Tissue repair system

• US 7,309,337 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2003
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC), Smith & Nephew PLC
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Colleran, Dennis, Gabriel, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva; Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAND, MELANIE JO
• Application Number:
  US10/724,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20040111117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72, 606/232, 606/309
• 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 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0437 the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0438 slotted, i.e. having a longitudinal slot for enhancing their elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0456 Surface features on the anchor, e.g. ribs increasing friction between the suture and the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures

Abstract

A bone anchor includes an anchor body configured to be retained within bone. The anchor body includes a restrictor defining an opening having a first portion for permitting passage of a member therethrough, and a second portion restricting passage of the member therethrough. The member is movable between the first and second portions in a direction non-parallel to a direction of passage of the member through the opening. The restrictor includes an edge lining the opening oriented obliquely to a direction of passage of the member through the opening. The anchor body includes one or more resilient members with sharp, proximal edges for penetrating bone tissue.

Claims

1. A bone anchor comprising:

a shaft; and

an extension coupled to the shaft and configured to anchor the bone anchor in bone,

the bone anchor defining a path for passage of a member through the shaft and including a restrictor defining an opening in the path having a first portion for permitting passage of the member therethrough, and a second portion restricting passage of the member therethrough, wherein the extension extends along the first portion and the second portion of the opening,

the restrictor being configured such that movement of the member between the first and second portions is not in a direction of passage of the member along the path through the shaft.

2. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the extension is configured to extend along the entirety of the first portion and the second portion of the opening.

3. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the extension includes a bone-engaging ridge for retaining the bone anchor in a bone hole.

4. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the extension is deformable.

5. The bone anchor of claim 1, further comprising at least one second extension.

6. The bone anchor of claim 5, wherein the extensions comprise wings that flare outward from a distal portion of the bone anchor in a proximal direction.

7. The bone anchor of claim 6, wherein the extensions are inwardly deformable toward the shaft.

8. The bone anchor of claim 5, wherein the extensions define a second opening in the path permitting passage of the member therethrough.

9. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the shaft includes the restrictor.

10. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the restrictor includes an edge lining a wall of the opening.

11. The bone anchor of claim 10, wherein the edge is oriented obliquely to a direction of passage of the member through the opening.

12. The bone anchor of claim 10, wherein the restrictor includes multiple edges lining the wall of the opening.

13. The bone anchor of claim 12, wherein the edges are located in the first and second portions.

14. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the opening is triangular in shape.

15. The bone anchor of claim 1 configured such that the member is movable between the first and second portions substantially perpendicularly to a direction of passage of the member along the path through the shaft.

16. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the anchor body includes a tissue penetrating tip.

17. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the shaft includes a driver coupling.

18. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the restrictor is configured such that moving the member along the path in a first direction causes the member to be moved from the first portion to the second portion.

19. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the restrictor is configured such that moving the member along the path in a second direction opposite the first direction causes the member to be moved from the second portion to the first portion.

20. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the second portion is proximal to the first portion.

21. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the restrictor is configured such that when the member is within the second portion the member is restricted from moving along the path in a first direction.

22. The bone anchor of claim 21, wherein the restrictor is configured such that the member is moved from the second portion to the first portion when the member is moved along the path in a second direction opposite the first direction.

23. The bone anchor of claim 22, wherein the restrictor is configured such that when the member is within the first portion, passage of the member along the path in the second direction is permitted.

24. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the restrictor is configured such that movement of the member along the path in a first direction acts to restrict passage of the member along the path, and movement of the member along the path in a second direction acts to permit passage of the member along the path.

25. A tissue repair system comprising:

a first bone anchor including a shaft and an extension coupled to the shaft, the extension configured to anchor the first bone anchor in bone;

a second bone anchor configured to be retained within bone; and

a flexible member coupling the first and second bone anchors,

the first bone anchor defining a path for passage of the flexible member through the shaft and including a restrictor defining an opening in the path having a first portion for permitting passage of the member therethrough, and a second portion restricting passage of the member therethrough,

wherein the extension extends along the first portion and the second portion of the opening, and

wherein the restrictor is configured such that movement of the flexible member between the first and second portions is not in a direction of passage of the flexible member along the path through the shaft.

26. A bone anchor, comprising:

a shaft; and

an extension coupled to the shaft and configured to anchor the bone anchor in bone,

the bone anchor defining a path for passage of a member through the shaft and including a restrictor defining an opening in the path for passage of the member therethrough, the extension extending along the opening, and the restrictor including an edge lining a wall of the opening oriented such that upon movement of the member through the opening in a first direction, the member is also moved non-parallel to the first direction.

27. A method comprising:

placing a bone anchor in bone, the bone anchor including a shaft and an extension coupled to the shaft that is configured to anchor the bone anchor in bone, and defining a path for passage of a member through the shaft and including a restrictor defining an opening in the path having a first portion for permitting passage of the member therethrough, and a second portion restricting passage of the member therethrough, the extension extending along the first portion and the second portion of the opening, and

moving the member between the first and second portions in a direction other than a direction of passage of the member along the path through the shaft.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising placing a second bone anchor in bone, the second bone anchor being coupled to the first bone anchor by the member.