Method and apparatus for attaching connective tissues to bone using a knotless suture anchoring device

• US 8,133,258 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2006
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Foerster, Seth, Vijay, Francis, Gordon, Norman
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyson, Melanie
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANG, PHONG SON H
• Application Number:
  US11/499,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20080051836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,049 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/232, 606/300
• 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 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• 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 2017/045 snug fit within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0456 Surface features on the anchor, e.g. ribs increasing friction between the suture and the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures

Abstract

An innovative bone anchor and methods for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone are described herein Such devices and methods permit a suture attachment that lies beneath the cortical bone surface and does not require tying of knots in the suture.

Claims

1. A knotless suture anchoring system, comprising:

a suture having a tissue engaging portion, an anchoring portion and a mid portion therebetween;

an anchor body having at least one rigid anchoring structure allowing for securing the anchor body within the body cavity, the anchor body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;

a locking plug having a distal stop and a shaft portion at least partially located within the anchor body lumen, the distal stop being sized to prevent entry into the anchor body lumen, where the shaft portion is under sized relative to the anchor body lumen such that insertion of the shaft into the lumen does not deform the anchor body;

a suture carrying portion associated with one of the distal stop or shaft portion allowing the suture to pass from a first side of the locking plug to an opposite side of the locking plug;

where the tissue engaging portion extends from the distal end to the proximal end of the body exterior and is wedged between the body cavity and exterior of body anchor, the anchoring portion extends within the anchor body lumen, and where the mid portion extends in the suture carrying portion.

2. The system of claim 1, where the anchor body is generally tubular and has a plurality of ridges circumferentially located about the anchor body.

3. The system of claim 2, where the ridges are tapered to permit insertion of the anchor body into the body cavity when advanced in a first direction and resist removal of the anchor body when withdrawn in an opposite direction.

4. The system of claim 1, where the locking plug shaft is smooth.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the anchoring portion is secured within the anchor body.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking plug is slidably movable within the anchor body lumen.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking plug comprises an internal threaded portion operable for removable connection with a rod.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the rod is adapted for coupling to an actuation assembly having a handle portion and where the actuation assembly further comprises a spool member operable to engage the suture, such that actuation of the spool member allows for tensioning of the suture.

9. The system of claim 7, further including a section of tensile weakness along the rod permitting the rod to be detached from the shaft upon application of a predetermined tensile force on the rod in the proximal direction after the distal stop contacts the anchor body.