Methods and devices for treating a syndesmosis injury
First Claim
1. A method of treating a syndesmosis injury, comprising:
- forming a hole through a second bone and into a first bone;
inserting a deployment assembly into the hole in the second bone, the deployment assembly comprising;
(a) an outer tube having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer diameter, and an inner diameter(b) a tether disposed within the outer tube, the tether comprising;
(i) a flexible component; and
(ii) a base component coupled to the flexible component, said base component being substantially rigid, the base component having a distal portion that is externally threaded having a base component external thread having a base component external thread major diameter, and having a proximal portion; and
(c) a first bone anchor disposed at a distal end of the outer tube, the first bone anchor having a first bone anchor external thread having a first bone anchor external thread major diameter, the first bone anchor being coupled to a distal end of the flexible component, wherein the outer tube has a torque-transmitting engagement feature cooperating with the first bone anchor;
positioning the first bone anchor in the first bone;
removing the outer tube; and
coupling a second anchor to the base component and positioning the second anchor in the second bone or in a plate connected to the second bone,wherein the first bone anchor external thread major diameter is greater than the outer tube outer diameter at the distal end, the outer tube outer diameter is greater than the outer tube inner diameter, the outer tube inner diameter is greater than the base component external thread major diameter, and the base component proximal portion is sufficiently narrow so that the second anchor can advance non-rotatingly along the proximal portion of the base component.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments relate to implantable devices for the treatment of syndesmosis injuries. Embodiments include a first anchor attachable to a first bone, the first anchor being coupled to a flexible component, the flexible component in turn being coupled to a base component. The base component may be rigid, and may be externally threaded for engaging with a second anchor. Position of the second anchor may be adjusted by rotating the second anchor with respect to the base component, thereby adjusting relative position of the two bones. An assembly may be created in which an outer tube contains the flexible component and the base component inside the outer tube, and at its distal end the outer tube may engage the first anchor so as to allow transmission of torque. The outer tube may be withdrawn proximally after implantation of the first anchor. The bones may be a tibia and a fibula.
389 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A method of treating a syndesmosis injury, comprising:
-
forming a hole through a second bone and into a first bone; inserting a deployment assembly into the hole in the second bone, the deployment assembly comprising; (a) an outer tube having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer diameter, and an inner diameter (b) a tether disposed within the outer tube, the tether comprising; (i) a flexible component; and (ii) a base component coupled to the flexible component, said base component being substantially rigid, the base component having a distal portion that is externally threaded having a base component external thread having a base component external thread major diameter, and having a proximal portion; and (c) a first bone anchor disposed at a distal end of the outer tube, the first bone anchor having a first bone anchor external thread having a first bone anchor external thread major diameter, the first bone anchor being coupled to a distal end of the flexible component, wherein the outer tube has a torque-transmitting engagement feature cooperating with the first bone anchor; positioning the first bone anchor in the first bone; removing the outer tube; and coupling a second anchor to the base component and positioning the second anchor in the second bone or in a plate connected to the second bone, wherein the first bone anchor external thread major diameter is greater than the outer tube outer diameter at the distal end, the outer tube outer diameter is greater than the outer tube inner diameter, the outer tube inner diameter is greater than the base component external thread major diameter, and the base component proximal portion is sufficiently narrow so that the second anchor can advance non-rotatingly along the proximal portion of the base component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A method of treating a syndesmosis injury, comprising:
-
forming a hole through a second bone and into a first bone; inserting an implantation tool comprising a deployment assembly into said hole in said second bone, said deployment assembly comprising; a first bone anchor, said first anchor being suitable for placement in said first bone, said first bone anchor having a first anchor external thread having a first anchor external thread major diameter, said first bone anchor having at its proximal end a coupling feature; an outer tube having a lumen therewithin and having, at its distal end, a protrusion capable of being received in said coupling feature of said first anchor; a tether comprising a flexible component coupled to said first bone anchor and a base component coupled to said flexible component, said base component being substantially rigid, wherein when the outer tube is coupled with the first bone anchor said first bone anchor is disposed distally of said outer tube and said base component is contained entirely within said lumen of said outer tube and does not extend beyond a proximal end of the implantation tool; positioning said first bone anchor in said first bone; removing said outer tube; and coupling a second anchor to a proximal end of said base component and positioning said second anchor in said second bone or in a plate connected to said second bone, wherein a distal portion of the base component has an external thread and a proximal portion of the base component is unthreaded, and wherein the second anchor has an internal thread engageable with the external thread of the base component, and wherein the unthreaded portion of the base component is sufficiently long so that when the second anchor, while engaged with a driver tool having a central bore therethrough, begins to engage the external thread of the base component, some of the base component protrudes proximally from the driver tool. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of treating a syndesmosis injury, comprising:
-
forming a hole through a second bone and into a first bone; inserting a deployment assembly into said hole in said second bone, said deployment assembly comprising; a first anchor, said first anchor being suitable for placement in said first bone, said first anchor being distally located; a tether, said tether comprising a flexible component and a base component, wherein said base component is substantially rigid, wherein said first anchor is coupled to said flexible component, and said flexible component is coupled to said base component, and said base component extends more proximally than said flexible component, and wherein said base component has an external thread and a proximal portion of the base component is unthreaded; positioning said first anchor in said first bone; and coupling a second anchor to a proximal end of said base component, wherein said second anchor has an internal thread complementary to said base component external thread; and positioning said second anchor in said second bone or in a plate connected to said second bone, wherein the unthreaded portion of the base component is sufficiently long so that when the second anchor, while engaged with a driver tool having a central bore therethrough, begins to engage the external thread of the base component, some of the base component protrudes proximally from the driver tool. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A method of treating a syndesmosis injury, comprising:
-
forming a hole through a second bone and into a first bone; inserting a deployment assembly into said hole in said second bone, said deployment assembly comprising; an outer tube having an outer diameter and an inner diameter and having a lumen therewithin and having, at its distal end, a protrusion; a first anchor located distally of said distal end of said outer tube, said first anchor being suitable for placement in said first bone, said first anchor having an external thread having a major diameter, said first anchor having a coupling feature located within said major diameter and capable of receiving said protrusion of said outer tube; a tether comprising a flexible component coupled to said first anchor and a base component coupled to said flexible component, said base component being substantially rigid, wherein some of said base component is more proximal than said flexible component, wherein said base component has a base component external thread, wherein said base component fits inside said lumen of said outer tube; positioning said first anchor in said first bone, wherein said positioning comprises applying torque to said outer tube causing rotation and advancement in a distal direction of said first anchor; withdrawing said outer tube in a proximal direction while said flexible component remains coupled to said first anchor and said base component remains coupled to said flexible component; and coupling a second anchor to said base component and positioning said second anchor in said second bone or in a plate connected to said second bone, wherein said second anchor has an internal thread complementary to said base component external thread, wherein said coupling includes rotating said second anchor with respect to said base component, wherein the first bone anchor external thread major diameter is greater than the outer tube outer diameter at the distal end, the outer tube outer diameter is greater than the outer tube inner diameter, the outer tube inner diameter is greater than the base component external thread major diameter, and the base component further comprises a proximal portion that is sufficiently narrow so that the second bone anchor can advance non-rotatingly along the proximal portion of the base component.
-
Specification