Delivery device for implanting knotless micro-suture anchors and anchor arrays for attachment of soft tissue to bone

Inventors

Zenz-Olson, Zak • Van Tran, Nathaniel • Westling, Thomas A. • Harris, Howard W.

Assignees

Integrity Orthopaedics Inc

Abstract

A delivery device for transtendinous implantation of a toggle-type suture anchor into bone is disclosed. The device includes a proximal housing having an outer tubular shaft extending distally with a lumen therethrough. An anchor delivery tube extends through the lumen of the outer tubular shaft having a proximal end affixed to the proximal housing. The anchor delivery tube includes a nub portion that is used to insert through the tendon and partly into bone to maintain registration with a bone hole into which an anchor is placed. A bone punch assembly extends through the lumen of the anchor delivery tube and the nub portion with a pointed distal end. When the bone punch is fully inserted, the pointed distal end extends a distance distal of the distal end of the nub portion.

Core Innovation

The disclosure describes a system for transtendinous implantation of a toggle-type suture anchor into bone, including an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair use case. A delivery device includes a handle assembly with an outer tubular shaft and a lumen, and an anchor delivery tube slidably disposed within the outer tubular shaft lumen, with a distal nub portion selectively moved between a first extended position projecting beyond the outer tubular shaft and a second retracted position withdrawn into the outer tubular shaft.

The anchor delivery tube includes an anchor loading chamber in communication with the proximal lumen for receiving a toggle-type anchor. A distal bone punch assembly coordinates with the nub portion and the anchor loading chamber during insertion, with the pointed distal end extending beyond the nub when fully inserted and trigger-controlled retraction selectively changing the relationship between the bone punch, the nub, and the anchor loading chamber to block or expose the chamber.

The disclosure further describes toggle anchors and delivery handling features, including high-density pre-strung anchor arrays with continuous anchor-to-anchor suture stitches, passages for a working suture, and a locking loop that collapses to lock tensioned suture. Optional fin and angled surfaces facilitate reliable toggling within cancellous bone and improved pullout strength, and the delivery system includes cartridge/magazine handling with plunger-trigger mechanisms, removable attachment features, and longitudinal slots for suture passage.

Claims Coverage

The independent claims define three variants of a delivery device for transtendinous implantation of a toggle-type suture anchor into bone, each with multiple inventive structural features. Across the independent claims, the inventive features focus on a slidable anchor delivery tube with an extendable/retractable nub, an anchor loading chamber for receiving a toggle-type anchor, coordination with a distal bone punch assembly and configuration-dependent blocking or exposure, and actuation via a trigger/trigger lever and linkage, as well as magazine/cartridge handling for pre-strung anchors.

The independent claims collectively cover delivery devices that enable transtendinous implantation of a toggle-type suture anchor by using a slidably moveable anchor delivery tube that selectively extends and retracts a nub, while providing an anchor loading chamber for receiving the toggle-type anchor. Additional independent-claim coverage includes a proximal housing arrangement with handle/trigger/slot and a cartridge magazine system for pre-strung anchors. Dependent claims in the provided set further add coordination with a moveable bone punch assembly that selectively blocks or exposes the anchor loading chamber and actuation using a trigger lever connected through a linkage to apply retracting force.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications