Apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a bone

• US 9,370,350 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2013
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Norton, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Dornbusch, Dianne
• Application Number:
  US13/790,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20130190818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 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 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0485 Devices or means, e.g. loops, for capturing the suture thread and threading it through an opening of a suturing instrument or needle eyelet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1684 for the shoulder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00336 with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00858 high friction, non-slip on handles A61B2017/00429
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0406 Pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0432 the separate member staying in the anchor after placement
• 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 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0477 with pre-tied sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06185 hollow or tubular hollow suture needles A61B2017/061

Abstract

A flexible member for coupling tissue. The flexible member includes a tail and a self-locking construct. The tail includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The tail defines a tail passageway proximate to the second end. The self-locking construct includes an adjustable first loop and an adjustable second loop. The second loop is slidably threaded through the tail passageway defined by the tail. The self-locking construct is configured such that passing the tail through the first loop so that the second loop extends into the first loop forms a tissue capture region defined by the self-locking construct. The tail passageway defines a locking member configured to secure the second loop to the first loop.

Claims

1. A flexible member for coupling tissue comprising:

a tail including a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the tail defining a tail passageway proximate to the second end, wherein the tail includes a first flexible member coupled to a second flexible member;

a self-locking construct including an adjustable first loop and an adjustable second loop, the second loop slidably threaded through the tail passageway defined by the tail; and

an anchor seated on the tail at an interface between the first flexible member and the second flexible member;

wherein the self-locking construct is configured such that passing the tail through the first loop so that the second loop extends into the first loop forms a tissue capture region defined by the self-locking construct; and

wherein the tail passageway defines a locking member configured to secure the second loop to the first loop.

2. The flexible member of claim 1, wherein the tail includes a first suture directly coupled to a second suture.

3. The flexible member of claim 2, wherein the first suture and the second suture include visual indicia distinguishing the first suture from the second suture.

4. The flexible member of claim 2, wherein the first suture includes a different color to distinguish the first suture from the second suture.

5. The flexible member of claim 1, wherein the anchor defines an anchor passageway, the tail extends through the anchor passageway and the anchor is slidably mounted to the tail.

6. The flexible member of claim 1, wherein the adjustable first loop is configured to decrease in size when the flexible member is tensioned at an implant site.

7. The flexible member of claim 1, wherein the first loop decreases in size upon pulling an end of the second loop when the second loop is arranged such that it extends through the first loop, and through or around tissue.

8. The flexible member of claim 1, wherein the first flexible member includes a first end and a second end, the first end extends through a first sleeve portion of the first flexible member to form a first loop in the first flexible member, the second flexible member includes a third end and a fourth end, the third end passes through the first loop of the first flexible member and the second end of the first flexible member passes through a second sleeve portion of the second flexible member.

9. The flexible member of claim 8, wherein the first sleeve of the first flexible member is positioned within the second sleeve of the second flexible member.

10. The flexible member of claim 1, wherein the first flexible member and the second flexible member are configured to facilitate distinction between the first flexible member and the second flexible member by having different colors, different design patterns, different thicknesses, or different weights.

11. A system for implanting a flexible member for coupling tissue comprising:

an insertion tool including a handle, a rod extending from the handle, and a retention member;

a tail of the flexible member including a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the tail defining a tail passageway proximate to the second end, the tail is retained at the handle with the retention member, wherein the tail includes a first tail flexible member coupled to a second tail flexible member;

a self-locking construct of the flexible member including a first loop and a second adjustable loop, the second adjustable loop slidably threaded through the tail passageway defined by the tail, the first loop coupled to the retention member; and

an anchor seated on the tail at an interface between the first tail flexible member and the second tail flexible member;

wherein the retention member is configured to retain the tail between the retention member and the handle such that decoupling the retention member from the handle releases the tail from the handle; and

wherein the self-locking construct is configured such that passing the tail through the first loop so that the second adjustable loop extends into the first loop defines a tissue capture region of the self-locking construct for retaining tissue thereto.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein actuation of a plunger of the retention member pushes the first loop off of the retention member.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the retention member includes a ring for receiving the tail therethrough, the ring is mounted to a main body of the retention member such that actuation of a plunger of the retention member moves the plunger over the ring to trap the tail within the plunger when the tail is threaded through the ring.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein actuation of the plunger pushes the first loop off of a plunger flange of the retention member.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the tail extends through a passage portion of an anchor mounted to the tip of the rod of the insertion tool.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first loop is seated within a recess defined by a flange of the retention member.

17. A flexible member for coupling tissue, comprising:

a tail extending from a first end to a second end and formed from a first flexible member and a second flexible member; and

a self-locking construct having a first loop and a second adjustable loop, the second adjustable loop coupled to the tail;

wherein the self-locking construct is configured such that passing the tail through the first loop so that the second loop extends into the first loop forms a tissue capture region defined by the self-locking construct; and

wherein the first flexible member includes a first end and a second end, the first end extends through a first sleeve portion of the first flexible member to form a first loop in the first flexible member, the second flexible member includes a third end and a fourth end, the third end passes through the first loop of the first flexible member and the second end of the first flexible member passes through a second sleeve portion of the second flexible member.

18. The flexible member of claim 17, wherein the first flexible member and the second flexible member include visual indicia distinguishing the first flexible member from the second flexible member.

19. The flexible member of claim 17, wherein the tail defines a tail passageway and the second loop passes through the tail passageway to couple the tail to the second loop, wherein the tail passageway defines a locking member configured to secure the second loop to the first loop.

20. The flexible member of claim 17, further comprising an anchor seated on the tail at an interface between the first flexible member and the second flexible member.