Tissue stabilization system

• US 9,451,961 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2014
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation (State of Utah)
• Original Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation (State of Utah)
• Inventors: Kubiak, Erik N.
• Primary Examiner(s): TANNER, JOCELIN C
• Application Number:
  US14/497,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20150066064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1146 of tendons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00725 Calibration or performance testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0403 Dowels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0446 Means for attaching and blocking the suture in the suture anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06176 with protrusions, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0618 elastic, e.g. stretchable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1132 End-to-end connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for tissue stabilization. Some aspects include a carrier member having a length, width, and thickness, wherein the length and width are each at least two times greater than the thickness; attachment members extending from the carrier member and that engage connective tissue; and stabilizing members, each of which can couple a respective attachment member to the carrier member and is substantially positionally fixed relative to the carrier member.

Claims

1. An apparatus for stabilizing connective tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a carrier member having a length, width, and thickness, the length and width each being at least two times greater than the thickness;

a plurality of attachment members extending from the carrier member and configured to engage connective tissue;

a plurality of stabilizing members, each configured to couple a respective attachment member to the carrier member, each stabilizing member being substantially positionally fixed relative to the carrier member; and

a first flexible member connecting a first set of the plurality of attachment members,

wherein the first flexible member comprises an adjustment member configured to resize a length of the first flexible member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each stabilizing member is configured to resist angular motion of a respective attachment member relative to the carrier member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a length of each stabilizing member is greater than or equal to a height of a respective attachment member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first flexible member comprises at least one of a fiber, a filament, a string, a thread, and a line.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first flexible member resides at least partially in a stabilizing member coupled to a respective attachment member of the first set of the plurality of attachment members.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an elasticity of at least one of the first flexible member and the carrier member is substantially the same as an elasticity of the connective tissue.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an elasticity of at least one of the first flexible member and the carrier member is slightly greater than an elasticity of the connective tissue.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustment member comprises at least one of a coil, a curve, and a kink.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustment member is configured to resize the length of the first flexible member such that the length of the first flexible member is substantially the same as a length of the connective tissue during physiological use of the connective tissue.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second flexible member connecting a second set of the plurality of attachment members.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first set of the plurality of attachment members is aligned with the second set of the plurality of attachment members such that a long axis of the first set of the plurality of attachment members is substantially parallel to a long axis of the second set of the plurality of attachment members.

12. An apparatus for stabilizing connective tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a carrier member having a length, width, and thickness, the length and width each being at least two times greater than the thickness;

a plurality of attachment members extending from the carrier member and configured to engage connective tissue; and

a plurality of stabilizing members, each configured to couple a respective attachment member to the carrier member, each stabilizing member being substantially positionally fixed relative to the carrier member;

wherein a length of each stabilizing member is greater than or equal to a height of a respective attachment member.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the carrier member comprises a flexible portion, the flexible portion including an adjustment portion configured to resize a length of the flexible portion such that the length of the flexible portion is substantially the same as a length of the connective tissue during physiological use of the connective tissue.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the flexible portion comprises at least one of a fiber, a filament, a string, a thread, and a line.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the adjustment portion comprises at least one of a coil, a curve, and a kink.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the carrier member comprises a first elasticity, and the plurality of attachment members comprise a second elasticity, the second elasticity being less than the first elasticity.

17. An apparatus for stabilizing connective tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a carrier member having a length, width, and thickness, the length and width each being at least two times greater than the thickness;

a plurality of attachment members extending from the carrier member and configured to engage connective tissue;

a plurality of stabilizing members, each configured to couple a respective attachment member to the carrier member, each stabilizing member being substantially positionally fixed relative to the carrier member; and

a first flexible member connecting a first set of the plurality of attachment members, wherein the first flexible member resides at least partially in a stabilizing member coupled to a respective attachment member of the first set of the plurality of attachment members.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first flexible member comprises an adjustment portion, the adjustment portion configured to resize a length of the first flexible member such that the length of the first flexible member is substantially the same as a length of the connective tissue during physiological use of the connective tissue.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first flexible member comprises at least one of a fiber, a filament, a string, a thread, and a line.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the adjustment portion comprises at least one of a coil, a curve, and a kink.