Suture locking device

• US 8,323,315 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DePuy Mitek Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: DePuy Mitek Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Schwartz, Herbert E., May, Thomas C., Enzerink, Robert-Jan, Margetts, John
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, JULIAN W
• Application Number:
  US11/956,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20080091237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 606/232, 606/74, 606/103, 606/148
• 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 17/0487 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 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0448 Additional elements on or within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0451 Cams or wedges holding the suture by friction
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks for applying suture anchors A61B2017/0409; for applying wound clamps A61B17/10; for applying ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/128

Abstract

A device for locking a suture in place without the need for tying knots once the suture is placed within tissue is provided. The device comprises an anchor having a cannula and a locking mechanism for securing the suture within the cannula.

Claims

1. A method for repairing a defect in a soft tissue, the method comprising:

positioning a first anchor on a first portion of the external surface of the soft tissue;

positioning a second anchor on a second portion of the external surface;

coupling a first end of a suture to the first anchor;

passing the suture from a first side of the defect to a second side of the defect;

passing the suture in a first direction through a first aperture defined in the second anchor;

passing the suture in a second direction opposite the first direction through a second aperture defined in the second anchor; and

tensioning the suture such that the first side of the defect and the second side of the defect are moved toward each other,

wherein (i) the suture traverses the defect at least twice, and (ii) the suture includes a second end not coupled to the first anchor such that the suture extends between the first anchor and the second anchor only once.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising locking the suture in place relative to the first anchor and the second anchor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein locking the suture in place between the first anchor and the second anchor comprises operating a locking mechanism of the first anchor to lock the suture in place relative to the first anchor.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein locking the suture in place between the first anchor and the second anchor comprises (i) operating a first locking mechanism of the first anchor to lock the suture in place relative to the first anchor and (ii) operating a second locking mechanism to lock the suture in place relative to the second anchor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling a suture to the first anchor comprises threading the suture through an aperture defined in the first anchor and an aperture defined in the second anchor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein tensioning the suture comprises pulling the suture through at least one of the first anchor and the second anchor.