Deforming anchor device

• US 9,149,266 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2010
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teleflex Life Sciences III LLC
• Original Assignee: NeoTract, Inc. (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lamson, Theodore C., Catanese, Joseph III, Cheng, Floria, McLean, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US12/852,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20110040312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,884 Days
• Field of Search: 606/232
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/042 plastically deformed during insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0446 Means for attaching and blocking the suture in the suture anchor
• 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 deformable structure for engaging a connector.

Claims

1. An anchor assembly for use in treating body tissue, comprising:

a distal anchor;

a connector; and

a proximal anchor, the proximal anchor including a deformable portion and a non-deformable portion spaced longitudinally from the deformable portion, the deformable portion including a first space defined by a first configuration of spaced legs with connected terminal ends at each end of the legs and sized to receive the connector;

wherein legs are configured to collapse inwardly about the non-deformable portion in part or completely to a second space defined by a second configuration of spaced legs, the second configuration having a lateral width less than the lateral width of the first configuration and wherein the legs are configured to capture and deform the connector therebetween.

2. The anchor assembly of claim 1, wherein the legs can assume an open position and a closed position.

3. The anchor assembly of claim 2, wherein the legs include a bend positioned at a mid-section of the legs.

4. The anchor assembly of claim 1, wherein the anchor further including a slot inception.

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

6. The anchor assembly of claim 5, the distal anchor further comprising a tubular portion which is generally perpendicular to a tail portion.

7. The anchor assembly of claim 6, wherein the tubular portion includes tabs for affixing the distal anchor to the connector.

8. An anchor assembly, comprising:

a distal anchor;

a connector; and

a proximal anchor, the proximal anchor including a deformable portion, the deformable portion being defined by longitudinally collapsible structure, and a non-deformable portion spaced longitudinally from the deformable portion, the deformable portion including a closed space having a first lateral width defined by spaced legs sized to receive the connector;

wherein legs are configured to include a bend prior to collapse and to collapse about the non-deformable portion to define a closed space having a second lateral width less than the first lateral width to capture and deform the connector therebetween.

9. The anchor assembly of claim 8, wherein the bend is at a midpoint of the legs.

10. The anchor assembly of claim 8, further comprising a first non-deformable portion and a second non-deformable portion, wherein the deformable portion is configured between the first and second non-deformable portions.

11. The anchor assembly of claim 10, wherein the legs include a bend positioned closer to the first non-deformable portion than the second non-deformable portion.

12. An anchor assembly, comprising:

a distal anchor;

a connector; and

a proximal anchor having a longitudinal dimension, the proximal anchor including a deformable portion, the deformable portion being defined by longitudinally collapsible structure, and a non-deformable portion spaced longitudinally from the deformable portion, the deformable portion including a space defined by spaced legs sized to receive the connector;

wherein a mid-section of the legs is configured to bend inward about the non-deformable portion with respect to the longitudinal dimension to capture and deform the connector therebetween.

13. The anchor assembly of claim 12, the deformable portion further including a plurality of slots defined by radially spaced longitudinal members.

14. The anchor assembly of claim 13, wherein the radially spaced members project laterally outward when the assembly is deformed longitudinally.

15. An anchor assembly for use in treating body tissue, comprising:

a distal anchor;

a connector; and

proximal anchor means for attaching to the connector, the proximal anchor means including a deformable portion and a non-deformable portion spaced longitudinally from the deformable portion, the deformable portion including a closed space defined by spaced legs with connected terminal ends and sized to receive the connector, wherein legs initially including a bend are configured to collapse inwardly about the non-deformable portion to define straightened members to capture and deform the connector therebetween.

16. An anchor assembly, comprising:

a distal anchor;

a connector; and

proximal anchor means for attaching to the connector and having a longitudinal dimension, the proximal anchor including a deformable portion, the deformable portion being defined by longitudinally collapsible structure, and a non-deformable portion spaced longitudinally from the deformable portion, the deformable portion including a closed space defined by initially bent and spaced legs sized to receive the connector, wherein legs are configured to bend inwardly about the non-deformable portion and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension to capture and deform the connector therebetween.