Self-drilling anchor inserter

Inventors

Breslich, Grady • Miller, Peter • Barber, James M. • Gladdish, Jr., Bennie Wayne

Assignees

Conmed Corp

Abstract

An anchor inserter including an inserter tube extending along a longitudinal axis having a proximal inserter end and a distal inserter end. The inserter also includes an inserter tip attached to and extending distally from the distal inserter end. The inserter tip has a proximal tip end and a distal tip end with a suture anchor retention slot extending through the distal tip end. The inserter has one or more cutting edges extending at least a partially along an outer perimeter edge of the distal tip end. The distal tip end has a first arm and a second arm. The first arm is substantially straight and the second arm is curved.

Core Innovation

The disclosed invention relates to an anchor inserter and an anchor inserter system for deploying an all-suture anchor using a cannulated inserter tube and a cannulated suture tube. An inserter tip is attached to and extends distally from the distal inserter end, and the inserter tip includes a suture anchor retention slot extending through the distal tip end. The suture anchor retention slot includes a straight portion connected to a curved portion that extends at an angle from the straight portion.

One or more features on the proximal tip end are removably connected to one or more features on the distal inserter end. The cannulated suture tube extends through the cannulated inserter tube and includes a proximal suture tube and a distal suture tube end. The placement and connection of these tube ends supports controlled movement and retention of the suture anchor components while the inserter tip provides a slot geometry for receiving and retaining the anchor.

The anchor inserter system further includes an anchor having a length of suture positioned therethrough that extends through the suture anchor retention slot, extending proximally along the inserter tip. The system covers configurations in which the suture length extends along and relative to the cannulated suture tube and may lie in an annular space between the cannulated suture tube and the cannulated inserter tube. Additional described anchor embodiments include an anchor braid with a suture length positioned through a surface of the anchor braid and arrangements with multiple passing locations along the anchor.

Claims Coverage

The provided material identifies two independent claims. Across these claims, the core inventive elements include a cannulated inserter tube and cannulated suture tube, an inserter tip with a straight-to-curved angled suture anchor retention slot, a removable connection between proximal tip end and distal inserter end features, and, for the system claim, an anchor whose suture length extends through the slot and proximally along the inserter tip.

The independent claim set covers a cannulated inserter and cannulated suture tube assembly combined with an inserter tip that provides a straight-to-curved angled suture anchor retention slot, plus a removable proximal-to-distal connection interface. For the independent system claim, the inventive coverage extends to an anchor whose suture length passes through the retention slot and extends proximally along the inserter tip.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found