Method and apparatus for re-attaching the labrum to the acetabulum, including the provision and use of a novel suture anchor system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for securing a first object to a second object, the apparatus comprising:
- an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the lumen comprising a first cylindrical section and a second cylindrical section, the first cylindrical section of the lumen being disposed distal to the second cylindrical section of the lumen, with the first cylindrical section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the second cylindrical section of the lumen, wherein the first cylindrical section of the lumen is separated from the second cylindrical section of the lumen by a first transition zone;
wherein the elongated body comprises at least one longitudinally-extending slit extending through the side wall of the elongated body and communicating with the lumen, the at least one longitudinally-extending slit having a distal end, a proximal end and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, with the distal end terminating in the first cylindrical section, the proximal end terminating in or proximal to the second cylindrical section, and the intermediate portion of the at least one longitudinally-extending slit extending along the first transition zone, and with the distal end of the at least one longitudinally-extending slit being spaced from the distal end of the elongated body and the proximal end of the at least one longitudinally-extending slit being spaced from the proximal end of the elongated body; and
an elongated element extending through the lumen of the elongated body, the elongated element comprising a proximal end and a distal end and having an enlargement at its distal end, the enlargement having a diameter greater than the second cylindrical section of the lumen, the elongated body and the elongated element being constructed such that proximal movement of the elongated element causes proximal movement of the enlargement into the second cylindrical section of the lumen, wherein proximal movement of the enlargement into the second cylindrical section of the lumen causes the second cylindrical section of the lumen to expand radially in the vicinity of the at least one slit, whereby to laterally expand the elongated body, without splitting the distal end of the anchor and without splitting the proximal end of the anchor.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for securing a first object to a second object, the apparatus comprising: an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the lumen comprising a first section and a second section, the first section of the lumen being disposed distal to the second section of the lumen, and with the first section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the second section of the lumen; at least one longitudinally-extending slit extending through the side wall of the elongated body and communicating with the lumen, the at least one longitudinally-extending slit having a distal end and a proximal end, with the distal end of the at least one longitudinally-extending slit being spaced from the distal end of the elongated body; and an elongated element extending through the lumen of the elongated body.
336 Citations
38 Claims
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1. Apparatus for securing a first object to a second object, the apparatus comprising:
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an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the lumen comprising a first cylindrical section and a second cylindrical section, the first cylindrical section of the lumen being disposed distal to the second cylindrical section of the lumen, with the first cylindrical section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the second cylindrical section of the lumen, wherein the first cylindrical section of the lumen is separated from the second cylindrical section of the lumen by a first transition zone; wherein the elongated body comprises at least one longitudinally-extending slit extending through the side wall of the elongated body and communicating with the lumen, the at least one longitudinally-extending slit having a distal end, a proximal end and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, with the distal end terminating in the first cylindrical section, the proximal end terminating in or proximal to the second cylindrical section, and the intermediate portion of the at least one longitudinally-extending slit extending along the first transition zone, and with the distal end of the at least one longitudinally-extending slit being spaced from the distal end of the elongated body and the proximal end of the at least one longitudinally-extending slit being spaced from the proximal end of the elongated body; and an elongated element extending through the lumen of the elongated body, the elongated element comprising a proximal end and a distal end and having an enlargement at its distal end, the enlargement having a diameter greater than the second cylindrical section of the lumen, the elongated body and the elongated element being constructed such that proximal movement of the elongated element causes proximal movement of the enlargement into the second cylindrical section of the lumen, wherein proximal movement of the enlargement into the second cylindrical section of the lumen causes the second cylindrical section of the lumen to expand radially in the vicinity of the at least one slit, whereby to laterally expand the elongated body, without splitting the distal end of the anchor and without splitting the proximal end of the anchor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. Apparatus for securing a first object to a second object, the apparatus comprising:
