Intra joint stabilization construct
Inventors
Fallin, T. Wade • Taber, Justin • Karam, Matthew • Phisitkul, Phinit
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11937801-B2
Publication Date
2024-03-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
The disclosure provides devices and methods of use pertaining to intra joint stabilization. Embodiments include a number of suture returning and suture locking anchors that feature elongated sleeves configured to protect the associated bone tunnels from suture wipering, which results in abrasion and enlargement of the bone tunnel and leads to migration of the suture anchors. Embodiments also include suture locking anchors that lock via an interference fit between the suture strand and a receiver of the anchor and a set screw, where the receiver and the set screw each feature a number of gradual, opposing tapers to facilitate gradual proximal-to-distal gripping and releasing of the suture strand to achieve an optimal locking force while preventing severing of the suture strand. Further embodiments include intra joint reinforcement and stabilization constructs formed using the disclosed devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to intra-joint stabilization/ligament reinforcement constructs that use suture returning and suture locking anchors disposed within a bone tunnel. The anchor includes a distal bone-tunnel protection sleeve that prevents transverse movement of the flexible synthetic strand relative to the second end of the bone tunnel, thereby preventing bone abrasion within the bone tunnel, including bone abrasion/enlargement and anchor migration. The system is directed to reducing suture wipering and bone tunnel abrasion while maintaining secure fixation for intra-joint applications.
A further core aspect is a knotless, reversible suture locking mechanism using a receiver and a set screw. The receiver and set screw include matched multi-stage opposing taper angles configured such that rotational insertion defines a progressively decreasing clearance along a proximal portion toward a mid portion and a progressively increasing clearance along a distal portion away from the mid portion. This clearance progression creates a gradual increase in proximal compression force and a gradual decrease in distal compression force applied to length portions of the flexible synthetic strand between proximal–mid and mid–distal portions, thereby improving interference locking while reducing risk of suture severing.
The document also describes internal joint constructs in which flexible synthetic strands are tensioned between bone-tunnel fixations, including sacroiliac joint repair and syndesmosis/AITFL reinforcement constructs. The knotless locking set screw enables knotless locking, trimming to flush, and subsequent readjustment/relocking, and comparative background addresses prior art anchor button migration/irritation. The described anchor geometries and variants include structures intended to work with bone-tunnel and internal fixation environments.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims. The first claim covers an anchor structure for forming a flexible synthetic strand construct within a bone tunnel with a bone-tunnel protection sleeve and a receiver/set-screw locking interface. The second independent claim covers a knotless locking system that uses multi-stage opposing taper angles between a receiver and a set screw to create a controlled proximal-to-distal force/compression profile and reversible locking.
Bone tunnel protection sleeve integrated with threaded receiver locking an axial hole
An anchor with a head configured to abut a bone surface about a first end of a bone tunnel, a longitudinal shank insertable into the bone tunnel from the first end toward a second end, an axial hole extending along a longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal shank defining a receiver with internal threads rotationally receiving external threads of a set screw to lock a flexible synthetic strand relative to the axial hole; wherein the receiver threads include a converging portion threaded toward the distal direction and the shank provides a bone tunnel protection sleeve that prevents transverse movement of the flexible synthetic strand relative to the second end of the bone tunnel to prevent bone abrasion within the bone tunnel.
Progressively varying clearance taper geometry to create proximal compression increase and distal compression decrease
A knotless locking system comprising a locking anchor and a set screw in which the receiver internal threads extend over proximal, mid, and distal portions oriented at a proximal taper angle, mid taper angle, and distal taper angle, and the set screw external threads extend over corresponding proximal, mid, and distal portions oriented at opposing taper angles; wherein insertion of the set screw into the receiver defines a progressively decreasing clearance along the proximal portion toward the mid portion and a progressively increasing clearance along the distal portion away from the mid portion, such that the system provides a gradual increase in a proximal compression force applied to a length of the flexible synthetic strand between the proximal and mid portions and a gradual decrease in a distal compression force applied to a length of the flexible synthetic strand between the mid and distal portions.
Overall, claim coverage centers on an anchor that locks a flexible synthetic strand via a threaded receiver and a set screw with a distal bone-tunnel protection sleeve, together with a knotless locking set screw/receiver taper-angle interface that produces a controlled, progressively varying compression force profile and is described as reversible by rotational removal.
Stated Advantages
Prevents bone abrasion within the bone tunnel by preventing transverse movement of the flexible synthetic strand relative to the second end of the bone tunnel.
Provides a gradual increase in proximal compression force and a gradual decrease in distal compression force applied to lengths of the flexible synthetic strand.
Enables knotless locking of the flexible synthetic strand relative to the bone tunnel.
Provides a locking feature configured to be reversible by rotational removal of the set screw.
Reduces risk of suture severing as described in the summary of the document.
Documented Applications
Intra-joint stabilization/ligament reinforcement constructs, including internal joint constructs for sacroiliac joint repair.
Syndesmosis/AITFL reinforcement constructs using flexible synthetic strands between bone-tunnel fixations.
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