Anchor/implant deployment device and tissue repair methods related thereto

Inventors

Kennedy, III, James J. • Collins, Brendan • McCaffrey, Robert J. • Taylor, Jon B.

Assignees

Smith and Nephew Inc • Farm Design Inc

Abstract

Featured is an inventive anchor/implant deployment device for use in repairing damage to tissue (e.g., meniscus) as well as tissue repair methods related thereto. Such an anchor/implant deployment device is advantageously configured and arranged so the deployment device is capable of making at least an in situ adjustment to the path of a needle portion having the anchor(s)/implant(s); is capable of rotating such a needle portion or the portion extending into the tissue/meniscus so that the distal end entering into the tissue/meniscus is desirably oriented such as to, for example, minimize damage to tissue; and making the needle portion of the deployment device replaceable so as to allow the deployment device to be reloaded thereby making other portions of the deployment device reusable during a given, procedure.

Core Innovation

The disclosure relates to a deployment device for deploying an anchor/implant for treating damaged tissue. The deployment device includes a first member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis, and a flexible portion extending between the proximal end and the distal end along the longitudinal axis. A lumen extends along the longitudinal axis, and a second member is moveably disposed within the lumen. A moving mechanism is operably coupled to the first member and is configured to move the flexible portion to have one of a plurality of geometries and to control an extent or amount of movement of the flexible portion.

The second member includes a distal end portion that is removeably secured to a shaft member portion, where the distal end portion is configured to carry one or more anchors/implants for deployment. The distal end portion is removeably secured to the shaft member portion so that a used end portion where the anchors/implants have been deployed can be removed and replaced by a new end portion having new anchors/implants to be deployed. This supports continued deployment by enabling replacement of the distal end portion during a procedure.

The described device architecture supports in situ adjustment of the flexible portion's geometry to reach regions of damaged tissue and includes controllable movement that provides selectable geometries. In addition, the disclosure describes rotation of the distal end of the second member to position it in a desired angular orientation, and it specifies sets of straight, bending, and curved geometries in different directions and an extent or amount of bending/curving. The disclosure also describes alternative moving mechanisms that vary how the flexible portion is controlled to achieve different geometries.

Claims Coverage

The document provides one independent claim that covers a flexible-portion deployment device with selectable geometries controlled by a moving mechanism, replaceable distal end portions carrying anchors/implants, and additional inventive features such as distal-end rotation and specific geometry options and constraints. The independent claim centers on controllably moving a flexible portion to one of a plurality of geometries and controlling the extent or amount of movement while deploying anchors/implants from a removeably secured distal end portion.

Across the independent claim and related claim refinements, the coverage emphasizes a deployment device where a flexible portion can be moved to selectable geometries with controlled extent of movement, where deployable anchors/implants are carried by a distal end portion that is removeably secured and replaceable, and where additional features include distal-end rotation and defined geometry sets with directional bending/curving and geometry-selection behavior tied to rod movement.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications