Apparatus and method for anchoring sutures

• US 6,923,823 B1
• Filed: 11/09/2000
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Wenstrom, Richard F. Jr., Bartlett, Edwin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US09/711,039
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• Field of Search: 606/232, 606/233
• 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 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• 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 2017/0416 Packages or dispensers for suture anchors or for anchor applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material

Abstract

A suture anchor having a conical surface and a bore in which an end of an insertion tool is inserted. The insertion end of the insertion tool is made of material having elastic properties. The bore and base of the suture anchor are angled with respect to the central axis of the suture anchor and preferably are parallel to each other. During insertion, the suture anchor is reoriented to fit into the hole, thereby bending the elastic end of the insertion tool. When the suture anchor is within cancellous bone tissue, the elastic properties of the insertion tool deploys the suture anchor to an orientation in which the suture anchor cannot fit through the bone hole, thereby firmly anchoring the suture anchor in the human bone.

Claims

1. A suture anchor comprising:

an elongaged body having a first end and a second end, said first end being larger than said second end, and an outer surface extending between said first end and said second end;

a central axis extending between said first end and said second end;

an opening extending through said elongated body from a first location on said outer surface to a second location on said outer surface, said opening being located closer to said first end than said second end; and

a slot extending through said elongated body from a third location on said outer surface to a fourth location on said outer surface, said slot having a width substantially the same as a diameter of a suture, and a length at least twice the diameter of the suture, said slot being adapted to receive at least two lengths of the suture therethrough.

2. A suture anchor according to claim 1 wherein said opening extends at an acute angle to said central axis.

3. A suture anchor according to claim 2 wherein said first end extends at an acute angle to said central axis.

4. A suture anchor according to claim 3 wherein said first end extends parallel to said opening.

5. The suture anchor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said slot is provided with a width of about 0.019-0.030 in.

6. The suture anchor in accordance with claim 5 wherein said slot is provided with a width of about 0.028 in.

7. The suture anchor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said slot is removed from said second end along said central axis a distance of about 0.15-0.20 in.

8. The suture anchor in accordance with claim 7 wherein said slot is removed from said second end along said central axis a distance of about 0.16-0.18 in.

9. The suture anchor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said slot extends through the anchor substantially perpendicular to said opening.