Knotless graft fixation assembly

• US 9,179,907 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2014
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees
• 

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Inventors: ElAttrache, Neal S., Burkhart, Stephen S., Dreyfuss, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, VY Q
• Application Number:
  US14/272,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/144, 606/104, 606/73, 606/232, 606/75
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8645 Headless screws, e.g. ligament interference screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00907 for light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0403 Dowels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• 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 2017/0448 Additional elements on or within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 snug fit within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0805 Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0835 with deformation of anchor parts, e.g. expansion of dowel by set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0852 Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0858 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0888 Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel

Abstract

An illustrative example suture securing assembly includes an inserter having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis between the distal end and the proximal end. A first member includes an eyelet oriented to thread suture across the longitudinal axis. The first member is situated near the distal end of the inserter. The first member is configured to be placed in bone. A second member is situated near the distal end of the inserter. The second member is moveable relative to the first member in a distal direction toward the eyelet into a suture securing position where the second member traps suture.

Claims

1. A suture securing assembly, comprising:

an inserter including a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis between the distal end and the proximal end;

a first member including an eyelet oriented to thread suture across the longitudinal axis, the first member being situated near the distal end of the inserter, the first member being configured to be placed in bone; and

a second member situated near the distal end of the inserter, the second member being moveable by a portion of the inserter relative to the first member in a distal direction toward the eyelet into a suture securing position where the second member locks suture in place.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

the second member is received on the inserter between the eyelet and the proximal end prior to movement into the suture securing position.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second member is moveable relative to the first member when the first member is in bone.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

the second member locks the suture in place against an exterior surface of the second member when the second member is in the suture securing position.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein

the second member is configured to lock suture in place by wedging suture between the second member and bone.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein

the exterior surface of the second member is configured to engage bone to secure the second member in bone.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

the inserter is separable from the first member;

the inserter is separable from the second member; and

the first member and the second member are configured to remain in bone for securing suture in bone.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

the second member comprises a screw.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

the second member comprises a plug.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

the inserter comprises a handle near the proximal end;

a first shaft and a second shaft;

the first shaft facilitates inserting the first member into bone; and

the second shaft facilitates moving the second member into the suture securing position.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein

the second shaft is moveable relative to the first shaft for moving the second member into the suture securing position.

12. The assembly of claim 11, comprising

a cap that is moveable relative to the handle and connected with the second shaft for moving the second shaft to cause the second member to move into the suture securing position.

13. The assembly of claim 10, wherein

one of the first shaft or the second shaft is at least partially received within the other of the second shaft or the first shaft.

14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first member is a loop of suture defining the eyelet.

15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first member is a rigid implant defining the eyelet.

16. A suture securing assembly, comprising:

a driver having a length and a width, the length being greater than the width, the length being parallel to an insertion direction;

a first member supported by the driver, the first member comprising an eyelet that is transverse to the length, the eyelet being configured to allow suture to be threaded through the eyelet transverse to the length, the first member being situated to be moved in the insertion direction to be received in bone; and

a second member supported by the driver, the second member being situated to be moved by a portion of the driver in the insertion direction relative to at least the first member into a suture securing position where the second member locks suture in place.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein

the second member is received on a portion of the driver in an initial position;

and

the second member is moveable along the portion of the driver in the insertion direction into the suture securing position.

18. The assembly of claim 16, wherein

the driver has a distal end and a proximal end;

the insertion direction corresponds to a direction from the proximal end toward the distal end; and

the first member is situated at least partially beyond the distal end of the driver.

19. The assembly of claim 16, wherein

the second member locks suture in place against an exterior surface of the second member when the second member is in the suture securing position.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein

the second member is configured to lock suture in place by wedging suture between the second member and bone.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein

the exterior surface of the second member is configured to engage bone to secure the second member in bone.

22. The assembly of claim 16, wherein

the driver is separable from the first member;

the driver is separable from the second member; and

the first member and the second member are configured to remain in bone for securing suture in bone.

23. The assembly of claim 16, wherein

the second member comprises a screw.

24. The assembly of claim 16, wherein

the second member comprises a plug.

25. The assembly of claim 16, wherein

the driver comprises a handle and a rod extending from the handle;

the rod includes a first shaft and a second shaft;

the first shaft facilitates inserting the first member into bone; and

the second shaft facilitates moving the second member into the suture securing position.

26. The assembly of claim 25, wherein

the second shaft is moveable relative to the first shaft for moving the second member into the suture securing position.

27. The assembly of claim 26, wherein

the handle is at least partially moveable relative to at least the first shaft for moving the second shaft to cause the second member to move into the suture securing portion.

28. The assembly of claim 25, wherein

one of the first shaft or the second shaft is at least partially received within the other of the second shaft or the first shaft.

29. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the first member is a loop of suture defining the eyelet.

30. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the first member is a rigid implant defining the eyelet.