Looped high strength suture chain for knotless fixation

• US 7,803,173 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Inventors: Grafton, R. Donald, Burkhart, Stephen S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo; Julian W
• Application Number:
  US11/392,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,643 Days
• Field of Search: 606/228, 606/232, 606/300, 623/13.11, 623/13.14, 623/13.19, 623/13.2
• 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 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• 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 2017/0427 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 2017/0461 with features cooperating with special features on the suture, e.g. protrusions on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 17/04 Non-resorbable materials

Abstract

A chain of loops of braided high strength suture for surgical applications. The suture chain is advantageous for use in knotless fixation of soft tissue to bone, and can be used for knotless side-to-side suturing of U-shaped defects, such as rotator cuff tears.

Claims

1. A method of conducting arthroscopic surgery, comprising the steps of:

providing a suture chain comprising a plurality of suture loops, at least one of the plurality of suture loops having a perimeter which is approximately equal to that of another of the plurality of suture loops, the suture chain being formed of a series of successive serial loops, wherein each of the plurality of suture loops is formed by lacing an end of the suture through itself a first time, thereby forming the loop and a junction, and then by lacing the end of the suture through itself a second time at the junction thereby creating an interlaced junction;

securing one end of the suture chain to anchoring tissue with a first fixation device;

capturing repair tissue with the suture chain; and

approximating the captured repair tissue to the anchoring tissue by securing the other end of the suture chain to the anchoring tissue with a second fixation device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the suture chain is secured to the anchoring tissue with an anchoring device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of securing the one end of the suture chain to anchoring tissue comprises attaching the one end of the suture to a first anchor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of securing the other end of the suture chain further comprises attaching the other end of the suture to a second anchor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the repair tissue is a rotator cuff ligament.

6. A method of positioning tissue within a body, comprising the steps of:

providing a suture chain formed of single suture comprising ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene and comprising a plurality of suture loops, at least one of the plurality of suture loops having a perimeter which is approximately equal to that of another of the plurality of suture loops, the suture chain being formed of a series of successive serial loops with twice interlaced junctions between loops;

positioning the suture chain in the vicinity of tissue to be treated; and

securing the suture chain with a fixation device in the vicinity of the tissue.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the fixation device is a swivel anchor.