Suture anchoring system and method

• US 7,658,750 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2004
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Li, Lehmann K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan; Todd E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mendoza; Michael G
• Application Number:
  US10/803,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20050228448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,154 Days
• Field of Search: 606/232
• 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 2017/0408 Rivets other bone rivets A61B17/68; rivets for connecting prosthetic parts A61F2002/30433, A61F2220/0041
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• 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: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures

Abstract

A suture anchoring system and method includes a plurality of anchor members interconnected to form an anchor assembly with a suture extending therefrom. The anchor assembly has an insertion configuration wherein the anchor members are aligned in a substantially linear arrangement for delivery through an aperture in bodily tissue and an expanded configuration wherein the anchor members are transitioned to a non-linear arrangement to prevent passage of the anchor assembly back through the aperture.

Claims

1. A suture anchoring system, comprising:

a suture;

at least three anchor members interconnected to form an anchor assembly with said suture extending therefrom, wherein said at least three anchor members include first and second outer anchor members and at least one intermediate anchor member, and said anchor assembly having an insertion configuration sized for delivery through an aperture in bodily tissue and being transitionable to an expanded configuration sized to prevent passage of said anchor assembly back through the aperture;

a first actuating element extending through a first loop structure associated with said first outer anchor member and through a second loop structure associated with said second outer anchor member; and

a second actuating element secured to said anchor assembly adjacent said at least one intermediate anchor member; and

wherein said first and second outer anchor members are drawn toward one another by pulling said first actuating element in a direction away from said anchor assembly to at least partially transition said anchor assembly toward said expanded configuration; and

wherein said at least one intermediate anchor member is positioned laterally between said first and second outer anchor members by pulling said second actuating element in a direction away from said anchor assembly to further transition said anchor assembly toward said expanded configuration.

2. A suture anchoring system, comprising:

a suture;

at least three anchor members interconnected to form an anchor assembly with said suture extending therefrom, wherein said at least three anchor members include first and second outer anchor members and at least one intermediate anchor member, and said anchor assembly having an insertion configuration sized for delivery through an aperture in bodily tissue and being transitionable to an expanded configuration sized to prevent passage of said anchor assembly back through the aperture; and

an actuating element extending through a first loop structure associated with said first outer anchor member and through a second loop structure associated with said second outer anchor member; and

wherein said first and second outer anchor members are drawn toward one another by pulling said actuating element in a direction away from said anchor assembly to at least partially transition said anchor assembly toward said expanded configuration.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each of said at least three anchor members has a tubular configuration defining an axial passage extending therethrough, said at least three anchor members being serially interconnected by a linking element extending through said axial passage in each of said at least three anchor members to form said anchor assembly, looped end portions of said linking element defining said first and second loop structures associated with said first and second outer anchor members.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each of said linking element and said actuating element comprises a suture.

5. A suture anchoring system, comprising:

a suture;

at least three anchor members interconnected to form an anchor assembly with said suture extending therefrom, wherein said at least three anchor members include first and second outer anchor members and at least one intermediate anchor member, and said anchor assembly having an insertion configuration sized for delivery through an aperture in bodily tissue and being transitionable to an expanded configuration sized to prevent passage of said anchor assembly back through the aperture, wherein each of said at least three anchor members has a tubular configuration defining an axial passage extending therethrough, said at least three anchor members being serially interconnected by a linking element extending through said axial passage in each of said at least tree anchor members to form said anchor assembly; and

an actuating element extending through a first looped end portion of said linking element adjacent said first outer anchor member and through a second looped end portion of said linking element adjacent said second outer anchor member;

wherein said first and second outer anchor members are drawn toward one another by pulling said actuating element in a direction away from said anchor assembly to at least partially transition said anchor assembly toward said expanded configuration.

6. A suture anchoring system, comprising:

a suture; and

at least three anchor members interconnected to form an anchor assembly with said suture extending therefrom, said anchor assembly including first and second outer anchor members and at least one intermediate anchor member, said anchor assembly having an insertion configuration and an expanded configuration to prevent passage of said anchor assembly back through the aperture; and

an actuating element extending through a first loop structure associated with said first outer anchor member and through a second loop structure associated with said second outer anchor member;

wherein said first and second outer anchor members are drawn toward one another by pulling said actuating element in a direction away from said anchor assembly to at least partially transition said anchor assembly toward said expanded configuration.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein each of said at least three anchor members has a tubular configuration defining an axial passage extending therethrough, Said at least three anchor members being serially interconnected by a linking element extending through said axial passage in each of said at least three anchor members to form said anchor assembly, looped end portions of said linking element defining said first and second loop structures associated with said first and second outer anchor members.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said insertion configuration is one in which said anchor members aligned in a substantially linear arrangement for delivery through an aperture in bodily tissue.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said expanded configuration is one in which first and second outer anchor members are drawn toward one another to define a non-linear arrangement.

10. A suture anchoring system, comprising:

a suture;

a plurality of anchor members interconnected to form an anchor assembly with said suture extending therefrom, said anchor assembly having an insertion configuration wherein said anchor members are aligned in a substantially linear arrangement for delivery trough an aperture in bodily tissue and an expanded configuration wherein first and second ones of said anchor members are drawn toward one another to define a non-linear arrangement to prevent passage of said anchor assembly back through the aperture; and

an actuating element extending through a first loop structure associated with said first anchor member and through a second loop structure associated with said second anchor member, wherein said first and second anchor members are drawn toward one another by pulling said actuating element in a direction away from said anchor assembly to at least partially transition said anchor assembly toward said expanded configuration.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said plurality of anchor members includes at least one intermediate anchor member positioned between said first and second anchor members, said non-linear arrangement of said anchor assembly comprises a triangular-shaped configuration with said at least one intermediate anchor member extending transversely between said first and second anchor members.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said plurality of anchor members includes at least one intermediate anchor member positioned between said first and second anchor members, said non-linear arrangement of said anchor assembly comprises a side-by-side configuration with said at least one intermediate anchor member positioned laterally between said first and second anchor members.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein each of said anchor members has a tubular configuration defining an axial passage extending therethrough, said anchor members being serially interconnected by a linking element extending through said axial passage m each of said anchor members to form said anchor assembly, looped end portions of said linking element defining said first and second loop structures associated with said first and second anchor members.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein each of said linking element and said actuating element comprises a suture.

15. A suture anchoring system, comprising:

a suture; and

at least two anchor members interconnected to form an anchor assembly with said suture extending therefrom, said anchor assembly having an insertion configuration sized for delivery through an aperture in bodily tissue and being transitionable to an expanded configuration sized to prevent passage of said anchor assembly back through aperture, said suture forming at least one loop; and

an actuating member extending through said at least one loop; and

a second actuating member that engages said suture at a point between said anchor members.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said second actuating member is looped about said suture.

17. A suture anchoring system, comprising:

a suture; and

at least two anchor members interconnected to form an anchor assembly with said suture extending therefrom, said anchor assembly having an insertion configuraton sized for delivery through an aperture in bodily tissue and being transitionable to an expanded configuration sized to prevent passage of said anchor assembly back through the aperture, said suture farming at least one loop; and

an actuating member extending through said at least one loop; and

wherein said ax least one loop of said suture comprises first and second loops, and said actuating member extends through both loops.