Latching anchor device

• US 8,668,705 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2010
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teleflex Life Sciences III LLC
• Original Assignee: NeoTract, Inc. (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: Johnston, Andrew, Wei, Micahel, Lamson, Theodore C., McLean, Matthew, Catanese, Joseph III, Cheng, Floria, Braymer, Ryan R., Claude, Eric J., Haller, Christian L., Paul, Ralph S., Wallin, Ashley K.
• Primary Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US12/852,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20110046648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606144-146, 606148-151, 606/153, 606/157, 606/232
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 2017/00274 Prostate operation, e.g. prostatectomy, turp, bhp treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/042 plastically deformed during insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture

Abstract

An anchor that secures to a connector as part of an anchor assembly is disclosed. The proximal anchor includes a pair of spaced apart prongs which join together at a slot inception. The prongs are shaped and sized of a configuration to define a catch or latching structure. The prongs are configured to capture and deform the suture between the protrusions and prevent the suture from disengaging from the slotted anchor device once engaged.

Claims

1. An anchor assembly, comprising:

a distal anchor, a connector and a proximal anchor, wherein the distal anchor is attached to an end portion of the connector, the proximal anchor comprising;

a back end; and

a pair of spaced prongs extending from the back end, the prongs being joined together at a slot inception, and wherein the prongs are shaped and sized of a configuration to provide deflection of the prongs;

wherein the prongs include inwardly facing structure configured to capture the connector therebetween and a latching structure configured to maintain an engagement with the connector between the prongs;

wherein the latching structure includes a frictionally engaging tab formed on one prong and a complementary recess formed in another prong;

wherein the proximal anchor is defined by a tubular member oriented along a longitudinal axis of the proximal anchor.

2. The anchor assembly of claim 1, wherein the prongs can assume an open position and a closed position and deform the connector in the closed position.

3. The anchor assembly of claim 1, wherein the latching structure defines a mushroom shaped tab.

4. The anchor assembly of claim 1, the proximal anchor including a first prong and a second prong, the second prong having a greater length than the first prong.

5. The anchor assembly of claim 4, the proximal anchor further comprising a slot inception, the slot inception is stepped and sized to accept and deform the connector.

6. The anchor assembly of claim 1, the distal anchor comprising a laterally oriented tail.

7. The anchor assembly of claim 6, the distal anchor further comprising a tubular portion which is generally perpendicular to a tail portion.

8. The anchor assembly of claim 7, wherein the tubular portion includes affixing tabs for affixing the distal anchor to the connector.