Absorbable bone anchor

• US 7,875,064 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2004
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Donnelly, Lisa M., Bartlett, Edwin C., Ares, Paul J., Reese, Karl S., Muller, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett; Thomas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOODALL, NICHOLAS W
• Application Number:
  US10/888,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20040243180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,391 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72, 606/73, 606/222, 606/223, 606/232, 606/75, 623/13.14, 241/29.R, 241/30, 241/29.A
• US Class Current: 606/300
• 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 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• 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 2017/0459 Multiple holes in the anchor through which the suture extends and locking the suture when tension is applied

Abstract

A bone anchor is provided that can toggle in two planes for secure anchorage within a bone cavity. The bone anchor includes an oblique suture channel configured such that a suture strand extending through the bone anchor can be tensioned to toggle the bone anchor inside the bone cavity. The suture strand can be located on the same side of the anchor body to maximize the area of the anchor surface which engages bone, resulting in increased engagement into bone and resistance to tensile forces.

Claims

1. A bone anchor for anchoring tissue to bone, comprising:

an elongate body defined by a longitudinal axis, a first leading end and a second trailing end, the elongate body having an asymmetrical profile with respect to the longitudinal axis; and

at least one suture channel formed in the elongate body and having opposed first and second openings, the first and second openings being laterally offset from each other, and the first opening being positioned closer to the first leading end than the second opening such that the at least one suture channel is obliquely angled with respect to the longitudinal axis such that applying tension to a suture strand extending through the channel is effective to toggle the bone anchor in two planes.

2. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the at least one suture channel further includes a recessed opening in opposed ends thereof.

3. The bone anchor of claim 2, wherein the opening is elliptical.

4. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the elongate body includes two opposed surfaces extending between the first and second ends and a plurality of sidewalls extending between the two opposed surfaces.

5. The bone anchor of claim 4, further including a fin extending from one of the plurality of sidewalls.

6. The bone anchor of claim 5, wherein the fin is located substantially midway between the first and second ends.

7. The bone anchor of claim 4, wherein the suture channel extends between the two opposed surfaces.

8. The bone anchor of claim 4, wherein the two opposed surfaces are substantially flat.

9. The bone anchor of claim 4, wherein at least one of the plurality of sidewalls is curved.

10. The bone anchor of claim 4, wherein at least one of the plurality of sidewalls is rounded.

11. The bone anchor of claim 4, wherein at least one of the plurality of sidewalls is substantially flat.

12. The bone anchor of claim 1, further including a notch at the first end of the bone anchor for engaging a suture strand.

13. The bone anchor of claim 1, further including a threaded bore extending into the elongate body.

14. The bone anchor of claim 13, wherein the threaded bore extends at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

15. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the anchor includes two suture channels.

16. The bone anchor of claim 15, wherein the suture channels are misaligned with respect to the longitudinal axis.

17. The bone anchor of claim 16, wherein the first and second suture channels are connected by a trough extending along the elongate body, the trough being adapted to seat a portion of a suture strand.

18. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the elongate body has opposed surfaces extending between the first and second ends, and wherein each of the opposed surfaces has an elevated region at the first leading end.

19. The bone anchor of claim 18, further including a depressed region at the second trailing end, the depressed region being located on one of the opposed surfaces.

20. The bone anchor of claim 19, wherein a recessed opening of the suture channel lies within the depressed region.

21. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the anchor is bioabsorbable.

22. The bone anchor of claim 21, wherein the anchor is formed from the group consisting of polylactic acid, a composite blend of tricalcium phosphate and polylactic acid, and combinations thereof.

23. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the first leading end is tapered.

24. The bone anchor of claim 1, wherein the second trailing end includes a flared portion.

25. The bone anchor of claim 24, wherein the flared portion includes a sharp edge adapted to penetrate bone.