System for securing sutures, grafts and soft tissue to bone and periosteum

• US 7,387,634 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2003
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Springboard Medical Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: Springboard Medical Ventures LLC
• Inventors: Benderev, Theodore V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert; Eduardo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Araj; Michael J
• Application Number:
  US10/465,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20030225424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,825 Days
• Field of Search: 606 60- 61, 606 72- 73
• US Class Current: 606/233
• 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 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• 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 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0461 with features cooperating with special features on the suture, e.g. protrusions on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0462 One way system, i.e. also tensioning the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0852 Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0888 Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel

Abstract

Self-anchoring slings and deployment mechanisms for use therewith in selectively positioning a sling into position within the body. According to a preferred embodiment, the sling comprises an elongate sling portion having opposed ends. Formed upon each respective opposed end is an anchor member operative to be advanced through soft tissue at a selected target site in a first direction but resist movement in an opposed direction. Such anchor members are operative to extend in opposed directions to thus enable a sling to be securely affixed into position and resist sag or otherwise lose its ability to support a given structure. The deployment system is operative to selectively anchor the respective anchor members into position within a tissue mass. Although suitable for a wide variety of applications, it is believed that the system and sling of the present invention are particularly well suited for the deployment of suburethral slings via a trans-obturator route.

Claims

1. A system for securing a sling into fixed position within a target site of soft tissue within the body comprising:

a) an implantable sling comprised of an elongate segment of material having first and second opposed ends, each respective opposed end having an anchor mechanism formed thereon such that each respective anchor mechanism is advanceable through said soft tissue at said selected target site in a first direction and resistant to movement in a direction dissimilar from said first direction, each respective anchor mechanism further being permanently fixable in position exclusively within said soft tissue; and

b) a non-mechanically assisted deployment mechanism for positioning said anchor mechanisms of said implantable sling within said target site of said soft tissue, said deployment mechanism comprising a manually operable handle having a deployment member extending distally therefrom, said deployment member being detachably fastenable to a respective one of said anchor mechanisms of said implantable sling, said deployment mechanism further comprising an actuator mounted on a shaft axially moveable within the deployment member and being configured to insert said anchor mechanisms into said tissue;

wherein said actuator comprises a manually depressable button coupled to the shaft extending within said deployment member and operative to push said anchor mechanism through said soft tissue.