Method and Apparatus for Coupling Soft Tissue to a Bone

• US 20090312776A1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Published: 12/17/2009
• 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: Denham, Gregory J., Stone, Kevin T., Kaiser, Ryan A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,088,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/148
• 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 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• 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 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1631 Special drive shafts, e.g. flexible shafts A61B17/1642, A61B17/164 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1642 for producing a curved bore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00336 with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00858 high friction, non-slip on handles A61B2017/00429
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0406 Pledgets
• 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 2017/0432 the separate member staying in the anchor after placement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0477 with pre-tied sutures
• 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: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 : Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• 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

A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a member to pull the soft tissue implant into a femoral tunnel. The member includes a suture having first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with the longitudinal passage to form a pair of loops. Portions of the suture lay parallel to each other within the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel.

Claims

1. A method of surgically implanting a flexible strand comprising:

passing the flexible strand through a bore defined by a first construct;

passing a first end of the flexible strand through a first aperture defined by the flexible strand into a passage portion defined by the flexible strand and out a second aperture defined by the flexible strand so as to place the first end outside of the passage portion and form a first loop;

coupling the first construct to a patient;

forming a hole in soft tissue;

passing the first loop through the hole; and

applying tension to at least one end to constrict the first loop pulling soft tissue toward the construct.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising passing the first end through the hole.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first loop is coupled to a fastening member.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the construct is a loop of suture.

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein the loop of suture comprises a knot.

6. The method according to claim 3 wherein a second loop is coupled to the construct.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising passing a second end of the flexible strand through a third aperture into the passage portion and out a fourth first aperture so as to place the second end outside of the passage portion and form a second loop;

and positioning the passage portion within the bore.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising coupling a collapsible fabric member disposed about one of the first or second loops.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the flexible strand comprises a collapsible fabric tube disposed about the first and second loops.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the flexible strand is a suture.

11. A method of surgically implanting a suture comprising:

passing the suture through an aperture defined by a first bone engaging member;

passing a first end of the suture through a first aperture defined by the suture into a passage portion defined by the suture and out a second aperture defined by the suture so as to place the first end outside of the passage portion and form a first loop; and

threading a first collapsible tube through the first loop;

coupling the first bone engaging member to a patient; and

applying tension on at least one of the first and second ends to constrict the first loop against patient soft tissue.

12. The method according to claim 11 further comprising forming a hole through the soft tissue and passing a portion of the suture through the passage.

13. The method according to claim 11 further comprising forming a first hole through the soft tissue and passing a first portion of the suture through the first hole, and forming a second hole through a second soft tissue and passing a second portion of the suture through the second hole.

14. The method according to claim 11 further comprising passing the first collapsible tube through the first hole.

15. The method according to claim 11 wherein the first and second soft tissue is a meniscus.

16. A method of surgically implanting a suture comprising:

forming at least one hole in soft tissue;

passing the suture through a bore defined in a locking member;

passing a first end of the suture through a first aperture into a passage portion defined by the suture and out a second aperture defined by the suture so as to place the first end outside of the passage portion and define a first loop;

coupling at least one collapsible tube to the suture;

threading the first collapsible tube through the soft tissue;

applying tension on one of the first and second ends to constrict at least one collapsible tube; and

coupling the locking member to the patient.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein coupling the locking member is coupling the locking member to bone.

18. The method according to claim 16 further comprising passing a second end of the suture through a third aperture into the passage portion and out a fourth first aperture so as to place the second end outside of the passage portion and form a second loop;

and passing a second collapsible tube about the second loop.

19. The method according to claim 16 further comprising coupling a first cinch loop between the first collapsible tube and the suture;

and coupling a second cinch loop between the second collapsible tube and the suture.

20. The method according to claim 16 wherein the third aperture is the first aperture and the fourth aperture is the second aperture.