Locking suture construct for tensioned suture to suture stitches in anchor arrays for attaching soft tissue to bone
Inventors
Tran, Nathaniel Van • Zenz-Olson, Zak • Westling, Thomas A. • Harris, Howard W.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12207814-B2
Publication Date
2025-01-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
An assembly and method are provided for incorporation into suture anchor designs to facilitate the locking of a slidable working suture after it has been tensioned. The assembly can be utilized on multiple anchors in a pre-strung chain on a single working suture to create continuous, individually tensioned suture bridges between anchors in series, without knot tying. Further, the bridges are independently locked with selected tension for the particular application. An anchor body having at least one suture receiving passage therethrough is threaded with a working suture wherein the working suture flosses through the passage when tension is applied to the working suture. A locking cord extends through a second passage through the anchor body, the locking cord having a collapsible loop extending out the second passage and encircling a portion of the working suture, wherein collapsing the loop locks the working suture after tensioning.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an assembly for locking a working suture relative to an implanted anchor during tissue fixation to bone. A locking suture is separate from the working suture and has a collapsible loop formed therein by a slidable knot, with the collapsible loop extending from an end and encircling a portion of the working suture adjacent the anchor during use. A free end of the locking suture extends opposite the slidable knot for activation, and the free end includes a break knot tied therein adjacent the slidable knot such that tension on the free end first causes collapse of the loop followed by breakage of the free end adjacent the break knot due to increased tension.
The invention also provides an arrangement for a continuous single working suture chain, with a plurality of anchor bodies and a plurality of locking cords associated with each anchor body. A single working suture passes through the suture receiving passages of the plurality of anchor bodies, and the working suture flosses through each suture receiving passage when tension is applied adjacent each anchor. Each locking cord is separate and has a collapsible loop formed by a slidable knot that encircles a portion of the working suture adjacent the anchor, and each locking cord has a free end extending from the slidable knot including a break knot, such that tension on the free end causes collapse followed by breakage of the free end adjacent the break knot upon application of additional tension.
In this system, the locking suture construct is configured to retain the slidable knot and route loop legs using anchor passage geometry. The anchor includes a passage for the locking suture with an upper portion sized to receive the slidable knot and a platform within the passage that prevents the slidable knot from passing through, and the passage can include an oval lower portion shaped to allow first and second legs of the collapsible loop to pass side by side through and exit the passage.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover three main aspects: a locking suture assembly with a slidable-knot collapsible loop and a break-knot activation mechanism; a plurality of such assemblies arranged in a continuous single working suture chain with separate locking cords per anchor; and a method for locking a working suture in fixed position by tensioning and collapsing the locking loop with breakage at a break knot. The claims further specify passage geometry with a platform and an oval lower portion.
Break-knot activated collapsible loop locking assembly
A locking suture separate from the working suture having a collapsible loop formed therein by a slidable knot, the collapsible loop extending from an end and encircling a portion of the working suture adjacent the anchor during use; a free end extending opposite the slidable knot for activation thereof, the free end including a break knot tied therein adjacent the slidable knot such that tension on the free end first causes collapse of the loop followed by breakage of the free end adjacent the break knot due to increased tension.
Continuous single working suture chain with separate locking cords per anchor
A plurality of anchor bodies each having at least one suture receiving passage; a single working suture passing through each of the suture receiving passages such that the working suture flosses through the suture receiving passage of each anchor when tension is applied adjacent each anchor; a plurality of locking cords with a single separate locking cord associated with each anchor body, each locking cord having a collapsible loop formed by a slidable knot encircling a portion of the working suture adjacent the anchor body; and each locking cord having a free end for activation including a break knot such that tension on the free end causes collapse of the collapsible loop followed by breakage of the free end adjacent the break knot upon application of additional tension.
Method of tensioning and collapsing a break-knot locking loop to fix a working suture
Providing an anchor body having at least one suture receiving passage with a working suture passing through each passage such that the working suture flosses through each suture receiving passage when tension is applied; the anchor body including at least a second passage with a locking cord extending through the second passage; the locking cord having a collapsible locking loop extending out of the second passage and encircling a portion of the working suture; the locking cord having a free end extending from the collapsible locking loop for activation including a break knot tied therein adjacent the collapsible locking loop; tensioning the working suture by applying force; and collapsing the locking loop to lock the working suture in place such that tension on the free end causes collapse of the loop followed by breakage of the free end adjacent the break knot.
Overall, the claim set centers on locking a working suture by collapsing a collapsible loop formed by a slidable knot, with activation by tension on a locking cord free end that collapses the loop and then breaks adjacent a break knot. Dependent claim refinements further constrain retention and routing via platform and oval lower passage portions.
Stated Advantages
Low failure rates.
Reduced rehab time.
Documented Applications
Tissue fixation to bone for attaching soft tissue to bone, including rotator cuff tendon fixation.
Locking a working suture in fixed position relative to a suture anchor during tissue fixation to bone.
Use of an anchor array geometry including high-density arrays with anchors spaced within specified small distances and spacing.
Implantation/arrangement using a delivery device and cartridges/magazine.
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