Method and apparatuses for securing suture

• US 7,828,820 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2006
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Denham, Gregory J., Conner, Nathanael K., Walters, Troy M., Stone, Kevin T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo; Julian W
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANG, PHONG SON H
• Application Number:
  US11/386,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20070225719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,694 Days
• Field of Search: 606/232, 606/72, 606/73, 623 1311- 1314
• 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 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 snug fit within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0459 Multiple holes in the anchor through which the suture extends and locking the suture when tension is applied
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0477 with pre-tied sutures

Abstract

Various suture anchors and surgical methods are provided. A two-part suture anchor is provided having a continuously threaded anchor body defining an axial bore and a pin. The pin includes a tip and a plate defining at least two suture receiving openings aligned in a single plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the axial bore is disposed in anchor body. Methods of attaching soft tissue to bone are also provided.

Claims

1. A suture anchor comprising:

an anchor body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end of the anchor body to a distal end of the anchor body, the anchor body having a solid outer wall that is continuously threaded from the anchor body proximal end to the anchor body distal end, the anchor body having a solid inner sidewall defining;

an axial bore extending from the anchor body proximal end to the anchor body distal end; and

a pair of opposed slots formed in the inner sidewall and extending longitudinally from the anchor body distal end towards the anchor body proximal end with each slot terminating at a shoulder, the pair of opposed slots each having a longitudinal length less than a longitudinal length of the axial bore and a width therebetween in cross section greater than a width in cross section of the axial bore, wherein the slots do not extend to an outer surface of the anchor body;

a pin having;

a conical tip at a pin distal end; and

a plate at a pin proximal end extending from the conical tip, the plate defining at least two suture receiving openings aligned in a single plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the anchor body, the plate having a width in cross section that corresponds to the width in cross section of the opposed slots, wherein the plate is adapted to slide into the pair of opposed slots in the anchor body, whereby the conical tip extends distally beyond the anchor body distal end; and

a suture disposed in at least one of the suture receiving openings.

2. The suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the plate is a rectangle-shaped plate.

3. The suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the conical tip is continuously threaded.

4. The suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the anchor body proximal end defines a driver receiving region.

7. The suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the conical tip is self-tapping or self-drilling.

17. The suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the opposed slots are parallel to each other.

18. The suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the conical tip further includes a shoulder that engages the anchor body distal end.

19. The suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the at least two suture receiving openings are perpendicular to a plane of the plate and are disposed on either side of a longitudinal axis of the plate.

20. The suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the tip is implantable simultaneously with the suture.

5. A suture anchor comprising:

an anchor body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end of the anchor body to a distal end of the anchor body, the anchor body having a solid outer wall that is continuously threaded from the anchor body proximal end to the anchor body distal end, the anchor body having a solid inner sidewall defining;

an axial bore extending from the anchor body proximal end to the anchor body distal end; and

a pair of opposed slots defined by the anchor body and axial bore, the slots extending longitudinally from the anchor body distal end towards the anchor body proximal end with each slot terminating at an interior shoulder, the pair of opposed slots each having a longitudinal length less than a longitudinal length of the axial bore and a width therebetween in cross section greater than a width in cross section of the axial bore, wherein the slots do not extend to an outer surface of the anchor body;

a pin having;

a conical tip at a pin distal end; and

a plate at a pin proximal end extending from the conical tip, the plate defining at least one suture receiving opening, wherein the plate includes a width in cross section that corresponds to the width in cross section of the opposed slots and slides into the pair of opposed slots in the anchor body, the plate including a proximal end configured to engage the interior shoulder and be supported within the anchor body by the interior shoulder such that the conical tip extends distally beyond the anchor body distal end; and

a suture disposed in the at least one suture receiving opening.

6. The suture anchor of claim 5, wherein the plate defines a plurality of suture receiving openings.

8. The suture anchor of claim 5, wherein the plate is a rectangle-shaped plate defining two suture receiving openings.

9. The suture anchor of claim 5, wherein the conical tip is continuously threaded.

10. The suture anchor of claim 5, wherein the conical tip is self-tapping or self-drilling.

11. The suture anchor of claim 5, wherein the anchor body proximal end defines a driver receiving region.

12. A suture anchor comprising:

an anchor body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end of the anchor body to a distal end of the anchor body, the anchor body having a solid outer wall that is continuously threaded from the anchor body proximal end to the anchor body distal end, the anchor body having a solid inner sidewall defining;

an axial bore extending from the anchor body proximal end to the anchor body distal end; and

a pair of opposed slots extending longitudinally from the anchor body distal end towards the anchor body proximal end with each slot terminating at an interior shoulder defined by the opposed slots and the axial bore, the pair of opposed slots each having a longitudinal length less than a longitudinal length of the axial bore and a width therebetween in cross section greater than a width in cross section of the axial bore, wherein the slots do not extend to an outer surface of the anchor body and wherein the interior shoulder is load bearing and the anchor body proximal end defines a driver receiving region; and

a pin having;

a continuously threaded conical tip at a pin distal end; and

a rectangle-shaped plate at a pin proximal end extending from the conical tip, the plate defining two suture receiving openings, wherein the plate includes a width in cross section that corresponds to the width in cross section of the opposed slots and is axially and non-rotationally received in the pair of opposed slots,

wherein the plate includes a proximal end and fits into the opposed slots such that the proximal end of the plate engages the interior shoulder and the plate is supported within the anchor body by the interior shoulder such that the conical tip extends beyond the anchor body distal end, and further wherein a base of the conical pin tip has a smaller diameter than the bore of the anchor body.

13. The suture anchor of claim 12, wherein the two receiving openings are coplanar.

14. The suture anchor of claim 12, wherein the conical tip is self-tapping or self-drilling.

15. The suture anchor of claim 12, wherein the interior shoulder is load-bearing.

16. The suture anchor of claim 12, wherein the interior shoulder is integrally molded on an interior of the anchor body.