Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to bone

• US 9,801,620 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2015
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaiser, Ryan A., Denham, Gregory J., Stone, Kevin T., Bonnarens, Frank O.
• Primary Examiner(s): ORKIN, ALEXANDER J
• Application Number:
  US14/594,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20150127051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 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 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• 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 2017/0414 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 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0441 the shaft being a rigid coil or spiral
• 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 2017/0458 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 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06185 hollow or tubular hollow suture needles A61B2017/061
• 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 2002/0864 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor elements, e.g. by additional screws in the anchor, anchor crimped around tendon
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/087 Anchor integrated into tendons, e.g. bone blocks, integrated rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0882 : Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone

Abstract

A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone. The method includes the following: implanting in bone a first anchor including a first suture construct connected to the first anchor; passing a first adjustable loop of the first suture construct at least one of over or through the soft tissue; coupling the first adjustable loop to one of a first locking feature of the first anchor or a second locking feature of a second anchor; adjusting the first adjustable loop by pulling a first end of the first suture construct; and securing the soft tissue against bone by pulling the first end of the first suture construct.

Claims

1. A method for coupling soft tissue to bone, comprising:

driving a first anchor into a bone while a first adjustable suture construct that is coupled to the first anchor extends away from the first anchor, the first adjustable suture construct including a first free end that passes through a first longitudinal passage in the first adjustable suture construct to form a first adjustable loop and a second free end that passes through a second longitudinal passage in the first adjustable suture construct to form a second adjustable loop, the first longitudinal passage spaced apart from the second longitudinal passage in the first adjustable suture construct;

passing the first adjustable loop of the first adjustable suture construct at least one of over or through the soft tissue;

coupling the first adjustable loop to one of a first locking feature of the first anchor or a second locking feature of a second anchor after said driving of the first anchor into the bone; and

pulling on the first free end of the first adjustable suture construct to reduce a size of the first adjustable loop for securing the soft tissue against the bone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first adjustable loop is coupled to a hook of one of the first locking feature or the second locking feature.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising driving the second anchor into the bone, wherein the first adjustable loop is coupled to the second locking feature of the second anchor prior to driving the second anchor into the bone.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second anchor is driven into the bone before said pulling on the first free end of the first adjustable suture construct.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first adjustable loop is coupled to a first locking feature of the first anchor after said driving of the first anchor into the bone.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

passing the second adjustable loop of the first adjustable suture construct at least one of over or through the soft tissue;

coupling the second adjustable loop to a third locking feature of a third anchor; and

pulling on the second free end of the first adjustable suture construct to reduce a size of the second adjustable loop for securing the soft tissue against the bone.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

implanting the second anchor in bone;

passing a third adjustable loop of a second adjustable suture construct connected to the second anchor at least one of over or through the soft tissue;

coupling the third adjustable loop to a third locking feature of a fourth anchor; and

pulling on a third free end of the second adjustable suture construct to reduce a size of the third adjustable loop for securing the soft tissue against the bone.

8. A method for coupling soft tissue to bone, comprising:

driving a first anchor into a bone while a first adjustable suture construct that is coupled to the first anchor extends away from the first anchor, the first adjustable suture construct including a first free end that passes through a first longitudinal passage in the first adjustable suture construct to form a first adjustable loop and a second free end that passes through a second longitudinal passage in the first adjustable suture construct to form a second adjustable loop, the first longitudinal passage spaced apart from the second longitudinal passage in the first adjustable suture construct;

passing the first adjustable loop of the first adjustable suture construct at least one of over or through the soft tissue;

coupling the first adjustable loop to a first locking feature of a second anchor after said driving of the first anchor into the bone; and

pulling on the first free end of the first adjustable suture construct to reduce a size of the first adjustable loop for securing the soft tissue against the bone.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising driving the second anchor into the bone before said pulling on the first free end of the first adjustable suture construct.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising driving the second anchor into the bone, wherein the first adjustable loop is coupled to the first locking feature of the second anchor prior to driving the second anchor into the bone.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein a second adjustable suture construct is coupled to the second anchor, the second adjustable suture construct substantially the same as the first adjustable suture construct.

12. A method for coupling soft tissue to bone, comprising:

driving a first anchor into a bone while a first suture construct that is coupled to the first anchor extends away from the first anchor;

passing a first adjustable loop of the first suture construct at least one of over or through the soft tissue;

driving a second anchor into the bone;

coupling the first adjustable loop to a first locking feature of the first anchor after said driving of the first anchor into the bone; and

pulling on a first free end of the first suture construct to reduce a size of the first adjustable loop for securing the soft tissue against the bone

wherein the first free end passes through a first longitudinal passage in the first suture construct to form the first adjustable loop, and

wherein the first suture construct includes a second free end that passes through a second longitudinal passage in the first suture construct to form a second adjustable loop, the first longitudinal passage separate from the second longitudinal passage in the first suture construct.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first adjustable loop is coupled to a hook forming the first locking feature of the first anchor.