Method and apparatus for stitching tendons

• US 9,357,991 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Denham, Gregory J., Berelsman, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dornbusch, Dianne
• Application Number:
  US13/720,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20130116730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• 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 17/06004 Means for attaching suture to needle tipping A61B17/06195; connecting wire to other metallic objects B21F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/842 Flexible wires, bands or straps A61B17/72, A61B17/82, A61B17/86 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0406 Pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0495 Reinforcements for suture lines
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06057 Double-armed sutures, i.e. sutures having a needle attached to each end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06185 hollow or tubular
• 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 2002/087 Anchor integrated into tendons, e.g. bone blocks, integrated rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0882 Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for repairing a tear in soft tissue are disclosed. A method according to the principles of the present disclosure includes connecting an intermediate member to a bone anchor and placing the intermediate member on the soft tissue. The method further includes inserting a first suture through the intermediate member and the soft tissue to attach the intermediate member to the soft tissue and fixing the bone anchor to bone to secure the soft tissue to the bone.

Claims

1. A method for attaching soft tissue to bone comprising:

connecting an intermediate member to a bone anchor;

making a single fold in the intermediate member to form a first segment having a first end and a second segment having a second end;

placing the intermediate member on the soft tissue such that the first and second ends are on a suture attachment side of the soft tissue;

inserting a first suture through the first and second segments of the intermediate member and the suture attachment side of the soft tissue to attach the intermediate member to the suture attachment side of the soft tissue; and

fixing the bone anchor to bone to secure the soft tissue to the bone.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the intermediate member is a flat, planar member that includes at least one of a ribbon and a sheath.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the intermediate member includes at least one of polyester, polyethylene, polyurethane urea, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), and bioresorbable material.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the intermediate member is at least one of braided, knit, and woven.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the intermediate member has a thickness between 0.25 millimeters (mm) and 0.75 mm.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising connecting the intermediate member to the bone anchor using a tensioning member that includes a suture construct forming a self-locking adjustable loop.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising inserting the intermediate member partially through the adjustable loop, folding the intermediate member to form first and second segments, and stitching the first and second segments of the intermediate member to the soft tissue.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising pulling opposite ends of the suture construct to decrease the size of the adjustable loop and to apply tension to the intermediate member and thereby bring the soft tissue closer to a location on the bone at which the bone anchor is fixed.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the bone anchor is flexible and pulling the ends of the second suture sets the flexible bone anchor against the bone.

10. A method for attaching soft tissue to bone, comprising:

connecting a tensioning member extending from a bone anchor to an intermediate member;

making a single fold in the intermediate member to form a first segment having a first end and a second segment having a second end;

placing the intermediate member on the soft tissue such that the first and second ends are on a suture attachment side of the soft tissue;

stitching the first and second segments of the intermediate member to the suture attachment side of the soft tissue using a suture; and

fixing the bone anchor to bone to secure the soft tissue to the bone.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the tensioning member includes a suture construct forming a self-locking adjustable loop and further comprising pulling opposite ends of the suture construct to decrease the size of the adjustable loop and apply tension to the intermediate member and thereby bring the soft tissue close to a location on the bone in which the bone anchor is fixed.

12. A method for attaching soft tissue to bone comprising:

connecting an intermediate member to a bone anchor using a tensioning member that includes a suture construct forming a self-locking adjustable loop;

making a single fold in the intermediate member to form a first segment having a first end and a second segment having a second end;

placing the intermediate member on the soft tissue such that the first and second ends are on one side of the soft tissue;

inserting a first suture through the intermediate member and the soft tissue to attach the intermediate member to the soft tissue; and

fixing the bone anchor to bone to secure the soft tissue to the bone.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising inserting the intermediate member partially through the adjustable loop, folding the intermediate member to form first and second segments, and stitching the first and second segments of the intermediate member to the soft tissue.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising pulling opposite ends of the suture construct to decrease the size of the adjustable loop and to apply tension to the intermediate member and thereby bring the soft tissue closer to a location on the bone at which the bone anchor is fixed.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the bone anchor is flexible and pulling the ends of the second suture sets the flexible bone anchor against the bone.