Tissue fixation device

• US 7,914,539 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaiser, Ryan A, Hoffman, Zachary M, Denham, Gregory J, Hawkins, H. Gene, Stone, Kevin T, Meridew, Jason D, Walters, Troy M
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett; Thomas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): SEVILLA, CHRISTIAN ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US11/294,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20060100627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,940 Days
• Field of Search: 606/77, 606/99, 606/104, 606/302, 606/304, 606/314, 606/315, 606/907, 606/908, 606/909, 606/913, 606/76, 623/13.14, 623/23.44, 623/919
• US Class Current: 606/104
• 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 17/3472 for bones, e.g. intraosseus injections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
• 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 2017/0646 for insertion into cartillege, e.g. meniscus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0648 threaded, e.g. tacks with a screw thread
• 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 2002/0858 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0882 Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2839 Bone plugs or bone graft dowels

Abstract

A fixation device for securing tissue to a bone. The fixation device includes an anchor having a hollow body defining a longitudinal passage, and a plug configured to be received in at least a portion of the passage. The body comprises a cylindrical portion and a tapered tip portion. The cylindrical portion comprises a plurality of thin-walled window covers such that after implantation the window covers are resorbed first relative to other portions of the cylindrical portion for defining a plurality of apertures on the cylindrical portion.

Claims

1. A fixation assembly for securing tissue to a bone or repairing tissue comprising:

a fixation device including;

an anchor having a hollow body and a plurality of inner longitudinal ribs defining a longitudinal passage of cruciate shape, the body comprising a cylindrical portion having external threads and a tapered tip portion, the cylindrical portion comprising a plurality of thin-walled window covers, each window cover occupying only a portion of the hollow body between adjacent threads and between adjacent ribs, such that after implantation the window covers are resorbed first relative to other portions of the cylindrical portion for defining a plurality of apertures in the cylindrical portion; and

a plug configured to be received in the passage, the plug having an outer shape complementary to and mating with the cruciate shape of the passage; and

an inserter assembly including;

an anchor sleeve configured for engaging a proximal end of the anchor, wherein the anchor sleeve is sized to receive the plug for insertion into the longitudinal passage of the anchor; and

a driver configured for engaging the longitudinal passage of the anchor through the anchor sleeve.

2. The fixation assembly of claim 1, wherein the tapered tip portion comprises a partial winding that extends less than one complete turn around the tapered tip portion.

3. The fixation assembly of claim 2, wherein the threads of the cylindrical portion and partial winding of the tapered tip portion have blunt non-cutting edges.

4. The fixation assembly of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal ribs include curved lobes.

5. The fixation assembly of claim 4, wherein the longitudinal ribs comprise asymmetric curved lobes defining an asymmetric passage.

6. The fixation assembly of claim 5, wherein the lobes are configured to engage a driver having a symmetric cruciate shape.

7. The fixation assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug comprises osteoinductive/osteoconductive material.

8. The fixation assembly of claim 7, wherein the plug is made of material selected from the group consisting of calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, tricalcium phosphate, allograft bone, autograft bone, demineralized bone matrix, coral material, ProOsteon, and combinations thereof.

9. The fixation assembly of claim 1, wherein the driver is cannulated.

10. A fixation assembly for securing tissue to a bone or repairing tissue, the fixation assembly comprising:

a fixation device including;

an anchor having an anchor body, the anchor body including;

a plurality of longitudinal ribs positioned to define a hollow interior passage;

a thread extending about the plurality of longitudinal ribs; and

a plurality of thin-walled portions extending between the plurality of longitudinal ribs and the thread, the plurality of thin-walled portions preferentially resorbable relative to the longitudinal ribs and the thread, such that, upon implantation, the thin-walled portions are first resorbed and gradually define a plurality of apertures through the anchor body; and

a plug configured to be received in at least a portion of the interior passage, wherein the portion of the interior passage that receives the plug and the plug have mating cruciate shapes; and

an inserter assembly including;

an anchor sleeve having a distal end configured for engaging a proximal end of the anchor, the anchor sleeve defining a sleeve passage;

a tubular element coupled to the proximal end of the sleeve passage, the tubular element shaped to matingly receive the plug for insertion into the interior passage of the anchor; and

a plug sleeve having a cruciate shape, the plug sleeve removably engageable with the tubular member and shaped to matingly receive the plug for insertion into the interior passage of the anchor; and

a driver configured for engaging the interior passage of the anchor through the plug sleeve, the tubular element and the sleeve passage.

11. The fixation assembly of claim 10, wherein the longitudinal ribs are substantially parallel.

12. The fixation assembly of claim 10, wherein the anchor further comprises a tapered tip portion having a partial winding that extends less than one complete turn around the tapered tip portion.

13. The fixation assembly of claim 10, wherein the driver is cannulated.