Graft fixation using a plug against suture

• US 7,993,369 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Inventors: Dreyfuss, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui; Vy Q.
• Application Number:
  US12/022,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20080215091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 606/104, 606/148, 606/232, 606/139, 606/144, 606/73, 606/75, 623/16.11, 623/13.11, 623/13.14
• 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 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8645 Headless screws, e.g. ligament interference screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00907 for light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0403 Dowels other bone dowels A61B17/68; dowels for connecting prosthetic parts A61F2002/30433
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 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 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0448 Additional elements on or within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 snug fit within the anchor
• 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 2002/0835 with deformation of anchor parts, e.g. expansion of dowel by set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0852 Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0858 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0888 Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel

Abstract

A method for securing soft tissue to bone which does not require the surgeon to tie suture knots to secure the tissue to the bone. Suture is passed through the graft at desired points. A cannulated plug or screw is pre-loaded onto the distal end of a driver provided with an eyelet implant at its distal end. Suture attached to the graft is passed through the eyelet of the implant located at the distal end of the driver. The distal end of the driver together with the eyelet implant is inserted into the bone. Tension is applied to the suture to position the graft at the desired location relative to the bone. The screw or plug is advanced into the pilot hole by turning the interference screw or tapping the plug until the cannulated screw or plug securely engages and locks in the eyelet implant, so that the cannulated plug or screw with the engaged eyelet implant is flush with the bone. Once the screw or plug is fully inserted and the suture is impacted into the bone, the driver is removed and any loose ends of the sutures protruding from the anchor site are then clipped short.

Claims

1. A method of soft tissue repair, comprising the steps of:

attaching at least one suture to a soft tissue graft to be affixed to a bone;

capturing the suture attached to the graft by passing the suture through an aperture of an implant releasably attached at a distal end of a driver such that the suture can slide freely through the aperture of the implant;

inserting the implant and the suture passing through the implant into the bone using the driver;

pulling on one end of the suture to draw the suture through the aperture of the implant such that the soft tissue graft attached to the suture is drawn toward the bone; and

advancing an interference device, preloaded on the driver, toward the distal end of the driver to securely engage and lock the implant and the suture in the bone.

2. The method of soft tissue repair according to claim 1,

wherein the interference device is a plug.

3. The method of soft tissue repair according to claim 1, wherein the aperture has an eyelet configuration.

4. The method of soft tissue repair according to claim 1, wherein the implant is detachable from the distal end of the driver.

5. The method of soft tissue repair according to claim 1, wherein the implant has a conical portion terminating at a pointed tip at its most distal end.

6. The method of soft tissue repair according to claim 1, wherein the implant comprises titanium or titanium alloy.

7. The method of soft tissue repair according to claim 1, wherein the suture is a high strength suture.

8. The method of soft tissue repair according to claim 1, wherein the interference device is a screw.