Method and apparatus for attaching tissue to bone, including the provision and use of a novel knotless suture anchor system, including a novel locking element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016128682-A1
Application number	US-201514881270-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 13, 2015
Priority date	Jul 17, 2009
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatus for securing a first object to a second object, the apparatus comprising: an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the lumen comprising a distal section and a proximal section, the distal section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the proximal section of the lumen; a window extending through the side wall of the elongated body and communicating with the lumen, the window being disposed in the vicinity of the intersection between the distal section of the lumen and the proximal section of the lumen and being sized to receive a first object therein; an elongated element extending through the lumen of the elongated body, the elongated element comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and a locking element mounted to the distal end of the elongated element and disposed in the distal section of the lumen; whereby, when the elongated body is disposed in a second object, and the first object extends through the window, and the locking element is thereafter moved proximally, proximal movement of the locking element causes the locking element to capture the first object to the elongated body, whereby to secure the first object to the second object; wherein the elongated element comprises a pull line terminating in a loop; and wherein the locking element comprises at least one filament extending through the loop.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . Apparatus for securing a first object to a second object, the apparatus comprising:
an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the lumen comprising a distal section and a proximal section, the distal section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the proximal section of the lumen; a window extending through the side wall of the elongated body and communicating with the lumen, the window being disposed in the vicinity of the intersection between the distal section of the lumen and the proximal section of the lumen and being sized to receive a first object therein; an elongated element extending through the lumen of the elongated body, the elongated element comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and a locking element mounted to the distal end of the elongated element and disposed in the distal section of the lumen; whereby, when the elongated body is disposed in a second object, and the first object extends through the window, and the locking element is thereafter moved proximally, proximal movement of the locking element causes the locking element to capture the first object to the elongated body, whereby to secure the first object to the second object; wherein the elongated element comprises a pull line terminating in a loop; and wherein the locking element comprises at least one filament extending through the loop.

2 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first object comprises suture.

3 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second object comprises bone.

4 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first object comprises suture which is attached to tissue, and the second object comprises bone.

5 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the elongated body comprises a shoulder at the intersection of the distal section of the lumen and the proximal section of the lumen, and further wherein the window is disposed distal to the shoulder.

6 . Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the elongated body comprises a second shoulder within the proximal section of the lumen, with the window being disposed proximal to the second shoulder.

7 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pull line comprises a pull wire.

8 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the loop of the pull wire comprises a weakened section configured to break upon the application of a selected force.

9 . Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the force required to break the loop of the pull wire is greater than the force required to pull the locking element proximally to capture the first object to the elongated body.

10 . Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the force required to break the loop of the pull wire is less than the force required to pull the locking element completely through the proximal section of the lumen.

11 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the combined uncompressed diameters of the locking element and the second object are larger than the diameter of the proximal section of the lumen.

12 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the locking element is diametrically compressible.

13 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one filament comprises a plurality of filaments.

14 . Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the size and composition of each of the plurality of filaments are selected so that the locking element formed from the plurality of filaments has the desired size, stiffness, coefficient of friction and strength.

15 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the locking element comprises at least one eyelet formed in the at least one filament.

16 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the locking element comprises at least one knot formed in the at least one filament.

17 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the locking element comprises at least one relatively hard component attached to the at least one filament.

18 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one filament comprises suture.

19 . Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an inserter for manipulating the elongated body.

20 . A method for securing a first object to a second object, the method comprising:
providing apparatus comprising:
an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the lumen comprising a distal section and a proximal section, the distal section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the proximal section of the lumen;
a window extending through the side wall of the elongated body and communicating with the lumen, the window being disposed in the vicinity of the intersection between the distal section of the lumen and the proximal section of the lumen and being sized to receive a first object therein;
an elongated element extending through the lumen of the elongated body, the elongated element comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and
a locking element mounted to the distal end of the elongated element and disposed in the distal section of the lumen;
wherein the elongated element comprises a pull line terminating in a loop; and
wherein the locking element comprises at least one filament extending through the loop;
extending the first object through the window; positioning the elongated body in the second object; and moving the locking element proximally, such that proximal movement of the locking element causes the locking element to capture the first object to the elongated body, whereby to secure the first object to the second object.

Assignees

• Pivot Medical Inc

Inventors

• Konrath Michael
• Kaiser William
• Pandya Sudip
• Graul Jeremy
• Burley J Brook

Classifications

• A61B2017/00477

  Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2017/00986

  Malecots, e.g. slotted tubes, of which the distal end is pulled to deflect side struts · CPC title

• A61B2017/0409

  Instruments for applying suture anchors · CPC title

• A61B17/06166

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

• A61B2017/0414

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