System and method for attaching soft tissue to bone

• US 8,100,942 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott W. Tate
• Original Assignee: KFX Medical Corporation
• Inventors: Green, Michael L., Tauro, Joseph C., Bojanowski, Bart
• Primary Examiner(s): Erezo, Darwin
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US13/245,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20120016414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 120 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72, 606/75, 606/78, 606/219, 606/224, 606/232, 606300-331
• 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 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• 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 2017/0408 Rivets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• 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 2017/044 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 2017/0451 Cams or wedges holding the suture by friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0817 Structure of the anchor

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods and devices for securing soft tissue to a rigid material such as bone. A bone anchor is described that comprises a base and a top such that suture material may be compressed between surfaces on the base and top to secure the suture to the anchor. Also described is an inserter that can be used to insert the bone anchor into bone and move the anchor top relative to the anchor base to clamp suture material there between. Also described is a soft-tissue and bone piercing anchor and associated inserter. Methods are described that allow use of the bone anchors to provide multiple lengths of suture material to compress a large area of soft tissue against bone.

Claims

1. A method of attaching soft tissue to bone, comprising:

inserting a first anchor into bone, wherein after insertion, the first anchor is positioned underneath the soft tissue;

passing a first length of suture from said first anchor over the soft tissue;

inserting a distal member of a second anchor into bone at a position beyond an edge of the soft tissue, wherein the second anchor comprises said distal member and a proximal member;

after inserting the distal member of the second anchor, tensioning the first length of suture to compress an area of tissue to bone between the edge of the soft tissue and the first anchor; and

after tensioning the first length of suture, moving the proximal member of the second anchor distally towards the distal member of the second anchor, thereby fixedly securing the first length of suture at the second anchor position without tying any knots.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first length of suture is attached to the first anchor prior to insertion of the first anchor into bone.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising forming a hole in the bone into which the distal member of the second anchor is inserted.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the distal member of the second anchor comprises a first proximally facing surface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the proximal member of the second anchor has a second distally facing surface facing toward said first surface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said proximal member is configured to move relative to said distal member such that it can be positioned in a first configuration wherein said first and second surfaces are spaced apart and be positioned in a second configuration wherein said first and second surfaces are in close proximity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the distal member of the second anchor is tapered.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a proximal portion of the distal member of the second anchor comprises a suture gripping structure.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a proximal end of the distal member of the second anchor comprises a hole opening into a central bore.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein sides of the central bore comprise threads.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximal member of the second anchor is cylindrically shaped.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a central bore extends through the proximal member of the second anchor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein inserting the distal member of the second anchor and moving the proximal member of the second anchor distally toward the distal member comprises using an anchor inserter comprising a handle, a tube, and an inner member, wherein the inner member extends through the tube and the central bore in the proximal member of the second anchor and is removably coupled to the distal member of the second anchor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the inserter comprises an inner tube and an outer tube, wherein the inner tube extends through the outer tube, and wherein the inner member extends through the inner tube.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the tube is movable longitudinally relative to the inner member.

16. The method of claim 1, comprising coupling the first length of suture to the second anchor prior to inserting the distal member of the second anchor into bone.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the tensioning comprises manually pulling on the first length of suture.

18. The method of claim 1, comprising:

inserting a third anchor into bone, wherein after insertion, the third anchor is positioned underneath the soft tissue;

passing a second length of suture from said third anchor over the soft issue;

tensioning the second length of suture independently from the first length of suture; and

after tensioning the first and second lengths of suture, moving the proximal member of the second anchor distally towards the distal member of the second anchor, thereby fixedly securing both the first and second lengths of suture at the second anchor position without tying any knots.

19. A method of attaching soft tissue to bone, comprising:

inserting a first anchor into bone, wherein after insertion, the first anchor is positioned underneath the soft tissue;

passing a first length of suture from said first anchor over the soft tissue;

coupling the first length of suture to a second anchor, wherein the second anchor comprises a distal member and a proximal member, wherein said proximal member is cylindrically shaped and comprises a central bore extending therethrough;

after coupling the first length of suture to the second anchor, inserting the distal member of the second anchor into bone at a position beyond an edge of the soft tissue;

after inserting the distal member of the second anchor, tensioning the first length of suture to compress an area of tissue to bone between the edge of the soft tissue and the first anchor; and

after tensioning the first length of suture, moving the proximal member of the second anchor distally towards the distal member of the second anchor, thereby fixedly securing the first length of suture at the second anchor position without tying any knots, wherein inserting the distal member of the second anchor and moving the proximal member of the second anchor distally toward the distal member comprises using an anchor inserter comprising a handle, a tube, and an inner member, wherein the inner member extends through the tube and the central bore in the proximal member of the second anchor and is removably coupled to the distal member of the second anchor.