Surgical fixation systems and associated methods
Inventors
Bachmaier, Samuel • Jolly, Jake • SWANLAW, Tara • Baker, Colin • ESPOSITO, Tyler
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12458338-B2
Publication Date
2025-11-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
This disclosure relates to surgical fixation systems and methods. The surgical fixation systems of this disclosure may include various combinations of fixation devices, soft suture constructs, and/or adjustable loops and are configured for use in various knotless surgical methods, including but not limited to, syndesmosis, AC joint, UCL, bunion, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) surgical methods.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a knotless surgical fixation system that uses an adjustable loop connected to a first fixation device and a free braid strand configured to adjust a size of the adjustable loop. The adjustable loop includes a spliced section that establishes a first locking mechanism, and the adjustable loop cooperates with the first fixation device to establish a second locking mechanism independent from the first locking mechanism.
The second locking mechanism is established by a combination of features of the first fixation device and the adjustable loop, wherein the free braid strand passes from the spliced section, through a suture return aperture of the first fixation device, and then beneath a fixed loop section of the adjustable loop that rests over top of a bridge of the first fixation device. An additional filament separate from the adjustable loop extends between the fixed loop section and the first fixation device and is tensionable to move the fixed loop section, thereby releasing the free braid strand for adjusting the size of the adjustable loop.
The described system supports an adjustable loop with a flat-to-round configuration and additional embodiments including a soft suture construct with a sheath, adjustable loops within the sheath, and deployable anchoring cluster behavior inside bone tunnels, while addressing multiple orthopedic repair contexts including syndesmosis and ACL reconstructions.
Claims Coverage
The provided portion includes two independent claims (clm-00001 and clm-00018), each reciting a surgical fixation system with two independent locking mechanisms formed by different structural features and defined routing of a free braid strand. Across the independent claims, the inventive features repeatedly center on a spliced-section first locking mechanism, an independent second locking mechanism created by cooperation between the adjustable loop and the first fixation device via a specific strand path, and a separate tensionable filament enabling size adjustment by releasing the free braid strand.
Independent first and second locking mechanisms from spliced section and device-loop cooperation
A first locking mechanism established by a spliced section of the adjustable loop, and a second locking mechanism independent from the first locking mechanism, wherein the second locking mechanism is established by a combination of features of the first fixation device and the adjustable loop.
Free braid strand routing through suture return aperture beneath fixed loop section over a bridge
Wherein the free braid strand passes from the spliced section, through a suture return aperture of the first fixation device, and then beneath a fixed loop section of the adjustable loop that rests over top of a bridge of the first fixation device to establish the second locking mechanism.
Separate tensionable filament that moves the fixed loop section to release the free braid strand
A filament separate from the adjustable loop that extends between the fixed loop section of the adjustable loop and the first fixation device, and wherein the filament is tensionable to move the fixed loop section, thereby releasing the free braid strand for adjusting the size of the adjustable loop.
Button-based first and second fixation devices with delivery device pushing second button through bone tunnel
The first fixation device is a first button and the second fixation device is a second button connected to the adjustable loop; a delivery device is configured to push the second button through a bone tunnel, the delivery device includes a handle and a shaft extending from the handle, wherein the first button is releasably held within a slot of the handle, and the second button is releasably held at an end of the shaft.
Both independent claims define an adjustable-loop fixation system with two independent locking mechanisms: one created by a spliced section and another created by a specific cooperation/routing between the adjustable loop and the first fixation device. Adjustment of loop size is enabled by a separate tensionable filament that moves a fixed loop section to release the free braid strand, while claim clm-00018 further specifies button-type fixation devices and a delivery device that pushes a second button through a bone tunnel.
Stated Advantages
Improved construct stability allowing fewer loop strands.
Smaller bone tunnel diameters.
Independent deployment via separate locking mechanisms.
Enhanced internal bone fixation via sheath deployment.
Documented Applications
Knotless surgical fixation systems for orthopedic repairs including syndesmosis repair and ACL reconstructions (as described in the provided content).
Knotless surgical fixation systems for other orthopedic repair contexts including an AC joint, UCL, bunion, and PCL (as described in the provided content).
Deployable anchoring cluster behavior inside bone tunnels for soft suture construct embodiments (as described in the provided content).
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