Wired sutures

• US 8,394,123 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DePuy Mitek Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: DePuy Mitek Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Cauldwell, Nathan, Whittaker, Gregory R., Lizardi, Jose E., Hamilton, Jason, Capuano, Frank, Mcalister, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyson, Melanie
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANG, PHONG SON H
• Application Number:
  US13/299,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20120065679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/888 the driver bit acting on the central region of the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0403 Dowels other bone dowels A61B17/68; dowels for connecting prosthetic parts A61F2002/30433
• 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 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• 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 2017/0454 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 2017/0459 Multiple holes in the anchor through which the suture extends and locking the suture when tension is applied
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0619 thermoplastic, e.g. for bonding, welding, fusing or cutting the suture by melting it suture cutters A61B17/0467; ultrasonic cutters A61B17/320068; electrically heated instruments A61B18/08

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for anchoring suture to bone. In one exemplary embodiment, a cannulated suture anchor is provided and it includes a suture-engaging member formed therein and configured to receive a suture therearound such that trailing ends of the suture can extend through the suture anchor. The present invention also provides exemplary sutures and drivers that can be used with the various methods and devices disclosed herein, or with other methods and devices known in the art.

Claims

1. A method for anchoring suture to bone, comprising:

coupling a wire to a suture anchor such that the wire extends around a suture-engaging member extending across opposed sidewalls of an inner lumen of the suture anchor and first and second terminal ends of the wire extend through the inner lumen of the suture anchor;

inserting the suture anchor into bone; and

pulling the first terminal end of the wire to pull at least one suture strand coupled to the second terminal end of the wire through the inner lumen of the suture anchor and around the suture-engaging member.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wire is coupled to first and second suture strands and pulling the first terminal end of the wire pulls the first and second suture strands through the inner lumen of the suture anchor and around the suture-engaging member.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the suture anchor into bone comprises inserting a driver into the inner lumen of the suture anchor, and actuating the driver to drive the suture anchor into bone.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first terminal end of the wire is coupled to the driver, and the method further comprises removing the driver from the suture anchor to pull the first terminal end of the wire.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising injecting a material through the inner lumen of the driver and into the inner lumen of the suture anchor.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the suture anchor includes threads formed thereon and actuating the driver comprises rotating the driver to thread the suture anchor into bone.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising removing the driver from the suture anchor prior to pulling the first terminal end of the wire.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising injecting a material into the inner lumen of the suture anchor.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of a bone-growth promoting material, a sealant, an adhesive, and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching the at least one suture to tissue to anchor the tissue to the bone.

11. A method for anchoring suture to bone, comprising:

manipulating a driver to insert a suture anchor into bone, the suture anchor having a suture-engaging member extending across opposed sidewalls of the inner lumen, a flexible wire extending through the inner lumen and extending around the suture-engaging member, and a suture connected to a first terminal end of the flexible wire and extending from a proximal end of the suture anchor; and

pulling a second terminal end of the wire to pull the suture coupled to the first terminal end of the wire through the inner lumen of the suture anchor and around the suture-engaging member.