Methods of making reinforced soft tissue grafts with suture loop/needle constructs
Inventors
Guerra, James J. • Jolly, Jacob A. • Libby, Dustin T. • DeBerardino, Thomas M.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12396717-B2
Publication Date
2025-08-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method of reinforcing a biological construct according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, attaching a suture loop/needle construct to a reinforcement material and stitching the reinforcement material to a biological construct to form a reinforced biological construct. The reinforcement material is attached to the suture loop/needle construct prior to approximating the reinforcement material to the biological construct.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention relates to a surgical implant and related reinforcement of a graft using a reinforcing material configured to be stitched to a graft. The reinforcing material includes a width and a length between a first end and a second end, and the reinforcing material includes a suture, a tape, a suture tape, a weave, a mesh, or combinations thereof.
An adjustable loop is coupled to the first end of the reinforcing material, and a suture loop is coupled to the second end of the reinforcing material, where the suture loop is configured to stitch the reinforcing material to the graft. The adjustable loop is coupled to a fixation device and enables relative sliding through at least one aperture in the fixation device.
The fixation device is a non-flexible button configured for being fixated relative to a bone, and the at least one aperture receives the adjustable loop so that the fixation device is slidable relative to the adjustable loop. In some configurations, the adjustable loop includes first and second adjustable loop portions that are knotlessly interlinked to form the adjustable loop.
A free floating needle is movably attached to the suture loop, where the suture loop is configured to stitch the reinforcing material to the graft. In at least one configuration, the free floating needle is self-recentering relative to a suture loop during stitching.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims that cover a surgical implant architecture combining stitched reinforcement, an adjustable loop coupled to a bone-fixated non-flexible button with slidable interaction, and a free floating needle attached to a suture loop; the independent claims specify both knot-based and knotless adjustable-loop interlinking variants, totaling three sets of core inventive features.
Stitched reinforcing material with adjustable loop and non-flexible slidable button plus free-floating needle
A reinforcing material configured to be stitched to a graft, with a first end carrying an adjustable loop portion and a second end carrying a suture loop portion, and wherein the adjustable loop is coupled to a fixation device including at least one aperture such that the fixation device is slidable relative to the adjustable loop; the fixation device is a non-flexible button configured for being fixated relative to a bone; and a free floating needle movably attached to the suture loop.
Knotlessly interlinked adjustable loop and stitched suture loop with non-flexible slidable button plus free-floating needle
A reinforcing material configured to be stitched to a graft, with an adjustable loop at the first end having a first adjustable loop portion and a second adjustable loop portion that are knotlessly interlinked to form the adjustable loop; a fixation device including at least one aperture receiving the adjustable loop such that the fixation device is slidable relative to the adjustable loop; the fixation device is a non-flexible button configured for being fixated relative to a bone; a suture loop coupled to the second end of the reinforcing material and configured to stitch the reinforcing material to the graft; and a free floating needle movably attached to the suture loop.
Aperture-slidable knotless adjustable loop with stitchable reinforcing material and free-floating needle
A reinforcing material configured to be stitched to a graft, with an adjustable loop at the first end formed by a first adjustable loop portion and a second adjustable loop portion; a fixation device including at least one aperture receiving the adjustable loop so the fixation device is slidable relative to the adjustable loop, where the fixation device is a non-flexible button configured for being fixated relative to a bone; and the at least one aperture includes a first aperture receiving portions of the first adjustable loop portion and a second aperture receiving portions of the second adjustable loop portion so that the fixation device is slidable relative to the adjustable loop; a suture loop coupled to the second end of the reinforcing material and configured to stitch the reinforcing material to the graft; where the first adjustable loop portion and the second adjustable loop portion are knotlessly interlinked to form the adjustable loop; and a free floating needle movably attached to the suture loop.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage is directed to a surgical implant that stitches a reinforcement material to a graft, couples an adjustable loop to a non-flexible bone fixation button via slidable apertures, and uses a free floating needle attached to a suture loop, with additional claim sets defining knot-based versus knotless interlinking of the adjustable loop.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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