Suture anchor and associated method of implantation

• US 6,682,549 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2001
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edwin C. Bartlett
• Original Assignee: Edwin C. Bartlett
• Inventors: Bartlett, Edwin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US09/941,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20020004668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 606/232, 606/104
• 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 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot

Abstract

A suture anchor is provided comprising a generally quadrilaterally shaped body having a bore-abutting surface with a leading gripping edge at one end of the bore-abutting surface, a trailing gripping edge at the other end, and a closing surface having an arcuate portion and a linear portion engaging the leading and trailing gripping edges, respectively, generally opposite the bore-abutting surface. The body further defines a suture bore extending transversely therethrough and an inserter bore adapted to receive an insertion tool. A suture engages the suture anchor through the bore and is adapted to engage bodily tissue to be secured to the bone. Also provided are a knotless suture anchor configuration, an associated insertion tool, and a suture anchor kit, as well as a method of implanting a suture anchor in a bore in a bone.

Claims

1. A method of implanting a suture anchor within a bore in a bone, the bore defining a rim and the suture anchor having a suture operably engaged therewith, said method comprising the steps of:

engaging the suture anchor with the bore using an insertion tool engaged with the suture anchor and disposed at an angle with respect to the bore, the suture anchor being configured such that a bore-abutting surface abuts a wall defining the bore upon engagement of the suture anchor with the bore;

elastically deforming the insertion tool from a normal configuration and externally to the suture anchor;

urging the insertion tool into the bore so as to insert the suture anchor into the bore until the insertion tool is disposed at a first position adjacent to the rim of the bore;

urging the insertion tool toward a second position adjacent to the rim of the bore, the second position being diametrically opposed to the first position, so as to rotate the suture anchor within the bore;

removing the insertion tool from the suture anchor; and

exerting a tension on the suture outwardly of the bore so as to further rotate the suture anchor into a seated position within the bore.

2. A method according to claim 1 further including boring a circular bore in a bone with a boring bit before engaging the suture anchor with the bore.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein urging the insertion tool toward the bore further comprises urging the insertion tool toward the bore such that the bore-abutting surface of the suture anchor remains abutted to the wall of the bore as the suture anchor is inserted into the bore.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein rotating the suture anchor within the bore further comprises rotating the suture anchor within the bore by moving the insertion tool to the diametrically opposite side of the bore to thereby rotate the suture anchor about a lending gripping edge thereof, the leading gripping edge being disposed at the end of the bore-abutting surface last entering the bore.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein rotating the suture anchor into a scaled position further comprises exerting a tensile force on a suture passing through a suture bore defined by the suture anchor to further rotate the suture anchor about the leading gripping edge and into a seated position within the bore.

6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising engaging a suture with bodily tissue to be secured to the bone before engaging the suture anchor with the bore, wherein the suture anchor further comprises a suture forming a loop extending through a suture bore defined by the suture anchor.

7. A method according claim 6 further comprising engaging the suture with a notch defined by the bore-abutting surface after engaging the suture with the bodily tissue and before engaging the suture anchor with the bore.