Absorbable anchor for hernia mesh fixation

• US 8,114,099 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Shipp, John I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuan
• Application Number:
  US10/907,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20060129154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,493 Days
• Field of Search: 606/284, 606/298, 606/295, 606/301, 606/305, 606/312, 606/316, 606/317, 606/151, 606/213, 606/157, 606/158, 606/323, 606/327, 411/412, 411/413, 411/386, 411/398, 295/25
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0648 threaded, e.g. tacks with a screw thread

Abstract

A method of forming and deploying an improved absorbable anchor for hernia mesh fixation is disclosed. The absorbable anchor of the present invention functions to securely fasten tough, non macro-porous, and relative inelastic mesh to soft tissue. The anchor is formed from co-polymers of lactide and glycolide.

Claims

1. A mesh anchor for penetrating tissue and fixating mesh having a longitudinal axis comprising:

a head section with a distal surface and a proximal surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the head section defining an outer circumference having opposing rotational force transmitting recesses and opposing longitudinal stabilizing structures, each of the rotational force transmitting recesses defining at least one surface that extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, each of the longitudinal stabilizing structures defining opposing surfaces that extend longitudinally along the outer circumference of the head section and radially outward along a perimeter of the outer circumference of the head section, each of the opposing surfaces of the stabilizing structures configured to provide reaction forces in both a longitudinal direction and a radial direction, the radial direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the head section including threads extending from the opposing longitudinal stabilizing structures,

a truncated body section having a proximal end and a distal end and a length, the proximal end of which is attached to the distal surface of the head, wherein the body section defines a surface, and

threads extending from the surface of the body section, the threads having a root diameter and a substantially constant thread angle along an entire length thereof to define substantially parallel threads, and wherein the threads extend distally beyond the truncated body section.

2. The mesh anchor according to claim 1 wherein the anchor comprises a bio-absorbable polymer, either a homo polymer of either polylactide or polyglycolide or co-polymer of polylactide and polyglycolide.

3. The mesh anchor according to claim 1 wherein the anchor polymer exhibits a young'"'"'s modulus in the range of 150,000 to 2,000,000 PSI.

4. The mesh anchor according to claim 1 wherein the anchor exhibits a tensile strength in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 PSI.

5. The mesh anchor according to claim 1 wherein the anchor polymer exhibits an absorption time in vivo between 1.5 and 14 months.

6. The mesh anchor according to claim 1 wherein the anchor exhibits a glass transition temperature in the range of 40 to 60 degrees centigrade.

7. The mesh anchor according to claim 1 wherein the thread to root diameter ratio is between 1.25 and 5.