ANCHORS AND METHOD FOR SECURING SUTURE TO BONE

• US 20100004683A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cayenne Medical Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cayenne Medical Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoof, Jordan A., Nason, Kevin S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,295,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/232
• 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 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 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0453 threaded elements, e.g. set screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0456 Surface features on the anchor, e.g. ribs increasing friction between the suture and the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter

Abstract

A method for securing suture to bone comprises drilling a hole in a desired portion of bone at a desired procedural site, passing a strand of suture through a portion of soft tissue to be approximated to the portion of bone, and extending the free suture ends proximally from the soft tissue. The suture is loaded into an anchor implant. Using an inserter, on a distal end of which is attached the anchor implant, the anchor implant is manipulated into the bone hole. The suture is then tensioned to a desired level by pulling on the free suture ends, after the anchor implant is positioned in the bone hole. The free suture ends are wrapped about a suture cleat on an inserter handle once the desired tension level is achieved. A proximal anchor component is moved distally to engage with a distal anchor component to lock the anchor in place within the bone hole, and to lock the suture in place within the anchor. Then, the inserter is removed from the procedural site.

Claims

1. An anchoring system for securing suture to bone, comprising:

an implant comprising a suture securing portion, having a distal tip, and having external surface features for securing the implant within surrounding bone;

a proximal member which is movable distally to engage said implant and to fix the suture in place within said implant and relative to the bone; and

an inserter which is removably connected to a proximal end of said implant.

2. The anchoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein said proximal member comprises a screw member.

3. The anchoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein said proximal member comprises a wedge member.

4. The anchoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein said suture securing portion comprises a suture eyelet.

5. The anchoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein said suture securing portion comprises a suture cleat.

6. The anchoring system as recited in claim 1, and further comprising an engagement tube for coupling the proximal member and the implant to the inserter.

7. The anchoring system as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a handle portion connected to a proximal end of the inserter.

8. The anchoring system as recited in claim 1, and further comprising internal surface texturing disposed within said implant at a pinch point within said implant, for improving suture retention after fixation.

9. The anchoring system as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a suture channel on an external surface of said implant for permitting the suture to slide freely along said external surface for tissue tensioning.

10. The anchoring system as recited in claim 1, and further comprising an internal thread in said implant.

11. The anchoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein said implant further comprises an internal suture cavity having a tapered surface, and further wherein one leg of a length of suture running through said implant extends along an external side of the implant, and a second leg of the length of suture is compressed against said proximal member and along the tapered edge of said internal suture cavity.

12. The anchoring system as recited in claim 3, wherein said implant and said proximal wedge having mating surfaces which lock together when the implant and the proximal wedge are fully engaged.

13. The anchoring system as recited in claim 12, and further comprising snap features for securing said mating surfaces together.

14. The anchoring system as recited in claim 12, and further comprising a suture channel disposed on one of said mating surfaces.

15. A method for securing suture to bone, comprising:

drilling a hole in a desired portion of bone at a desired procedural site;

passing a strand of suture through a portion of soft tissue to be approximated to said portion of bone, and extending the free suture ends proximally from the soft tissue;

loading the suture into an anchor implant;

using an inserter, on a distal end of which is attached the anchor implant, to manipulate the anchor implant into the bone hole;

tensioning the suture to a desired level by pulling on the free suture ends, after the anchor implant is positioned in the bone hole;

wrapping the free suture ends about a suture cleat on an inserter handle once the desired tension level is achieved;

engaging a proximal anchor component with a distal anchor component to lock the anchor in place within the bone hole, and to lock the suture in place within the anchor; and

removing the inserter from the procedural site.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, and further comprising a step of trimming the free suture ends.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the removing step includes a step of physically separating the inserter from the anchor implant.