High-strength allograft tendon construct

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9504557-B1
Application number	US-201615073582-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 17, 2016
Priority date	Mar 17, 2016
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

There is disclosed an apparatus and method of manufacture relating to a pre-sutured, high-strength allograft tendon construct. One embodiment of the allograft tendon construct includes first and second tendon lengths that are positioned longitudinally in parallel to one another. A whip stitched pattern secures the first and second tendon lengths at a free end, forming a stitched end portion that abuts an unstitched middle portion. The whip stitched pattern includes a plurality of sutures that originate adjacent to the free end and progress or advance inward toward the unstitched middle portion. A multiple knot bundle is applied immediately prior to a final suture, such that the final suture loops about the multiple knot bundle and locks the multiple knot bundle in place beneath the final suture. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of tendon reconstruction, comprising:
positioning a first tendon length and a second tendon length longitudinally in parallel to one another;
threading a flexible strand through and about a first free end of the first and second tendon lengths to form an allograft construct having a stitched end portion that abuts an unstitched middle portion, wherein the threading comprises forming a plurality of sutures by advancing the flexible strand away from a first suture located adjacent to the first free end and toward a final suture located adjacent to the unstitched middle portion; and
after forming the final suture, stringing the flexible strand through a center space between the first and second tendon lengths and out the first free end of the stitched end portion.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising knotting the flexible strand immediately prior to forming the final suture.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the knotting comprises applying a multiple knot bundle.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the multiple knot bundle comprises a Duncan-Loop knot followed by three Reverse-Alternating-Post-Half-Hitch knots.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the forming of the final suture comprises looping the flexible strand about the multiple knot bundle such that the final suture locks-in the multiple knot bundle.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising anchoring the flexible strand to a target bone tunnel such that tensile force applied to the flexible strand is transferred to the final suture located adjacent to the unstitched middle portion of the allograft construct.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein first and second halves of a folded over tendon strand form the first and second tendon lengths, respectively.

8. An allograft construct, comprising:
a first tendon length and a second tendon length, the first and second tendon lengths positioned longitudinally in parallel to one another; and
a whip stitched pattern securing together the first and second tendon lengths at a free end, thereby forming a stitched end portion that abuts an unstitched middle portion, the whip stitched pattern comprising a plurality of sutures that originate adjacent to the free end and progress toward the unstitched middle portion;
wherein the plurality of sutures comprises at least a first suture located at the free end and a final suture located adjacent to the unstitched middle portion; and
an anchor that originates at the final suture and threads through a center space between the first and second tendon lengths and out the free end of the stitched end portion.

9. The allograft construct of claim 8 , wherein a continuous flexible strand forms the whip stitched pattern and the anchor.

10. The allograft construct of claim 9 , wherein the flexible strand forms a multiple knot bundle immediately prior to the final suture.

11. The allograft construct of claim 10 , wherein the multiple knot bundle comprises a Duncan-Loop knot and three Reverse-Alternating-Post-Half-Hitch knots.

12. The allograft construct of claim 10 , wherein the final suture loops about the multiple knot bundle such that the final suture locks-in the multiple knot bundle.

13. The allograft construct of claim 8 , wherein first and second halves of a folded over tendon strand form the first and second tendon lengths, respectively.

14. A substitute tendon having at least a stitched end portion and an unstitched middle portion, comprising:
a continuous flexible strand forming a whip stitched pattern and an anchor, wherein:
the whip stitched pattern comprises a plurality of sutures that secure a common free end of two longitudinally abutting tendon lengths, the plurality of sutures originating with a first suture located adjacent to the free end and progressing toward a final suture located adjacent to the unstitched middle portion; and
the anchor originates at the final suture and threads through a center space between the tendon lengths and out the common free end of the stitched end portion.

15. The substitute tendon of claim 14 , wherein the continuous flexible strand forms a multiple knot bundle immediately prior to the final suture.

16. The substitute tendon of claim 15 , wherein the multiple knot bundle comprises a Duncan-Loop knot and three Reverse-Alternating-Post-Half-Hitch knots.

17. The substitute tendon of claim 15 , wherein the final suture loops about the multiple knot bundle such that the final suture locks-in the multiple knot bundle.

18. The substitute tendon of claim 14 , wherein when tensile force is applied to the anchor, the force is first transferred to the final suture located adjacent to the unstitched middle portion before progressively transferring outward through the whip stitched pattern until reaching the first suture located adjacent to the free end, thereby causing an entirety of the whip stitched pattern to cinch about the two longitudinally abutting tendon lengths.

Assignees

• Allosource

Inventors

• Samaniego Adrian
• Southard Matt
• Franklin Wendy Desiree
• Hodgkiss Jessica
• Karaze Bilal

Classifications

• A61F2/08 Primary

  Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments · CPC title

• A61F2/0811

  Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments · CPC title

• A61F2002/087

  Anchor integrated into tendons, e.g. bone blocks, integrated rings · CPC title

• A61F2220/0075

  sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable · CPC title