Knotless micro-suture anchors and anchor arrays for anatomical attachment of soft tissue to bone
Inventors
Westling, Thomas A. • Zenz-Olson, Zak • Tran, Nathaniel Van • Harris, Howard W.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12059147-B2
Publication Date
2024-08-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
A toggle-type suture anchor for transtendinous implantation in bone to secure soft tissue thereto during repair of a tear, especially a rotator cuff repair. The anchor can include an elongate body with side surfaces defining a maximum diameter of the body. The body can also include proximal, middle and distal bores extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, each bore located at spaced intervals along the elongate body with a single suture passing into the proximal bore top surface and out the bottom surface, then back up through the distal bore bottom surface out the top surface leaving a length of suture extending past the middle bore bottom surface. To assure toggling in transtendinous delivery into bone, the elongate body can include a pair of fins extending both proximally and radially outward from the elongate body to prevent back out once placed in a bone hole.
Core Innovation
The patent describes a knotless toggle-type micro suture anchor and anchor arrays for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair via transtendinous implantation. The anchor includes an elongated body with spaced bores extending from a top surface to a bottom surface, and a longitudinally extending channel formed in the bottom surface so that the channel intersects and extends at least between the bores on the bottom surface. The channel is sized to receive a portion of a working suture therein when tensioned.
The toggle-type structure further includes a third bore that extends through the elongated body from the top surface to the bottom surface and intersects the longitudinally extending channel at the bottom surface. In further forms, a single suture is routed from the proximal bore along the bottom surface past the middle bore and into the distal bore, leaving a length of the single suture extending past the middle bore at the bottom surface. In other forms, flossing working suture is routed through the first and second bores such that a portion of the length of flossing working suture rests in the longitudinal channel when tensioned.
The anchor geometry is configured to promote a toggle and secure retention, including an angled distal end surface that projects so the top surface extends distally beyond the bottom surface. Proximal fins project radially outward from a proximal portion of the elongated body to prevent back-out and to aid rotation in cancellous bone, with fin structure that includes a slit and thinned fin cross-section for flexing when confined. A bottom-surface channel receives a portion of the working suture when tensioned, and an implantation tool interface can be provided by a proximal-end dimple configured to receive a distal end of an implantation tool during implantation.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover toggle-type micro suture anchor structures and suture routing geometries, with inventive features based on an elongated body having spaced bores, a bottom-surface longitudinal channel intersecting the bores, and optional dimensional and distal-end geometry constraints. The claimed inventive features emphasize how a working suture or single suture is positioned in the bottom-surface channel when tensioned, and how the distal end and proximal structures enable toggling and retention.
Elongated toggle body with intersecting bottom channel and spaced bores
An elongated body having at least a first bore and a second bore through the elongated body extending from a top surface to a bottom surface of the elongated body, each bore located at a spaced interval along the elongated body; and a longitudinally extending channel formed in the bottom surface of the elongated body wherein the channel intersects and extends at least between the first bore and second bore on the bottom surface.
Third bore intersecting the longitudinal channel
A third bore between the first bore and the second bore extending from the top surface to the bottom surface and intersecting the longitudinally extending channel at the bottom surface.
Micro suture anchor dimensions and flossing suture channel capture when tensioned
An elongated body having a length of about 6 mm to about 10 mm and defined by a cross-section dimension of less than about 3 mm at any point along its length; the first and second bores adapted to receive a flossing working suture therethrough; and a channel formed in the bottom surface over at least a portion of the length of the elongated body wherein the channel intersects and extends at least between the first bore and the second bore on the bottom surface with the channel sized to receive a portion of the length of flossing working suture therein when tensioned.
Toggle-type suture anchor with single suture routed across proximal, middle, and distal bores
An elongated body having proximal, middle, and distal bores extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, each bore located at spaced intervals along the elongated body; a single suture passing into the proximal bore from the top surface and out of the proximal bore to the bottom surface, along the bottom surface past the middle bore, then into the distal bore from the bottom surface and out of the distal bore to the top surface, thereby leaving a length of the single suture extending past the middle bore at the bottom surface; and a longitudinally extending channel formed in the bottom surface of the elongated body wherein the channel intersects and extends at least between the proximal, middle and distal bores on the bottom surface.
Angled distal end surface projecting to extend top surface distally beyond bottom surface
A longitudinally extending channel formed in the bottom surface of the elongated body wherein the channel intersects and extends at least between the first bore and second bore on the bottom surface; wherein the distal end further comprises an angled surface causing the top surface to extend distally beyond the bottom surface.
Angle-enabled suture anchor with quantitative elongated-body dimensions
An elongated body having at least a first bore and a second bore through the elongated body extending from a top surface to a bottom surface; the elongated body having a length of about 6 mm to about 10 mm and defined by a cross-section dimension of less than about 3 mm at any point along its length; the first and second bores adapted to receive a flossing working suture therethrough; a channel formed in the bottom surface over at least a portion of the length of the elongated body wherein the channel intersects and extends at least between the first bore and the second bore on the bottom surface with the channel sized to receive a portion of the length of flossing working suture therein when tensioned; and an angled distal end surface defining the distal end of the elongated body wherein the angled distal surface projects such that the top surface extends distally beyond the bottom surface.
Top-surface distal extension from angled distal end surface within a toggle body
A toggle body for use as a suture anchor comprising an elongated body with at least a first bore and a second bore extending from a top surface to a bottom surface, each bore located at a spaced interval along the elongated body; a longitudinally extending channel formed in the bottom surface of the elongated body wherein the channel intersects and extends at least between the first bore and second bore on the bottom surface; wherein the distal end further comprises an angled surface causing the top surface to extend distally beyond the bottom surface.
Elongated body channel intersecting bores with bottom-surface channel capture
A suture anchor comprising an elongated body having at least a first bore and a second bore through the elongated body extending from a top surface to a bottom surface, each bore located at a spaced interval along the elongated body; a channel formed in the bottom surface over at least a portion of the length of the elongated body wherein the channel intersects and extends at least between the first bore and the second bore on the bottom surface with the channel sized to receive a portion of the length of flossing working suture therein when tensioned.
Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage is the combination of an elongated body with spaced bores and a bottom-surface longitudinal channel that intersects and extends between the bores to position a working suture portion when tensioned, optionally together with a third bore intersecting the channel, single-suture routing through proximal and distal bores with a middle bore, and an angled distal end surface that causes the top surface to extend distally beyond the bottom surface. Quantitative elongated-body dimensions, flossing working suture, and channel capture when tensioned are explicitly claimed in the independent suture anchor forms.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
The patent describes arthroscopic rotator cuff repair via transtendinous implantation.
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