Knotless bioabsorbable suture anchor system and method

• US 7,381,213 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2003
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DePuy Mitek Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: DePuy Mitek Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Lizardi, Jose E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mendoza; Michael G.
• Application Number:
  US10/657,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20050075668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,730 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72, 606/73, 606/86, 606/88, 606/96, 606/139, 606/144, 606/148, 606/224, 606/225, 606/222, 606/228, 411/75, 411/80, 411/354, 411/355, 411/511
• 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 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0406 Pledgets
• 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 2017/0432 the separate member staying in the anchor after placement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0438 slotted, i.e. having a longitudinal slot for enhancing their elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• 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 2002/0888 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 606/91 Polymer

Abstract

A knotless suture system for anchoring tissue to bone is provided. The system includes a suture anchor configured to radially expand into bone. The suture anchor has a proximal end and a distal end with a bore formed therein. The system further includes a first loop of suture thread attached to the distal end of the suture anchor, a suture needle, and a second loop of suture thread attached to the needle and interlocked with the first loop of suture thread. The system also includes an expander pin that is configured and sized for insertion into the bore of the suture anchor, causing the anchor to radially expand from a first outer diameter to a second outer diameter. A method is also provided by which a detached tissue may be securely attached to bone in an anatomically correct position without the need to tie a knot.

Claims

1. A suture anchor system, comprising:

a suture anchor having a radially expandable body including a bore extending longitudinally from a proximal end, and a tapered suture engaging tip at a distal end, the suture engaging tip having formed therein a suture thread-engaging groove, wherein the taper of the suture engaging tip extends a distance at least equal to the length of the suture-thread engaging groove;

a suture disposed in the suture thread-engaging groove; and

an expander pin configured for insertion into the bore of the body so as to effect a radial expansion of the body from a first diameter to a second, larger diameter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the suture anchor further includes a through-hole extending therethrough in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the anchor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the suture anchor is comprised of an expandable sleeve in engagement with the suture engaging tip.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the expandable sleeve and the suture engaging tip are threadingly engaged.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the suture anchor includes an external surface feature for engaging bone.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the external surface feature is selected from the group consisting of ridges, wedges, and fins.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the expander pin includes a tool-engaging bore extending from a proximal end thereof.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the expander pin includes a surface feature effective to assist in the radial expansion of the body.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the suture anchor further includes a pair of longitudinally extending slits extending from the proximal end thereof.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the expander pin includes a pair of fins having a complementary shape to the slits of the anchor and being configured to engage the slits and expand the anchor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the expander pin is tapered.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the suture anchor is formed from a bioabsorbable material.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the bioabsorbable material is selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polylactic acid, and polysulfone.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the expansion pin is formed from a bioabsorbable material.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the bioabsorbable material is selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid and polysulfone.

16. A suture anchor system, comprising:

a radially expandable suture anchor including a bore extending longitudinally from a proximal end, and a tapered suture engaging tip at a distal end, the suture engaging tip having formed therein a suture thread-engaging groove, wherein the taper of the suture engaging tip extends a distance at least equal to the length of the suture-thread engaging groove and the suture anchor further includes a through-hole extending therethrough in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the anchor; and

an expander pin configured for insertion into the bore of the suture anchor so as to effect a radial expansion of the suture anchor from a first diameter to a second, larger diameter.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the suture anchor is comprised of an expandable sleeve in engagement with the suture engaging tip.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the suture anchor includes an external surface feature for engaging bone.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the suture anchor further includes a pair of longitudinally extending slits extending from a proximal end thereof.

20. A suture anchor system, comprising:

a radially expandable suture anchor including a bore extending longitudinally from a proximal end, and a tapered suture engaging tip at a distal end, the suture engaging tip having formed therein a suture thread-engaging groove, wherein the taper of the suture engaging tip extends a distance at least equal to the length of the suture-thread engaging groove; and

an expander pin configured for insertion into the bore of the suture anchor so as to effect a radial expansion of the suture anchor from a first diameter to a second, larger diameter,

wherein the suture anchor further includes a pair of longitudinally extending slits extending from the proximal end thereof, and the expander pin includes a pair of fins having a complementary shape to the slits of the anchor and being configured to engage the slits and expand the anchor.

21. A suture anchor system, comprising:

a bioabsorbable suture anchor having a radially expandable body including a bore extending longitudinally from a proximal end, and a tapered suture engaging tip at a distal end, the suture engaging tip having formed therein a suture thread-engaging groove, wherein the taper of the suture engaging tip extends a distance at least equal to the length of the suture-thread engaging groove; and

an expander pin configured for insertion into the bore of the body so as to effect a radial expansion of the body from a first diameter to a second, larger diameter.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the suture anchor further includes a through-hole extending therethrough in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the anchor.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the suture anchor is comprised of an expandable sleeve in engagement with the suture engaging tip.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the suture anchor includes an external surface feature for engaging bone.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the expander pin includes a tool-engaging bore extending from a proximal end thereof.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the expander pin includes a surface feature effective to assist in the radial expansion of the body.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the suture anchor further includes a pair of longitudinally extending slits extending from the proximal end thereof.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the expander pin is tapered.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the bioabsorbable suture anchor is made of a material selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polylactic acid, and polysulfone.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein the expansion pin is formed from a bioabsorbable material.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the bioabsorbable material is selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid and polysulfone.