Suture anchor

• US 8,062,334 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2006
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott W. Tate
• Original Assignee: KFX Medical Corporation
• Inventors: Green, Michael L., Bojanowski, Bart, Tauro, Joseph C., Heaven, Malcolm, Greelis, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott; Corrine M
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US11/557,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20070142835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,842 Days
• Field of Search: 606/232, 606/68, 606/198, 606313-314, 606326-327, 606300-301, 606/323, 606/272, 411 32- 35, 411/38, 411 801- 806, 411/913
• 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 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0483 Hand-held instruments for holding sutures A61B17/0469 takes precedence; other holders for needles or sutures A61B17/06061; surgical forceps A61B17/28; surgical pincettes A61B17/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00986 Malecots, e.g. slotted tubes, of which the distal end is pulled to deflect side struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/042 plastically deformed during insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0422 by insertion of a separate member into the body of the anchor
• 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

Abstract

A bone anchor is described having pre-attached suture material. After insertion, lateral wings can be deployed on the bone anchor to prevent anchor pull-out. The suture may be attached at the tip of the anchor by tying it to a wire hook secured in a cavity in the anchor tip. The anchor may be inserted and deployed using an anchor inserter that is configured to apply an axial force to the anchor, thereby deforming the anchor to form the lateral wings.

Claims

1. A bone anchor, comprising a cylindrical body having cuts formed in its side such that the body can deform under axial force to form one or more lateral features, wherein at least some of the cuts define two convex edges adapted to continuously roll against each other throughout deformation.

2. The anchor of claim 1, wherein at least some of the cuts define an upper and lower portion of each lateral feature, wherein the upper and lower portions are connected to each other by an uncut portion of the cylindrical body.

3. The anchor of claim 1, comprising a substantially pointed tip positioned on a first end of the cylindrical body.

4. The anchor of claim 3, comprising a suture attached to the tip and extending through the cylindrical body and out a second end of the cylindrical body that is opposite the first end.

5. The anchor of claim 1, configured to form two lateral features after deformation.

6. The anchor of claim 1, wherein at least some of the cuts define an upper and lower portion of one of the lateral features and wherein one of the convex edges is an edge of the upper portion of the lateral feature and the other convex edge is an edge of the lower portion of the lateral feature.

7. A method of securing an anchor in bone, the method comprising:

inserting the anchor into the bone; and

deforming the anchor to form one or more lateral features, wherein said deforming comprises causing two convex edges in the anchor to continuously roll against each other as the lateral features are formed.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein inserting the anchor into the bone comprises inserting the anchor through soft tissue disposed over the bone.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein deforming the anchor comprises applying an axial force to the anchor.

10. A bone anchor, comprising

a cylindrical body having cuts formed in its side such that the body can deform under axial force to form one or more lateral features,

wherein at least some of the cuts define one or more hinges about which a first portion of the side of the body can bend during deformation and define a curved edge of said first portion adapted to contact a cylindrical second portion of the side of the body, wherein the curved edge of the first portion follows a contour of the second portion,

wherein said first portion forms part of one of the lateral features after deformation, and

wherein the second portion comprises a part of the cylindrical body that does not deform under the axial force that forms the one or more lateral features.

11. The anchor of claim 10, wherein said first portion and said second portion are connected to each through the hinges.

12. The anchor of claim 10, wherein the hinges comprise a third portion of the side of the cylindrical body.

13. The anchor of claim 10, wherein the first portion forms a lower portion of one of the lateral features.

14. The anchor of claim 10, wherein the second portion comprises a part of the cylindrical body that is uncut around its circumference.

15. The anchor of claim 10, comprising a substantially pointed tip positioned on a first end of the cylindrical body.

16. The anchor of claim 15, comprising a suture attached to the tip and extending through the cylindrical body and out a second end of the cylindrical body that is opposite the first end.

17. The anchor of claim 15, wherein the tip is attached to the second portion.