Apparatus for performing meniscus repair

• US 8,221,454 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2009
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schaffhausen, Cory
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bachman, Lindsey
• Application Number:
  US12/606,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20100042114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 606/232, 606139-142, 606144-151, 606/213, 606/215, 606/216, 606/224
• 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 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/061 hollow or tubular suture extending inside a hollow needle A61B2017/06052; hollow sutures A61B2017/06185

Abstract

An apparatus and method of repairing a tear in body tissue includes inserting a needle containing a retaining head from a first insertion position on a first outer surface of the body tissue, through the tear and to a second outer surface of the body tissue. The retaining head is ejected from the insertion needle and grasps the second outer surface in an engaged position. An anchor coupled to the retaining head by a flexible member is advanced from a second insertion position on the first outer surface of the body tissue to a position at least through a portion of the tear. The flexible member extends a distance along the first outer surface of the body tissue from the first insertion position to the second insertion position.

Claims

1. An apparatus for repairing a tear in body tissue comprising:

a retaining head for grasping a retaining surface of the body tissue;

an anchor for being implanted at a position at least through a portion of the tear;

a flexible member coupled to and extending between said retaining head and said anchor, said flexible member having an intermediate portion extending along an insertion surface of the body tissue;

a needle defining a hollow interior passage including a pointed distal tip for piercing the body tissue, the needle insertable through a first insertion position on said insertion surface of the body tissue to said retaining surface of the body tissue;

a first advancement member slidably disposed in said needle for deploying said retaining head from said needle into an engaged position at said retaining surface of the body tissue;

a hollow tube having a blunt terminal end for positioning at a second insertion position on the insertion surface of the body tissue; and

a second advancement member slidably disposed in said hollow tube for advancing said anchor from said hollow tube to a position at least partially through the tear.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said anchor is disposed in the body tissue at a location between said tear and said retaining surface, said flexible member passing through the tear.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible member urges said anchor toward said insertion surface of the body tissue and urges said insertion surface of the tissue toward said anchor thereby urging opposite sides of the tear to contact.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible member urges said retaining head toward said insertion surface of the body tissue and urges said insertion surface of the tissue toward said retaining head thereby urging opposite sides of the tear to contact.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible member is further defined by a first portion extending between said anchor and said intermediate portion and a second portion extending between said retaining member and said intermediate portion, said first portion extending substantially parallel to said second portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said intermediate portion of said flexible member extends substantially perpendicular to said first and second portion of said flexible member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said anchor includes radially extending retaining members extending therefrom.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said needle and said hollow tube are rigidly coupled.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible member includes a suture.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hollow tube only receives the anchor and the second advancement members.

11. An apparatus for repairing a tear in body tissue comprising:

an implant having a longitudinally elongated retaining head for grasping a retaining surface of the body tissue;

an anchor for being implanted at a position spaced apart from the implant and at least through a portion of the tear;

a flexible member coupled to and extending between the implant and the anchor;

an instrument having a needle defining a hollow interior passage configured to movably receive the retaining head therein, the needle including a slot extending between proximal and distal ends thereof, the slot receiving a portion of the flexible member adjacent the implant, the needle including a pointed distal tip insertable through a first insertion position on an insertion surface of the body tissue to the retaining surface of the body tissue;

a first advancement member slidably disposed in the hollow interior passage of the needle for deploying the retaining head into an engaged position at the retaining surface of the body tissue;

an anchor insertion apparatus consisting of;

a tubular member configured to receive the anchor therein, the tubular member having a blunt distal end positionable at a second insertion position on the insertion surface of the body tissue; and

a second advancement member slidably disposed in the tubular member for advancing the anchor to a position at least partially through the portion of the tear.

12. An apparatus for repairing a tear in body tissue comprising:

an implant having a retaining head for grasping a retaining surface of the body tissue;

an anchor for being implanted at a position spaced apart from the implant and at least through a portion of the tear;

a flexible member coupled to and extending between the implant and the anchor;

an instrument having a needle defining a hollow interior passage configured to movably receive the retaining head therein, the needle including a pointed distal tip for piercing the body tissue and insertable through a first insertion position on an insertion surface of the body tissue to the retaining surface of the body tissue;

a retaining head advancement member slidably disposed in the hollow interior passage of the needle for deploying the retaining head into an engaged position at the retaining surface of the body tissue;

a tubular member that only receives the anchor and an anchor advancement member therein, the tubular member having a blunt end positionable at a second insertion position on the insertion surface of the body tissue, the anchor advancement member facilitating advancement of the anchor to a position at least partially through the portion of the tear, wherein the anchor advancement member is slidably disposed in the tubular member for advancing the anchor to the position at least partially through the portion of the tear; and

a cross brace fixedly coupling the needle and the tubular member to each other in a rigid, spaced apart manner.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the tubular member and the needle each include a slot through an exterior wall extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end, the tubular member slot receiving a portion of the flexible member adjacent the anchor and the needle slot receiving a portion of the flexible member adjacent the retaining head, each slot accommodating the respective portions of the flexible member at least during advancement of the retaining head and deployment of the anchor.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the retaining head includes a longitudinally elongated member having an attachment portion positioned between first and second longitudinal ends thereof for attaching the flexible member thereto.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the elongated member is sized and shaped to advance through the needle in a parallel relationship thereto, and upon deployment from the needle, the positioning of the attachment portion between the first and second ends of the retaining head is configured to position the retaining head transverse to the flexible member.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the anchor is configured to be disposed in the body tissue at a location between the tear and the retaining surface with the flexible member passing through the tear;

and

wherein the flexible member is configured to urge the retaining head toward the insertion surface of the body tissue and urge the insertion surface of the body tissue toward the retaining head thereby urging opposite sides of the tear to contact.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the flexible member defines a first portion extending between the anchor and an intermediate portion and a second portion extending between the retaining member and the intermediate portion, the first portion extending substantially parallel to the second portion, the intermediate portion extending along the insertion surface of the body tissue.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising rigidly coupling the retaining head and anchor advancement members at proximal ends thereof, the coupled advancement members configured to cooperate with the fixedly coupled tube member and needle.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the flexible member includes a suture having first and second terminal ends attached to the implant and the anchor, respectively;

and wherein the anchor includes radially extending retaining members extending therefrom, the anchor being insert molded onto the second terminal end of the suture.