Suture anchor and associated method of implantation

• US 6,689,154 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2001
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• 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:
  US09/941,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20020004669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 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 for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• 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 2017/0458 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. An insertion device adapted to minimize rotation of a wedge-type suture anchor with respect to the insertion device and to implant the wedge-type suture anchor within a bore in a bone, said device comprising:

a rigid shaft having opposed ends; and

a tip on one end of said shaft, said tip being comprised of a shape memory material and having a proximal end operably engaged with the shaft and a distal end configured to be engaged with a non-circular inserter bore defined by the wedge-type suture anchor, the distal end of the tip having a non-circular cross-section corresponding to the non-circular cross-section of the inserter bore so as to minimize rotation of the wedge-type suture anchor about the axis of the tip when the distal end of the tip is engaged with the inserter bore.

2. An insertion device according to claim 1 wherein the tip is comprised of a nickel-titanium alloy.

3. An insertion device according to claim 1 wherein the tip is uniformly shaped along its length.

4. An insertion device according to claim 1 wherein the tip is generally square.