SELF-PUNCHING SWIVEL ANCHOR AND METHOD FOR KNOTLESS FIXATION OF TISSUE

• US 20120150226A1
• Filed: 02/23/2012
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: John A. Sodeika, Peter J. Dreyfuss, Stephen S. Burkhart
• Inventors: Burkhart, Stephen S., Dreyfuss, Peter J., Sodeika, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,663,279 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 2017/0408 Rivets other bone rivets A61B17/68; rivets for connecting prosthetic parts A61F2002/30433, A61F2220/0041
• 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 2017/0438 slotted, i.e. having a longitudinal slot for enhancing their elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 snug fit within the anchor

Abstract

A method and device for knotless fixation of tissue. A swivel anchor having a rotatable implant is used to capture suture for surgical tissue repair without requiring suture knots. The implant may be provided with a conical metal tip which is self-punching and avoids the need for pre-drilling a hole in bone. The implant includes a closed aperture to allow free sliding of a suture strand. The swivel anchor is secured in a hole in bone by advancing a fixation device, such as a cannulated interference screw, over the body of the implant.

Claims

1. A method of knotless tissue fixation comprising:

providing a suture;

securing the suture to the tissue to be fixated;

preloading a cannulated fixation device on a shaft of a driver;

capturing the suture attached to the tissue with the implant, the implant-being releasably attached at a distal end of the driver;

inserting the implant and the captured suture into bone; and

anchoring the suture into the bone by rotating the driver to rotate and advance the cannulated fixation device while keeping the implant stationary, thereby securing the suture and providing tissue fixation without tying any knots in the suture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cannulated fixation device is an interference screw.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the implant has an eyelet and the suture is fed through the eyelet of the implant and, after the implant is inserted into the bone and before the suture is anchored, an end of the suture is pulled to draw the tissue to be fixated toward the bone.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing the implant at a distal end of the driver subsequent to the step of preloading the fixation device on the driver.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the driver includes a cannulated rod passing slidably and rotatably through a cannulated driver assembly of the driver, the cannulated rod having a tip adapted to accept the implant, to allow the implant to be loaded onto the rod and be fully seated on an end of the shaft of the driver.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the implant is releasably attached to the cannulated rod at the distal end of the driver by a snap fit.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the cannulated rod has a hexagonal outer surface for receiving a corresponding inner surface of said cannulated fixation device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the cannulated fixation device is rotated and advanced by holding a thumb pad on the driver handle such that the implant swivels relative to the cannulated fixation device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the implant has a conical portion terminating in a pointed tip at its most distal end, and wherein the suture is inserted into bone without pre-drilling or pre-forming a hole in the bone by advancing the pointed tip of the implant into the bone using the driver.