than the first and the third pitches, the central portion positioned across the tear;

inserting at least a distal portion of a generally helical, flexible fixation element into a lumen of the insertion element, the fixation element biased to a predetermined pitch less than the insertion element second pitch; and

withdrawing the insertion element in an unscrewing motion, leaving the fixation element in position across the tear, contracted to the predetermined pitch and drawing two sides of the tear together.

7. The method recited in claim 6, further comprising the step of inserting a needle across the tear prior to inserting the insertion element, and wherein the insertion element inserting step comprises inserting the insertion element over the needle, and wherein the withdrawing step further comprises withdrawing the needle.

8. The method recited in claim 6, further comprising the step, prior to the insertion element inserting step, of inserting a guide needle having a diameter smaller than a bore of the insertion element across the soft tissue tear, and wherein the insertion element inserting step comprises inserting the insertion element across the tear in encompassing relation to the needle.

9. The method recited in claim 6, further comprising the steps of, prior to the insertion element inserting step, of:

inserting a cannula through a skin of a patient and into the soft tissue proximal of the tear; and

admitting the insertion element through a bore of the cannula.

10. The method recited in claim 9, further comprising the step, prior to the insertion element inserting step, of inserting a guide needle having a diameter smaller than a bore of the insertion element across the soft tissue tear, and wherein the insertion element inserting step comprises inserting the insertion element across the tear in encompassing relation to the needle.

11. The method recited in claim 6, wherein the fixation element comprises a substantially flexible core and a shape-retaining material in overlying relation thereto, the shape-retaining material comprising a bioresorbable material.

12. A method for fixation of a soft tissue tear comprising the steps of:

inserting a needle having a pointed tip in bridging relation to a soft tissue tear;

inserting a generally helical fixation element into the soft tissue in a screwing motion, a lumen of the helical element in surrounding relation to the needle; and

withdrawing the needle, leaving the helical element in bridging relation to the tear.

13. The method recited in claim 12, further comprising the steps of, prior to the needle inserting step, of:

inserting a cannula through a skin of a patient and into the soft tissue proximal of the tear; and

admitting the insertion element through a bore of the cannula.

14. The method recited in claim 12, wherein the fixation element comprises a substantially flexible core and a shape-retaining material in overlying relation thereto, the shape-retaining material comprising a bioresorbable material.