Independent suture tensioning and snaring apparatus
First Claim
1. A bone anchor insertion system, comprising:
- a handle;
a tube member connected to the handle;
at least one bone anchor removably connected to the tube member;
a suture tensioning mechanism comprising;
a first and second tensioning actuator; and
a selector for selectively coupling or decouple the first and second tensioning actuators;
a suture loader disposed in proximity to the tube member, the suture loader having a guide section, at least one suture loader aperture, and at least one loader retaining member; and
a first suture snare coupled to the suture tensioning mechanism, the first suture snare having a first snare aperture for receiving a first suture free end, wherein at least a portion of the first suture snare aperture is disposed in the suture loader aperture;
wherein the suture loader comprises a housing that defines a sequential pathway through which the first suture snare may draw the first suture free end from the suture loader aperture, the sequential pathway routing first to the guide section and then through the bone anchor before entering the tube member.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In repairing soft tissue with a bone anchoring instrument (such as reattaching a tendon of a torn rotator cuff), the bone anchoring instrument may be used to anchor the soft tissue to a region of bone. The anchors inserted into the underlying bone may have one or more lengths of suture or wire attached thereto which may be tensioned independently of one another to affix the soft tissue to the bone by having a selector mechanism selectively engage and disengage ratcheted tensioning wheels from one another. Suture loading mechanisms may be employed for passing suture lengths into and/or through the anchors prior to deployment into the bone where such mechanisms may employ suture snares which are configured to reconfigure from an expanded shape through which suture lengths may be easily passed to a low-profile shape which secures the suture lengths within the snare.
356 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A bone anchor insertion system, comprising:
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a handle; a tube member connected to the handle; at least one bone anchor removably connected to the tube member; a suture tensioning mechanism comprising; a first and second tensioning actuator; and a selector for selectively coupling or decouple the first and second tensioning actuators; a suture loader disposed in proximity to the tube member, the suture loader having a guide section, at least one suture loader aperture, and at least one loader retaining member; and a first suture snare coupled to the suture tensioning mechanism, the first suture snare having a first snare aperture for receiving a first suture free end, wherein at least a portion of the first suture snare aperture is disposed in the suture loader aperture; wherein the suture loader comprises a housing that defines a sequential pathway through which the first suture snare may draw the first suture free end from the suture loader aperture, the sequential pathway routing first to the guide section and then through the bone anchor before entering the tube member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification