Methods and apparatus for delivering and positioning sheet-like materials in surgery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10195016-B2
Application number	US-201615070928-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2016
Priority date	Feb 15, 2011
Publication date	Feb 5, 2019
Grant date	Feb 5, 2019

Abstract

An implant delivery system for delivering a sheet-like implant is disclosed. The implant delivery system includes a distal guidewire port for receiving the proximal end of guidewire after the guidewire distal end has been affixed to a first point on bone or other tissue. The implant delivery system is tracked over the guidewire to a selected position defined by the guidewire attachment. The device includes an implant spreader assembly disposed proximate the distal end of a delivery shaft. The implant spreader assembly includes a first arm and a second arm. The arms are coupled to the delivery shaft such that the first arm and second arm are moveable between a closed position and an open position. When pivoting to the open position the distal end of each arm travels in a generally transverse direction to spread a sheet-like implant.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for delivering an implant to repair a tendon, the method comprising:
attaching a first marker proximate a lateral edge of a desired implant attachment site of a tendon;
attaching a second marker proximate the lateral edge of the implant attachment site and displaced longitudinally from the first marker to define a line therebetween parallel to the lateral edge of the implant attachment site;
identifying a point within the implant attachment site and displaced laterally from the line defined by the first marker and the second marker;
advancing an implant repair system to the implant attachment site, the implant repair system including:
a delivery shaft; and
an implant mounted on the delivery shaft in a compact configuration;

unfurling the implant to an unfurled configuration;
positioning the implant adjacent the implant attachment site;
wherein an edge of the implant is parallel to the line defined by the first marker and the second marker;
detaching the delivery shaft from the implant in vivo;
removing the delivery shaft from the implant attachment site; and
thereafter affixing the implant to the implant attachment site.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the implant repair system further comprises an implant spreader coupled between a distal end of the delivery shaft and the implant.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the implant spreader is configured and adapted to unfurl the implant from the compact configuration to the unfurled configuration.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the implant spreader includes a plurality of arms having a first parallel state and having a second diverging state.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein in the unfurled configuration, the implant is positioned between the implant attachment site and the plurality of arms of the implant spreader.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the point is displaced laterally from the line by one-half a width of the implant.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying a point within the implant attachment site includes placing a tip of a K-wire at the implant attachment site.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein positioning the implant adjacent the implant attachment site includes advancing the delivery shaft until a portion thereof is proximate the K-wire.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying a point within the implant attachment site includes placing a screw into the implant attachment site.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the screw includes a wire attached thereto.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein positioning the implant adjacent the implant attachment site includes advancing the delivery shaft until a portion thereof is proximate the screw.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the affixing step comprises securing the implant to underlying tissue using a plurality of staples.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tendon is a supraspinatus tendon.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first marker includes a plurality of flexible arms located at a distal end thereof.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second marker includes a plurality of flexible arms located at a distal end thereof.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising rotating the implant about the point prior to affixing the implant to the implant attachment site.

17. A method of attaching a sheet-like implant over a tendon treatment site comprising in sequence:
advancing an implant delivery system to the tendon treatment site, the implant delivery system including:
a delivery shaft; and
a sheet-like implant mounted on the delivery shaft in a compact configuration;

deploying the sheet-like implant from the delivery shaft at the tendon treatment site;
positioning the sheet-like implant in an unfurled configuration over a tendon at the tendon treatment site;
detaching the delivery shaft from the implant with the sheet-like implant positioned in the unfurled configuration over the tendon at the tendon treatment site;
removing the delivery shaft from the tendon treatment site; and
applying one or more staples to affix the implant to the tendon after removing the delivery shaft from the tendon treatment site.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the implant delivery system further comprises an implant spreader coupled between a distal end of the delivery shaft and the sheet-like implant.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the implant spreader includes a plurality of deployable arms.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein in the sheet-like implant is positioned between the tendon and the plurality of arms of the implant spreader when the sheet-like implant is positioned over the tendon at the tendon treatment site.

Assignees

• Rotation Medical Inc

Inventors

• Euteneuer Charles L
• Zenz-Olson Nathaniel Z
• Quackenbush John
• Sims Jeff

Classifications

• A61F2/40

  for shoulders · CPC title

• A61B2090/061

  for measuring dimensions, e.g. length · CPC title

• A61F2/08

  Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments · CPC title

• A61F2002/0864

  Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor elements, e.g. by additional screws in the anchor, anchor crimped around tendon · CPC title

• A61F2/0805 Primary

  Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments · CPC title