Flexible deformable suture anchor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-RE49892-E
Application number	US-202117375686-A
Country	US
Kind code	E1
Filing date	Jul 14, 2021
Priority date	Feb 26, 2013
Publication date	Apr 2, 2024
Grant date	Apr 2, 2024

Abstract

A deformable or flexible suture anchor having apertures secures a suture to a skeletal structure via holes drilled through the skeletal structure, and passing the suture therethrough. A deformable structure permits the anchor to resiliently deform or bend for passing through an aperture, and resume a size larger than the passed aperture for securement on an opposed side of the aperture.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A knotless suture anchor assembly comprising:
a cannulated suture having a tubular wall defining a cannulated interior between a distal opening at a distal end of the cannulated suture and a proximate opening at a proximate end of the cannulated suture, the proximate opening providing communication with the cannulated interior, the distal end of the cannulated suture passing through the proximate opening to form a loop before passing through a void in the tubular wall;
a suture anchor integrated with the cannulated suture, the suture anchor adapted for fixation at the surgical site, the suture anchor including a first plurality of apertures including a first aperture, a second aperture, and a third aperture on a first end of the suture anchor and a fourth aperture, a fifth aperture, and a sixth aperture on a second end of the suture anchor, the suture anchor further including configured to form a plurality of deformable folds, each one of the plurality of deformable folds deposed disposed between two of the first plurality of apertures and forming configured to form more deformable sections of the suture anchor across a width of the suture anchor; and
a fixation member having an engagement surface and a second plurality of apertures, the loop suture engaging the second plurality of apertures for drawing the engagement surface toward the suture anchor via tightening of the loop, whereby the knotless suture anchor assembly is configured to provide surgical attachment for tissue disposed between the engagement surface and the suture anchor,
wherein the suture anchor includes a first surface facing the fixation member and a second surface opposite the first surface and facing away from the fixation member; the loop suture passes between: the first aperture and second aperture on the second side of the suture anchor; the second aperture and the third aperture on the first side of the suture anchor; the third aperture and the fourth aperture on the second side of the suture anchor; the fourth aperture and the fifth aperture on the first side of the suture anchor; and the fifth aperture and the sixth aperture on the second side of the suture anchor;
wherein the plurality of deformable folds includeincludes a first deformable fold between the first aperture and the second aperture, a second deformable fold between the second aperture and the third aperture, a third deformable fold between the fourth aperture and the fifth aperture, and a fourth deformable fold between the fifth aperture and the sixth aperture; and the proximate end of the cannulated suture is positioned between the suture anchor and the fixation member.

2. The knotless suture anchor assembly of claim 1 wherein the tubular wall includes a tubular woven outer surface around the cannulated interior defining an interior void.

3. The knotless suture anchor assembly of claim 2 1, wherein the suture anchor comprises textile suture material, and wherein the distal end of the cannulated suture is configured to pass between the interior void and an exterior region outside the cannulated suture.

4. The knotless suture anchor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the suture anchor and the cannulated suture are comprised of the same material.

5. The knotless suture anchor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fixation member is deformable or substantially non-deformablein that the knotless suture anchor assembly is configured such that tension forces from the tightening of the loop change a first dimension of the suture anchor without substantially deforming the fixation member during use thereof to compress tissue between the engagement surface of the fixation member and the suture anchor.

6. The knotless suture anchor assembly of claim 1 , wherein, in an at rest state, the suture anchor has an enlarged surface and resists passage through a surgical aperture in a bone; and
in an insertion state, the deformable section is temporarily compressed to a smaller dimension for insertion through the aperture, the deformable section returning to the at rest state within the bone in response to the tightening of the loop.

7. A method of securing tissue comprising:
passing a cannulated suture through a first plurality of apertures in a fixation member, the fixation member having an engagement surface, the cannulated suture having a tubular wall defining a cannulated interior between a distal opening at a distal end of the cannulated suture and a proximate opening at a proximate end of the cannulated suture, the proximate opening providing communication with the cannulated interior;
integrating a suture anchor with the cannulated suture, the suture anchor having a first surface facing the fixation member and a second surface opposite the first surface and facing away from the fixation member, the suture anchor adapted for fixation at a surgical site, the suture anchor including a second plurality of apertures including a first aperture, a second aperture, and a third aperture on a first end of the suture anchor and a fourth aperture, a fifth aperture, and a sixth aperture on a second end of the suture anchor, the suture anchor further including configured to form a plurality of deformable folds, each one of the plurality of deformable folds deposed between two of the second plurality of apertures and forming configured to form more deformable sections of the suture anchor across a width of the suture anchor, the deformable folds including a first deformable fold between the first aperture and the second aperture, a second deformable fold between the second aperture and the third aperture, a third deformable fold between the fourth aperture and the fifth aperture, and a fourth deformable fold between the fifth aperture and the sixth aperture;
wherein integrating the suture anchor with the suture comprises forming a loop in the cannulated suture by passing the distal end of the cannulated suture: through the first aperture on the first side of the suture anchor and through the second aperture on the second side of the suture anchor such that the loop suture passes between the first aperture and the second aperture on the second side of the suture anchor; through the third aperture on the first side of the suture anchor such that the loop suture passes between the second aperture and the third aperture on the first side of the suture anchor; through the fourth aperture on the second side of the suture anchor such that the loop suture passes between the third aperture and the fourth aperture on the second side of the suture anchor; through the fifth aperture on the first side of the suture anchor such that the loop suture passes between the fourth aperture and the fifth aperture on the first side of the suture anchor; and through the sixth aperture on the second side of the suture anchor such that the loop suture passes between the fifth aperture and the sixth aperture on the second side of the suture anchor; and through the proximate opening into the cannulated interior and out through a void in the tubular wall; after the loop has been formed,
passing the distal end of the suture through at least one of the first plurality of apertures in the fixation memberand adjacent to the loop, the proximate end of the cannulated suture being positioned between the suture anchor and the fixation member; and
drawing the engagement surface of the fixation member toward the suture anchor via tightening of the loop suture, whereby surgical attachment is provided for tissue disposed between the engagement surface and the suture anchor.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the engagement surface is a substantially planar engagement surface, wherein the fixation member has sufficient rigidity to maintain a substantially planar shape of

Assignees

• Smith & Nephew Inc

Inventors

• Santangelo Stephen
• Wyman Jeffrey
• Koski Matthew E

Classifications

• A61B17/0401 Primary

  Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811) · CPC title

• A61B2017/00862

  elastic or resilient · CPC title

• A61B2017/0403

  Dowels · CPC title

• A61B2017/0404

  Buttons · CPC title

• A61B2017/0406

  Pledgets · CPC title