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an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the lumen comprising a first cylindrical section and a second cylindrical section, the first cylindrical section of the lumen being disposed distal to the second cylindrical section of the lumen, with the first cylindrical section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the second cylindrical section of the lumen, wherein the first cylindrical section of the lumen is separated from the second cylindrical section of the lumen by a first transition zone; wherein the elongated body comprises at least one longitudinally-extending slit extending through the side wall of the elongated body and communicating with the lumen, the at least one longitudinally-extending slit having a distal end, a proximal end and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, with the distal end terminating in the first cylindrical section, the proximal end terminating in or proximal to the second cylindrical section, and the intermediate portion of the at least one longitudinally-extending slit extending along the first transition zone, and with the distal end of the at least one longitudinally-extending slit being spaced from the distal end of the elongated body and the proximal end of the at least one longitudinally-extending slit being spaced from the proximal end of the elongated body; and a suture extending through the lumen of the elongated body, the suture comprising a proximal end and a distal end and having a suture knot at its distal end, the suture knot having a diameter greater than the second cylindrical section of the lumen, the elongated body and the suture being constructed such that proximal movement of the suture causes proximal movement of the suture knot into the second cylindrical section of the lumen, wherein proximal movement of the suture knot into the second cylindrical section of the lumen causes the second cylindrical section of the lumen to expand radially in the vicinity of the at least one slit, whereby to laterally expand the elongated body, without splitting the distal end of the anchor and without splitting the proximal end of the anchor. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for securing a first object to a second object, the method comprising:
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providing apparatus comprising; an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the lumen comprising a first cylindrical section and a second cylindrical section, the first cylindrical section of the lumen being disposed distal to the second cylindrical section of the lumen, with the first cylindrical section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the second cylindrical section of the lumen, wherein the first cylindrical section of the lumen is separated from the second cylindrical section of the lumen by a first transition zone; wherein the elongated body comprises at least one longitudinally-extending slit extending through the side wall of the elongated body and communicating with the lumen, the at least one longitudinally-extending slit having a distal end, a proximal end and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, with the distal end terminating in the first cylindrical section, the proximal end terminating in or proximal to the second cylindrical section, and the intermediate portion of the at least one longitudinally-extending slit extending along the first transition zone, and with the distal end of the at least one longitudinally-extending slit being spaced from the distal end of the elongated body and the proximal end of the at least one longitudinally-extending slit being spaced from the proximal end of the elongated body; and an elongated element extending through the lumen of the elongated body, the elongated element comprising a proximal end and a distal end and having an enlargement at its distal end, the enlargement having a diameter greater than the second cylindrical section of the lumen, the elongated body and the elongated element being constructed such that proximal movement of the elongated element causes proximal movement of the enlargement into the second cylindrical section of the lumen, wherein proximal movement of the enlargement into the second cylindrical section of the lumen causes the second cylindrical section of the lumen to expand radially in the vicinity of the at least one slit, whereby to laterally expand the elongated body, without splitting the distal end of the anchor and without splitting the proximal end of the anchor; inserting the elongated body into the second object; moving the enlargement proximally so as to expand the elongated body; and securing the first object to the second object with the elongated element. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for securing a first object to a second object, the method comprising:
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providing apparatus comprising; an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the lumen comprising a first cylindrical section and a second cylindrical section, the first cylindrical section of the lumen being disposed distal to the second cylindrical section of the lumen, with the first cylindrical section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the second cylindrical section of the lumen, wherein the first cylindrical section of the lumen is separated from the second cylindrical section of the lumen by a first transition zone; wherein the elongated body comprises at least one longitudinally-extending slit extending through the side wall of the elongated body and communicating with the lumen, the at least one longitudinally-extending slit having a distal end, a proximal end and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, with the distal end terminating in the first cylindrical section, the proximal end terminating in or proximal to the second cylindrical section, and the intermediate portion of the at least one longitudinally-extending slit extending along the first transition zone, and with the distal end of the at least one longitudinally-extending slit being spaced from the distal end of the elongated body and the proximal end of the at least one longitudinally-extending slit being spaced from the proximal end of the elongated body; and a suture extending through the lumen of the elongated body, the suture comprising a proximal end and a distal end and having a suture knot at its distal end, the suture knot having a diameter greater than the second cylindrical section of the lumen, the elongated body and the suture being constructed such that proximal movement of the suture causes proximal movement of the suture knot into the second cylindrical section of the lumen, wherein proximal movement of the suture knot into the second cylindrical section of the lumen causes the second cylindrical section of the lumen to expand radially in the vicinity of the at least one slit, whereby to laterally expand the elongated body, without splitting the distal end of the anchor and without splitting the proximal end of the anchor; inserting the elongated body into the second object; moving the suture knot proximally so as to expand the elongated body; and securing the first object to the second object with the suture. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification