Knotless tissue fixation assembly

• US 9,775,599 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2015
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Inventors: ElAttrache, Neal S., Burkhart, Stephen S., Dreyfuss, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, VY Q
• Application Number:
  US14/970,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20160095588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• 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 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8645 Headless screws, e.g. ligament interference screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00907 for light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0403 Dowels other bone dowels A61B17/68; dowels for connecting prosthetic parts A61F2002/30433
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• 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 2017/0448 Additional elements on or within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 snug fit within the anchor
• 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 2002/0835 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 2002/0858 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• 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 illustrative example inserter assembly for securing soft tissue in a position adjacent bone includes an inserter having a proximal end and distal end. The inserter includes a handle near the proximal end and a shaft between the handle and the distal end. An anchor body is situated near the distal end of the inserter. A suture includes a portion establishing a suture loop near the distal end where the suture loop is distal of the anchor body. The suture includes a portion within the shaft. The suture has two ends that protrude from the inserter near the proximal end.

Claims

1. An assembly for securing soft tissue, the assembly comprising:

an inserter having a proximal end and distal end, the inserter including a handle near the proximal end, the inserter including a shaft between the handle and the distal end;

an anchor body near the distal end of the inserter, the anchor body having a proximal edge received against a distal edge of the shaft;

a suture including a portion establishing a suture loop near the distal end, the suture loop being distal of the anchor body, the suture including a portion within the shaft, the suture having two ends that protrude outside of the inserter near the proximal end; and

a rotatable member near the handle and wherein rotational movement of at least one of the handle or the rotatable member causes a change in position of the anchor body relative to the suture loop.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the the rotational movement causes relative movement between the anchor body and the suture loop.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the relative movement comprises movement of the anchor body in a distal direction toward the suture loop.

4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the rotational movement causes movement of at least a portion of the anchor body relative the suture loop.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the rotational movement causes movement of the entire anchor body relative to the suture loop.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the suture is removable from the inserter.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the anchor body has an exterior that is configured to trap soft tissue between the exterior and bone.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the ends of the suture protrude from the handle.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

the shaft comprises an outer shaft;

and

the anchor body proximal edge is received against a distal end of the outer shaft.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the outer shaft is moveable relative to another portion of the inserter for moving the anchor body relative to the suture loop.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the ends of the suture protruding outside of the inserter are configured to be manipulated to change at least one of a size of the suture loop or a position of the loop relative to the distal end of the inserter.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a size of the loop can be changed by manipulating at least one of the ends of the suture from outside the inserter.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the anchor body comprises a threaded screw.

14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the anchor body comprises a plug.

15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein

the assembly has a first condition including the anchor body in a first position relative to the suture loop;

the first condition includes the suture loop being configured to gather soft tissue near the distal end;

relative movement between the suture loop and the anchor body establishes a second condition of the assembly;

the second condition includes the anchor body being in a second position relative to the suture loop where the anchor body is situated for securing soft tissue to bone; and

the second condition includes the soft tissue captured within the suture loop.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein

the first condition includes the anchor body outside of the bone;

and

the second condition includes the suture loop and the anchor body inside the bone.

17. A tissue securing assembly, comprising:

an inserter including a distal end and a proximal end, the inserter including a handle near the proximal end, the inserter having a longitudinal axis between the distal end and the proximal end, the inserter including a shaft along the longitudinal axis;

an anchor body near the distal end, the anchor body being configured to be received in a hole in bone for trapping at least a portion of soft tissue in bone, the anchor body having a proximal edge that is received against a distal edge of the shaft;

a tissue gathering portion near the distal end, the tissue gathering portion being distal of the anchor body, the tissue gathering portion being configured to at least temporarily gather a portion of soft tissue near the distal end of the inserter for moving the portion of soft tissue with the distal end of the inserter into a hole in bone;

a second portion coupled to the tissue gathering portion, the second portion extending along the longitudinal axis from the tissue gathering portion to near the proximal end, the second portion being at least partially within the inserter and at least partially protruding outside of the inserter, the second portion being at least partially within the shaft, the second portion being moveable relative to the handle to change a position of the tissue gathering portion relative to the anchor body; and

a rotatable member near the handle and wherein rotational movement of at least one of the handle or the rotatable member causes a change in position of the anchor body relative to the tissue gathering portion.

18. The assembly of claim 17, comprising a suture and wherein

the tissue gathering portion is a portion of the suture that establishes a suture loop near the distal end;

and

the second portion is another portion of the suture between the suture loop and ends of the suture.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the suture is removable from the inserter.

20. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the rotational movement of at least one of the handle or the rotatable member causes movement of the anchor body in a distal direction.

21. The assembly of claim 17, wherein some of the second portion at least partially protruding outside of the inserter is configured to be manipulated to change at least one of a size of the tissue gathering portion or a position of the tissue gathering portion relative to the distal end of the inserter.

22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein

the tissue gathering portion and the second portion are sections of a suture;

the tissue gathering portion comprises a loop formed by one of the sections of the suture;

the second portion includes ends of the suture; and

a size of the loop can be changed by manipulating at least one of the ends of the suture from outside the inserter.

23. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the anchor body comprises a threaded screw.

24. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the anchor body comprises a plug.

25. The assembly of claim 17, wherein

the assembly has a first condition including the anchor body in a first position relative to the tissue gathering portion;

the first condition includes the tissue gathering portion being configured to gather soft tissue near the distal end;

relative movement between the tissue gathering portion and the anchor body establishes a second condition of the assembly;

the second condition includes the anchor body being in a second position relative to the tissue gathering portion where the anchor body is situated for securing soft tissue to bone; and

the second condition includes the soft tissue captured within the tissue gathering portion.

26. The assembly of claim 25, wherein

the first condition includes the anchor body outside of the bone;

and

the second condition includes the tissue gathering portion and the anchor body inside the bone.