Apparatus for tissue repair

• US 9,545,251 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2013
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Bojarski, Raymond A., Sikora, George, Torrie, Paul Alexander, Ek, Steven W.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLWERDA, KATHLEEN SONNETT
• Application Number:
  US13/757,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20130144314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606144-148, 606153-156, 606/224, 606/225, 606228-232
• 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 17/0467 Instruments for cutting sutures surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• 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 17/06066 Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations making needles B21G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0437 the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• 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 2017/0475 using sutures having a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0477 with pre-tied sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 : for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/061 : hollow or tubular suture extending inside a hollow needle A61B2017/06052; hollow sutures A61B2017/06185
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0646 : for insertion into cartillege, e.g. meniscus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 : having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0648 : threaded, e.g. tacks with a screw thread
• 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 2002/0829 : without deformation of anchor parts, e.g. fixation screws on bone surface, extending barbs, cams, butterflies, spring-loaded pins
• 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 2002/0882 : Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone
• 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 apparatus for tissue repair, comprising first and second fixation members, a flexible coupling member coupling the first and second fixation members, the flexible coupling member having two terminal ends, one of the two terminal ends terminating adjacent one of the first and second fixation members, the flexible coupling member slidably coupled to at least one of the first and second fixation members such that when the other of the two terminal ends of the flexible coupling member is pulled, a length of the flexible coupling member between the first and second fixation members is shortened, and a Chinese trap formed in the flexible coupling member through which a portion of the flexible coupling member slides when the flexible coupling member is pulled.

Claims

1. An apparatus for tissue repair, comprising:

a delivery device comprising a slotted needle including a first fixation member and a second fixation member;

a flexible coupling member coupling the first and second fixation members, the flexible coupling member having two terminal ends, the flexible coupling member slidably coupled to one of the first and second fixation members, and the other of said first and second fixation members substantially immovably attached to one of the two terminal ends, the other of the two terminal ends routed separately from the one of the two terminal ends, such that when the other of the two terminal ends of the flexible coupling member is pulled, a length of the flexible coupling member between the first and second fixation members is shortened; and

a Chinese trap formed in the flexible coupling member through which a portion of the flexible coupling member slides, the Chinese trap configured to tighten around the portion when the other of the two terminal ends of the flexible coupling member is pulled.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a closed loop of flexible material coupling one of the first and second fixation members to the flexible coupling member, the flexible coupling member being slidably received through the closed loop of flexible material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 being preassembled for use in a surgical procedure.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the other of the two terminal ends of the flexible coupling member is slidably received within the Chinese trap.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein when the other of the two terminal ends of the flexible coupling member is pulled, the Chinese trap is stretched and grips a portion of the flexible coupling member therethrough to limit movement of the flexible coupling member relative to the Chinese trap.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the delivery device comprises a removable cannula configured to permit placement of the delivery device and then be removed.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the removable cannula protects a distal tip of the delivery device during insertion into a patient.

8. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the delivery device comprises a rod for pushing one of the fixation members in a distal direction to position the one of the fixation members.

9. The apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the positioned fixation member slides distally from the needle during retraction of the needle.

10. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the flexible coupling is played out of the delivery device upon retraction of the needle.