Systems, devices and methods of repairing tendons and ligaments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12484904-B2
Application number	US-202117344363-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2021
Priority date	Jun 10, 2021
Publication date	Dec 2, 2025
Grant date	Dec 2, 2025

Abstract

A repaired tendon includes a proximal tendon section having a free end, and a distal tendon section having a free end that opposes the free end of the proximal tendon section. Four bidirectional barbed sutures are implanted in the repaired tendon for approximating the free end of the proximal tendon section with the free end of the distal tendon section. Each of the four bidirectional barbed sutures includes a proximal section having proximal barbs that engage the proximal tendon section, a distal section having distal barbs that engage the distal tendon section, and a stop located between the proximal and distal barbs that engages the approximated free ends of the proximal and distal tendon sections. The bidirectional barbed sutures have first suture bites and second suture bites that are shorter than the first suture bites.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of repairing a tendon comprising:
obtaining four bidirectional barbed sutures configured to repair the tendon, each of the four bidirectional barbed sutures including a proximal section with proximal barbs that extend in a first direction and a proximal needle secured to a proximal end of the proximal section, a distal section with distal barbs that extend in a second direction that is opposite the first direction and a distal needle secured to a distal end of the distal section, and a stop located between the proximal and distal barbs; using the distal needle of a first one of the bidirectional barbed sutures to take a first suture bite in a distal tendon section and pulling the distal barbs of the first bidirectional barbed suture in a distal direction through the distal tendon section until the stop of the first bidirectional barbed suture abuts against a free end of the distal tendon section; using the distal needle of a second one of the bidirectional barbed sutures to take a second suture bite in the distal tendon section and pulling the distal barbs of the second bidirectional barbed suture in the distal direction through the distal tendon section until the stop of the second bidirectional barbed suture abuts against the free end of the distal tendon section; using the distal needle of a third one of the bidirectional barbed sutures to take a third suture bite in the distal tendon section and pulling the distal barbs of the third bidirectional barbed suture in the distal direction through the distal tendon section until the stop of the third bidirectional barbed suture abuts against the free end of the distal tendon section; using the distal needle of a fourth one of the bidirectional barbed sutures to take a fourth suture bite in the distal tendon section and pulling the distal barbs of the fourth bidirectional barbed suture in the distal direction through the distal tendon section until the stop of the fourth bidirectional barbed suture abuts against the free end of the distal tendon section; using the proximal needle of the first bidirectional barbed suture to take a fifth suture bite in a proximal tendon section and pulling the proximal barbs of the first bidirectional barbed suture in a proximal direction through the proximal tendon section; using the proximal needle of the second bidirectional barbed suture to take a sixth suture bite in the proximal tendon section and pulling the proximal barbs of the second bidirectional barbed suture in the proximal direction through the proximal tendon section; using the proximal needle of the third bidirectional barbed suture to take a seventh suture bite in the proximal tendon section and pulling the proximal barbs of the third bidirectional barbed suture in the proximal direction through the proximal tendon section; and using the proximal needle of the fourth bidirectional barbed suture to take an eighth suture bite in the proximal tendon section and pulling the proximal barbs of the fourth bidirectional barbed suture in the proximal direction through the proximal tendon section, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth suture bites in the distal tendon section have a length of about 7 mm, and wherein the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eight suture bites in the proximal tendon section have a length of about 7 mm; using the distal needle of the first bidirectional barbed suture to take a ninth suture bite in the distal tendon section, and using the distal needle of the second bidirectional barbed suture to take a tenth suture bite in the distal tendon section, the distal needle of the third bidirectional barbed suture to take an eleventh suture bite in the distal tendon section, and the distal needle of the fourth bidirectional barbed suture to take a twelfth suture bite in the distal tendon section; and using the proximal needle of the first bidirectional barbed suture to take a thirteenth suture bite in the proximal tendon section, using the proximal needle of the second bidirectional barbed suture to take a fourteenth suture bite in the proximal tendon section, the proximal needle of the third bidirectional barbed suture to take a fifteenth suture bite in the proximal tendon section, and the proximal needle of the fourth bidirectional barbed suture to take a sixteenth suture bite in the proximal tendon section, wherein each of the ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth sutures bites has a length of about 5 mm.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
pulling the distal barbs of the first bidirectional barbed suture and the distal barbs of the second bidirectional barbed suture in the distal direction through a first collagen bundle located within the distal tendon section; and pulling the distal barbs of the third bidirectional barbed suture and the distal barbs of the fourth bidirectional barbed suture in the distal direction through a second collagen bundle located within the distal tendon section.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising applying tension to the proximal ends of the four bidirectional barbed sutures to pull the respective stops of the four bidirectional barbed suture against the free end of the proximal tendon section that opposes the free end of the distal tendon section for approximating the opposing free ends of the distal and proximal tendon sections for repairing the tendon.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
pulling the proximal barbs of the first bidirectional barbed suture and the proximal barbs of the second bidirectional barbed suture in the proximal direction through a first collagen bundle located within the proximal tendon section; and pulling the proximal barbs of the third bidirectional barbed suture and the proximal barbs of the fourth bidirectional barbed suture in the proximal direction through a second collagen bundle located within the proximal tendon section.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the first and second collagen bundles extend along a length of the tendon, and wherein the first and second bidirectional barbed sutures extend linearly through the first collagen bundle of the tendon and the third and fourth bidirectional barbed sutures extend linearly through the second collagen bundle of the tendon.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising placing an epitendinous whip stitch around a junction of the approximated opposing free ends of the distal and proximal tendon sections.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising placing a band of heat-shrink material around a junction of the approximated opposing free ends of the distal and proximal tendon sections.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising using a tissue clamp for securing the distal tendon section adjacent the free end of the distal tendon section, wherein the tissue clamp includes first and second tissue gripping pads that oppose one another for engaging opposite sides of the distal tendon section, and wherein the opposing tissue gripping pads define at least one needle guide channel that is in alignment with a collagen bundle that is disposed within the distal tendon section.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising:
the first tissue gripping pad having teeth that project toward the opposing second tissue gripping pad; and the second tissue gripping pad having teeth that project toward the opposing first tissue gripping pad, wherein the teeth of the first tissue gripping pad are offset from the teeth of the second tissue gripping pad.

10 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first bidirectional barbed sutu

Assignees

• Cilag Gmbh Int

Inventors

• Perkins Jason T
• Cannara Alexander M
• Kong Wei
• Putnam Matthew D
• Overaker David W
• Amis James
• Mooney Mark T
• Killion John
• Lacy Shane
• Savidge Sandra Jean

Classifications

• A61B17/06166 Primary

  Sutures (suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M) · CPC title

• A61B2017/06176

  with protrusions, e.g. barbs · CPC title

• A61B2017/1125

  Forceps, specially adapted for performing or assisting anastomosis · CPC title

• A61B2017/2825

  Inserts of different material in jaws · CPC title

• A61B2017/2837

  with a locking ratchet · CPC title