Apparatus and method for securing suture to bone

• US 6,666,877 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2001
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tornier Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Axya Medical, Inc. (Tornier Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fenton, Thomas N., Fenton, Paul V. Jr., Novak, Vincent P., Morgan, Daniel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBERTS, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US09/952,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20020052630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 128/772, 604/282, 604/164, 606/159, 606/127, 606/128, 606/198, 606/191, 606/200, 606/232, 606/218, 411/378, 411/303, 411/384, 411/392, 411/400, 403/326, 403/327, 403/328, 623/13.11, 623/13.12, 623/13.13, 623/13.14
• 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 lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0448 Additional elements on or within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 1/12 Cords, lines, or tows
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2509/04 Sutures

Abstract

A suture anchor for securing soft tissue to bone, including a body having opposing first and second ends, a longitudinal axis extending between the ends, an external threaded portion extending from the first end, and a bore extending from the second end towards the first end. The body also has a first pair of slots extending laterally outwardly from the bore and extending longitudinally to a predetermined first distance from the second end, and a second pair of slots extending laterally outwardly from the bore and extending longitudinally to a predetermined second distance from the second end. The anchor additionally includes an eyelet receivable within the first and the second pairs of slots of the body and having an opening for receiving a suture, and a spring biasing the eyelet into the bore.

Claims

1. A suture anchor for securing soft tissue to bone, comprising:

A) a body extending along a longitudinal axis between opposing first and second ends and having,

an external threaded portion extending coaxial with the axis,

a bore extending from the second end towards the first end,

a first pair of slots extending laterally outwardly from the bore and extending longitudinally to a predetermined first distance from the second end, and

a second pair of slots extending radially outwardly from the bore and extending longitudinally to a predetermined second distance from the second end; and

B) an eyelet receivable within the first and the second pairs of slots of the body and having an opening for receiving a suture; and

C) a spring biasing the eyelet into the bore.

2. A suture anchor according to claim 1, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

3. A suture anchor according to claim 2, wherein the first distance is sized to maintain the opening of the eyelet at least partly out of the bore, and wherein the second distance is sized to allow the spring to bias the eyelet further into the bore along the axis.

4. A suture anchor according to claim 3, wherein the second distance is sized to allow the spring to bias the entire eyelet into the bore.

5. A suture anchor according to claim 4, wherein the second distance substantially equals a length of the bore.

6. A suture anchor according to claim 1, wherein the first pair of slots and the second pair of slots are perpendicular.

7. A suture anchor according to claim 1, wherein the second pair of slots is wider than the first pair of slots.

8. A suture anchor according to claim 7, wherein the second pair of slots has a width of about one hundred and twenty degrees (120°

).

9. A suture anchor according to claim 1, wherein the spring comprises a tension spring disposed along the axis within the bore and having a first end attached to the body and a second end attached to the eyelet.

10. A suture anchor according to claim 9, wherein the tension spring is helical.

11. A suture anchor according to claim 9, wherein the first end of the spring extends from a base of the bore and is unitarily formed with the body.

12. A suture anchor according to claim 9, wherein:

the bore includes a socket; and

the spring includes a mooring extending from the first end of the spring and secured in the socket.

13. A suture anchor according to claim 12, wherein the mooring is rotatably secured in the socket.

14. A suture anchor according to claim 1, wherein the body further includes a drive head at the second end.

15. A suture anchor according to claim 14, wherein the drive head has a hexagonal engagement surface facing laterally outwardly from the axis.

16. A suture anchor according to claim 1, wherein the external threaded portion includes a self-tapping tip at the first end of the body.

17. A suture anchor according to claim 1, wherein the external threaded portion includes a self-drilling tip at the first end of the body.

18. A suture anchor for securing soft tissue to bone, comprising:

A) a body extending along a longitudinal axis between opposing first and second ends and having,

an external threaded portion extending coaxial with the axis,

a bore longitudinally extending from the second end to a socket adjacent the first end; and

B) an insert including,

a mooring secured in the socket,

a shaft extending within the bore from the mooring towards the second end of the body, and

an eyelet secured to the shaft and having an opening for receiving a suture, wherein the eyelet has recesses for mating with a drive tool.

19. A suture anchor according to claim 18, wherein the insert is formed as a unitary piece.

20. A suture anchor according to claim 18, wherein the insert can be rotated with respect to the body.

21. A suture anchor according to claim 18, wherein the insert can be moved vertically with respect to the body.

22. A suture anchor according to claim 18, wherein the body includes a pair of slots at the second end sized to receive the eyelet.

23. A suture anchor according to claim 18, wherein the body further includes a drive head at the second end.

24. A suture anchor according to claim 23, wherein the drive head has a hexagonal engagement surface facing laterally outwardly from the axis.

25. A suture anchor according to claim 18, wherein the external threaded portion includes a self-tapping tip at the first end of the body.

26. A suture anchor according to claim 18, wherein the external threaded portion includes a self-drilling tip at the first end of the body.