Knotless filament anchor for soft tissue repair

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9808242-B2
Application number	US-201213441290-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2012
Priority date	Apr 6, 2012
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for securing tissue to bone, including drilling a bone hole into the bone; passing a filament through the tissue, the filament including a first end, a second end and a length therebetween, the second end having a loop; passing the first end of the filament through the loop of the filament; pulling on the first end of the filament such that the loop travels along the length of the filament and to the tissue; passing an anchor along the length of the filament, from the first end towards the loop and tissue; engaging the loop with a distal end of the anchor; positioning the distal end of the anchor, with the loop of the filament, into the bone hole; and securing the anchor in the bone.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for securing tissue to bone, comprising:
drilling a bone hole into the bone;
passing a filament through the tissue, the filament including a first end, a second end and a length therebetween, the second end having a loop;
passing the first end of the filament through the loop of the filament;
pulling on the first end of the filament such that the loop travels along the length of the filament and to the tissue;
passing the first end of the filament through an anchor having a length, a cannulation extending completely along its length, and a saddle on a distal end of the anchor;
passing the anchor along the length of the filament, from the first end towards the loop and tissue until the anchor abuts the loop;
engaging at least a first portion of the loop within the saddle;
positioning the distal end of the anchor, with the loop of the filament, into the bone hole; and
securing the anchor in the bone.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue is a shoulder labrum or a hip labrum.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the anchor includes a first tip opposite a second tip and the engaging step includes positioning the first tip within the loop of the filament.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bone hole comprises a pilot hole and the step of positioning the distal end of the anchor into the bone hole draws the tissue towards the pilot hole.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein drawing the tissue towards the bone hole tensions the tissue.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the tissue is drawn to a native attachment site of the tissue.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed arthroscopically, through a cannulated guide.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein drilling the bone hole further comprises drilling a first portion of the bone hole to a first diameter and a second portion of the bone hole to a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter thereby creating a shoulder separating the first and second portions of the bone hole.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of securing the anchor in the bone further comprises directing the anchor into the second portion of the bone hole and forcing the anchor through the second portion and into the first portion of the bone hole.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the anchor is forced through the first portion of the bone hole and further into the bone past the first portion of the bone hole.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anchor is engaged with an inserter with which an operator performs the steps of passing the anchor towards the loop and tissue, positioning the distal end of the anchor into the bone hole, and securing the anchor in the bone.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the loop has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the anchor has a groove extending along its length, and wherein the engaging step includes engaging at least the second portion of the loop within the groove.

13. A method of repairing tissue, comprising:
passing a first filament through the tissue at a first location, the first filament including a length between a first end and a second end, the second end including a loop;
passing the first end of the first filament through the loop and tensioning the first end;
preparing a first bone hole at a location in bone adjacent to the tissue;
tensioning the first end of the first filament in the direction of the bone hole;
passing the first end of the first filament through a first suture anchor having a length and a cannulation extending completely along its length at any time after the first filament is passed through the tissue at the first location;
while the first filament is received within the cannulation, advancing the first suture anchor along the first filament from a position away from the loop to a position engaging the loop; and
securing a portion of the length of the first filament at the bone hole using the first suture anchor.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
passing a second filament through the tissue at a second location, the second filament including a length between a first end and a second end, the second end including a loop;
passing the first end of the second filament through the loop of the second filament and tensioning the first end of the second filament;
preparing a second bone hole at a second location in bone adjacent to the tissue;
tensioning the first end of the second filament in the direction of the second bone hole; and
securing a portion of the length of the second filament at the second bone hole using a second suture anchor.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the loop of the second end of the first filament includes a second filament extending therefrom having a length between the second end of the first filament and a third end, the method further comprising:
preparing a second bone hole at a second location in bone adjacent to the tissue;
tensioning the third end of the second filament in the direction of the second bone hole; and
securing a portion of the length of the second filament at the second bone hole using a second suture anchor.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the method is performed without the tying of any knots.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of passing the first end of the first filament through the first suture anchor includes passing the first end of the first filament through a cannulated portion of an inserter, and through an exit opening through a side surface of the inserter.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the exit opening of the inserter is separate from a distal end of the inserter and the step of passing the first end of the first filament through the exit opening through the side surface of the inserter allows the first filament to be grasped and tensioned by pulling on the first end of the first filament exiting from the exit opening.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
obtaining a drill having a distal end boring structure including a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter;
wherein the step of preparing the first bone hole includes drilling the first bone hole into the bone with the drill, the first bone hole including a first portion having the first diameter formed by the first portion of the drill and a second portion having the second diameter formed by the second portion of the drill.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the securing step comprises directing the first suture anchor into the second portion of the first bone hole and forcing the first suture anchor into the first portion of the first bone hole.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the drill includes a bushing with a distal face proximal to the distal end boring structure, wherein the drilling step further comprises inserting the drill into the bone until the distal face of the bushing is adjacent a surface of the bone.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein each of the first and second portions of the drill include a distal cutting flute.

Assignees

• Ng Tracy Pat-Yen
• Pilgeram Kyle Craig
• Cordova Lee Harris
• Mclaughlin Ii Robert Eugene
• Fromm Stuart Edward
• Howmedica Osteonics Corp

Inventors

• Ng Tracy Pat-Yen
• Pilgeram Kyle Craig
• Cordova Lee Harris
• Mclaughlin Ii Robert Eugene
• Fromm Stuart Edward

Classifications

• A61B2017/0409

  Instruments for applying suture anchors · CPC title

• A61B17/06166 Primary

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

• A61B2090/0807

  Indication means · CPC title

• A61B2017/0427

  having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body · CPC title

• A61B2017/0403

  Dowels · CPC title