Methods and systems for stitching soft tissue to bone

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10966704-B2
Application number	US-201715808547-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2017
Priority date	Nov 9, 2016
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for performing soft tissue repair by delivering a suture through the soft tissue and underlying bone at two or more fixation points that can be spaced apart from each other and connected by the suture on the surface of the soft tissue. The two or more fixation points and the suture connected there between can be a continuous strand of suture, which can form a stitching assembly that can provide sufficient fixation in the bone and minimize disruption to the soft tissue and bone. In an example, the suture can be delivered into the bone using one or more implants that can catch the suture to drive the suture through the tissue and into the bone. The one or more implants can include structural features to aid in securing the suture to the implant. In an example, the suture can include structural features or be formed of a material to aid in fixation of the suture in the bone.

First claim

The claimed invention is:

1. A method of repairing a damaged area of soft tissue, the method comprising:
providing a single strand of suture having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first portion located between the first end and the second end, and a second portion located between the first portion and the second end;
releasably storing the single strand of suture on a spool of a handheld tool, the handheld tool configured to temporarily store a first implant and a second implant inside the handheld tool;
driving a first portion of the single strand through soft tissue and into underlying bone at a first location of the soft tissue in proximity to the damaged area by driving the first implant from the handheld tool and into the soft tissue and underlying bone, thereby creating a first suture attachment; and
driving a second portion of the single strand through the soft tissue and into the underlying bone at a second location spaced apart from the first location by driving the second implant from the handheld tool and into the soft tissue and underlying bone, thereby creating a second suture attachment,
wherein the first and second implants are ejected from an ejector end of the handheld tool, and the ejector end includes a slot formed in an end face of the ejector end and extending across a diameter of the end face of the ejector end, and
wherein the single strand wraps around the ejector end of the tool such that the first and second portions of the single strand are received in the slot prior to driving each of the first and second portions of the single strand through the soft tissue and into the underlying bone.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
creating additional suture attachments spaced apart from each other and spaced apart from the first and second suture attachments.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising;
driving additional portions of suture into the soft tissue and underlying bone using additional implants, each additional implant in contact with the respective additional portion of the suture to drive the respective portion of suture into the soft tissue and underlying bone.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
releasing portions of the strand from the spool to create slack before the next suture attachment is created.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
controlling a tension of the strand as the suture attachments are created.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
after creating the first and second suture attachments, securing the first and second ends of the strand on a surface of the soft tissue.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein securing the first and second ends of the strand on the surface of the soft tissue includes at least one of tacking one or both of the ends to the surface and forming a knot on the surface.

8. A method of performing soft tissue repair, the method comprising:
providing a handheld device configured to drive one or more implants from inside the handheld device and into soft tissue and underlying bone;
wrapping a strand of suture around an ejector end of the handheld device;
releasably receiving the strand of suture through a slot formed in and end face of the ejector end of the handheld device wherein the slot extends across a diameter of the end face of the ejector end:
placing the strand of suture on a surface of soft tissue, the strand of suture having a first end and a second end;
driving a first implant and a second implant from inside the handheld device through the soft tissue and into an underlying bone at first and second fixation points between the first end and the second end of the strand to secure the suture within the soft tissue and bone; and
securing the first and second ends of the strand on the surface of the soft tissue,
wherein the two or more fixation points are spaced apart from each other and connected by the portions of the strand extending between the two or more fixation points on the surface of the soft tissue.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the implant includes a feature for securing the suture to the implant.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein at least a portion of the strand of suture includes a braided portion and the method further comprises:
maintaining a tension of the suture at a first tension during delivery of the suture through the soft tissue and into the bone; and
increasing the tension of the suture after delivery of the suture; whereby the braided portion bunches up to aid in fixation of the suture in the bone.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
storing the strand of suture on a spool of the handheld device, prior to securing the suture within the soft tissue and bone.

Assignees

• Biomet Sports Medicine Llc

Inventors

• Lozier Antony J
• Prygoski Matthew
• Murphy Daniel P
• Brinkerhuff Hallie E
• Giordano Michael
• Fryman J Craig
• Mcmullen Alex
• Stone Kevin T

Classifications

• A61B17/06123

  Flat cylinders, e.g. including an inner reel · CPC title

• A61B2017/06185

  hollow or tubular · CPC title

• A61B17/0483

  Hand-held instruments for holding sutures (A61B17/0469 takes precedence; other holders for needles or sutures A61B17/06061; surgical forceps A61B17/28; surgical pincettes A61B17/30) · CPC title

• A61B2017/0414

  having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening · CPC title

• A61B2017/0403

  Dowels · CPC title