Soft tissue repair system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12257162-B2
Application number	US-202117524366-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2021
Priority date	May 17, 2010
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

A soft tissue repair system is provided for covering or filling openings in the annulus of an intervertebral disc. The soft tissue repair system uses a single plug or a combination of a first plug and a second plug. The second plug is a flowable plug such as an adhesive material or a material that hardens to a flexible plug material. Each plug is configured to close the opening in the annulus and can be positioned within the opening, over the opening at the exterior surface or over the opening at the interior surface. The plug can also be combined with a clamping mechanism that engages the annulus to secure the plug in the opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A soft tissue repair system comprising:
a plug including:
a cap having a recess and a hole in the recess;
a screw extending through the hole in the cap, the screw comprising a head located in the recess and threads on a distal end opposite the head;
a spreading bar having two ends and a threaded opening disposed between the two ends, the screw threads engaged in the threaded opening; and
a pair of opposing arms, each arm extending from the cap and in contact with an end of the spreading bar, wherein a thickness of each arm, as measured from an outer surface configured to engage with a patient annulus to an inner surface opposite the outer surface, is constant along a length of each arm extending from the cap to an opposing free end;
wherein rotation of the screw draws the spreading bar toward the cap and pushes the arms apart.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein each arm includes a plurality of barbs extending from that arm.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the screw is configured to be rotatable in the hole without rotating the cap.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the head of the screw does not extend beyond the cap when engaged with the hole.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the head is larger in diameter than the hole.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the head includes a slot to accept a tool for turning the screw.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the slot is hexagonal.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cap and the screw are made of titanium.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cap and screw are made of PEEK.

10. A method of soft tissue repair, said method comprising:
providing a plug, the plug including:
a cap having a recess and a hole in the recess;
a screw extending through the hole in the cap, the screw comprising a head located in the recess and threads on a distal end opposite the head;
a spreading bar having two ends and a threaded opening disposed between the two ends, the screw threads engaged in the threaded opening; and
a pair of opposing arms, each arm extending from the cap and in contact with an end of the spreading bar, wherein a thickness of each arm, as measured from an outer surface configured to engage with a patient annulus to an inner surface opposite the outer surface, is constant along a length of each arm extending from the cap to an opposing free end;

inserting the plug in an opening of the annulus; and
rotating the screw to draw the spreading bar toward the cap and push the opposing arms apart.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein each arm includes a plurality of barbs extending from that arm.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the screw is configured to be rotatable in the hole without rotating the cap.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the head of the screw does not extend beyond the cap when engaged with the hole.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the head is larger in diameter than the hole.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the head includes a slot to accept a tool for turning the screw.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the slot is hexagonal.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the cap and the screw are made of titanium.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the cap and screw are made of PEEK.

Assignees

• Globus Medical Inc

Inventors

• Seifert Jody L
• Paul David C
• Suh Sean
• Mclaughlin Colm
• Niemiec Marcin
• Ingalhalikar Aditya
• Davenport Daniel
• Carroll Jamie
• Glerum Chad
• Dwyer Edward
• Hansell Noah
• Weiman Mark
• Cahill Douglas
• Friedrich Adam
• Kofron Michelle
• Kunjachan Vipin
• Reilley Ed
• O'Halloran Damien
• Rhoda William S
• Malm Brian

Classifications

• A61F2310/00023

  Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys · CPC title

• A61F2002/30583

  filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ · CPC title

• A61F2002/30448

  using adhesives · CPC title

• A61F2220/005

  using adhesives · CPC title

• A61F2210/0085

  hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins · CPC title