Knotless tissue anchor

• US 7,309,346 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Martinek, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Application Number:
  US11/313,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20060116719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• 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 17/062 Needle manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00858 high friction, non-slip on handles A61B2017/00429
• 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 2017/0412 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 2017/0424 the separate member staying in the anchor after placement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0438 slotted, i.e. having a longitudinal slot for enhancing their elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0805 Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0835 with deformation of anchor parts, e.g. expansion of dowel by set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0858 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0882 : Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0888 : Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/908 : Bioabsorbable material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/916 : Tool for installing or removing orthopedic fastener

Abstract

A radially expandable knotless tissue anchor including an expandable outer member defining a bore and an inner member slidably positioned within the bore. Relative longitudinal movement of the inner member relative to the expandable member causes a portion of the expandable member to expand radially outwardly. The tissue anchor further includes a length of suture material having a first end affixed to a distal end of the inner member and a second end preferably affixed to a suturing needle. A transverse bore is provided adjacent the distal end of the inner member. There is also disclosed a method of knotlessly anchoring a section of tissue to a section of bone having a bore drilled therethrough.

Claims

1. A knotless tissue anchor comprising:

an expandable member defining a bore therethrough and including a shaft and a radially expandable portion extending distally from the shaft, the expandable portion including at least two slots defining at least two flexible legs;

an inner member slidably disposed within the bore of the expandable member such that the expandable portion expands radially outwardly in response to longitudinal motion of the expandable member relative to the inner member, the inner member including at least one fin configured and dimensioned for engagement with at least one of the at least two slots; and

a length of suture having a first end and a second end, the first end of the suture being affixed to a distal end of the inner member.

2. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner member has a camming surface configured to engage the at least two flexible legs to force ends of said legs radially outward in response to relative longitudinal motion between the expandable member and the inner member.

3. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 2, wherein the camming surface engages the at least two legs in response to distal movement of the expandable member relative to the inner member.

4. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 1, wherein a distal portion of the inner member defines a transverse bore therethrough for receipt of the length of suture.

5. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 1, further comprising a needle affixed to the second end of the suture.

6. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 5, wherein the needle is an incision member having two points and the second end of the suture is affixed to the needle intermediate the two points.

7. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner member has a conical leading tip at a distal end thereof.

8. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner member further includes an elongated shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion and the distal end portion being defined by a breakaway notch.

9. A knotless tissue anchor comprising:

an expandable member defining a bore therethrough and including a shaft and a radially expandable portion extending distally from the shaft, the expandable portion including at least two slots defining at least two flexible legs;

an inner member slidably disposed within the bore of the expandable member such that the expandable portion expands radially outwardly in response to longitudinal motion of the expandable member relative to the inner member, the inner member including at least one fin configured and dimensioned for engagement with at least one of the at least two slots; and

a length of suture having a first end and a second end, the first end of the suture being affixed to the distal end of the inner member, wherein the length of suture extends from a distal end of the inner member and externally of the expandable member.

10. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 9, wherein the inner member has circumferential ridges, the ridges engageable with the expandable member to prevent distal motion of the inner member relative to the expandable member after the expandable portion has been radially expanded.

11. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 9, wherein the at least two expandable legs have ridges on outer surfaces thereof to frictionally engage surrounding bone.

12. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 9, wherein the expandable member has an enlarged head at a proximal end thereof.

13. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 9, wherein the length of suture extends from the distal end of the inner member and externally of the expandable member.

14. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 9, wherein the inner member has a conical leading tip at a distal end thereof.

15. The knotless tissue anchor as recited in claim 9, wherein the inner member further includes an elongated shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion and the distal end portion being defined by a breakaway notch.