ADJUSTABLE RACHETING SUTURE ANCHORS

• US 20130190815A1
• Filed: 01/20/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Formae, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kevin A. Mansmann
• Inventors: MANSMANN, KEVIN A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,652,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30756 Cartilage endoprostheses A61F2/3603 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3094 Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3859 Femoral components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3872 Meniscus for implantation between the natural bone surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/389 Tibial components A61F2/3868 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/40 for shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4637 for connecting or disconnecting two parts of a prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2821 Bone stimulation by electromagnetic fields or electric current for enhancing ossification
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30113 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30115 circular-O-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/302 toroidal, e.g. rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30225 Flat cylinders, i.e. discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30299 umbrella-shaped or mushroom-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30354 Cylindrically-shaped protrusion and recess, e.g. cylinder of circular basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30459 stapled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30461 sutured, ligatured or stitched
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30495 : using a locking ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/305 : Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 : modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30738 : Sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3085 : with a threaded, e.g. self-tapping, bone-engaging surface, e.g. external surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30878 : with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30892 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4635 : using minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 : operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0066 : stapled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 : sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 : circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0008 : elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 : toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0093 : Umbrella-shaped, e.g. mushroom-shaped

Abstract

Knotless suture anchors are disclosed for surgical use, which contain one or more types of ratcheting mechanisms that will allow a surgeon to pull a suture strand through an anchor device in one direction, without allowing the suture strand to travel or creep backward, in the other direction. This will allow a surgeon to emplace a number of such anchors in hard bone(s) or soft tissue(s), during installation of an implant device, while the various suture strands remain loose and do not interfere with proper positioning of the implant. When the implant device is roughly in position, the surgeon can gently “snug” all of the suture strands (which preferably should be braided, to provide a non-smooth surface that will enable a stronger and more secure grip by the ratcheting mechanism), so that they will all reach a moderate plateau of gentle yet firm tension. After the surgeon has ensured that the implant is in proper position, with all of the anchoring sutures in a “snug” status, a series of final tightening and tensioning steps can be carried out on all of the suture strands.

Claims

1. An anchoring device for use in surgical installation of an implant device, comprising an anchoring component which is designed, sized, and suited for permanent attachment to at least one type of internal tissue,

wherein the anchoring device has a passageway and a ratcheting mechanism which will enable a suture strand to pass through the anchoring device in a manner which will:

(a) enable a surgeon to gradually snug and then tighten a suture strand, by pulling the suture strand through the anchoring device in a first direction;

(b) prevent the suture strand from traveling through the anchoring device in an opposing direction, which if not prevented would allow the suture strand to become looser;

and wherein the anchoring device enables a suture strand to be initially pulled snug to a first level of positioning tension, and later tightened to a second level of final tension during a final tensioning procedure.

2. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the ratcheting mechanism comprises at least one rotatable gear component which interacts with a pawl component.

3. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the ratcheting mechanism comprises at least one non-circular cam component having at least one surface which will firmly engage a surface of a braided suture strand in a gripping manner.

4. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the ratcheting mechanism comprises an internal sleeve with multiple exposed fibrous tips having a directional bias that will prevent a braided suture strand from traveling in a non-allowed direction, without substantially impeding travel in an allowed direction.

5. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the anchoring device has at least one flexible component which is designed to be bent in a manner which will cause an internal component of said anchoring device to press against and crimp a suture strand.

6. A surgical implant device, wherein the implant device has at least one anchoring suture emerging from said implant device, and wherein said anchoring suture is coupled to an anchoring device which is designed, sized, and suited for permanent attachment to at least one type of internal tissue,

wherein the anchoring device has a passageway and a ratcheting mechanism which will enable a suture strand to pass through the anchoring device in a manner which will:

(a) enable a surgeon to gradually snug and then tighten a suture strand, by pulling the suture strand through the anchoring device in a first direction;

(b) prevent the suture strand from traveling through the anchoring device in an opposing direction, which if not prevented would allow the suture strand to become looser;

and wherein the anchoring device enables a suture strand to be initially pulled snug to a first level of positioning tension, and later tightened to a second level of final tension during a final tensioning procedure.

7. The surgical implant device of claim 6, wherein the ratcheting mechanism within said anchoring device comprises at least one rotatable gear component which interacts with a pawl component.

8. The surgical implant device of claim 6, wherein the ratcheting mechanism within said anchoring device comprises at least one non-circular cam component having at least one surface which will firmly engage a surface of a braided suture strand in a gripping manner.

9. The surgical implant device of claim 6, wherein the ratcheting mechanism within said anchoring device comprises an internal sleeve with multiple exposed fibrous tips having a directional bias that will prevent a braided suture strand from traveling in a non-allowed direction, without substantially impeding travel in an allowed direction.

10. The surgical implant device of claim 6, wherein the anchoring device has at least one flexible component which is designed to be bent in a manner which will cause an internal component of said anchoring device to press against and crimp a suture strand.