Slack reducing suture anchor assembly and method of tissue repair
Inventors
Burkhart, Stephen S. • Sullivan, Derek C. • Petry, Andrew C.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12471907-B2
Publication Date
2025-11-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
Surgical anchor assemblies and method of tissue repair using the same. The surgical anchor assemblies have a cannulated fixation device, an implant configured to be coupled to the fixation device, and a stop mechanism for preventing relative movement between the fixation device and the implant, such that the fixation device and the implant are configured to rotate together, and a flexible strand winds up to reduce any slack in the flexible strand used for the repair.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a slack-reducing cannulated surgical suture anchor system and a method for repairing tissue using a surgical anchor assembly. The assembly includes a fixation device with a proximal end, a distal end, a cannulation extending between the ends, and a first engagement feature at or near the distal end. The assembly also includes an implant having a first portion with a second engagement feature configured to engage the first engagement feature, and a second portion, along with a flexible strand.
In the method, the implant is advanced in a bone hole while the flexible strand is captured by the second portion of the implant. The fixation device is then advanced over the implant to connect the implant to the fixation device. A stop mechanism prevents rotational movement between the fixation device and the implant in at least one direction, so the fixation device and the implant rotate together in the at least one direction.
The coordinated rotation wraps the flexible strand around at least one of the implant or the fixation device to reduce slack in the flexible strand. The disclosure describes embodiments that include threaded limited-rotation engagement and other stop arrangements that limit or prevent relative rotation between components while enabling rotation together to wind or reel the strand. The disclosure also describes integration into bridge-repair constructs where additional rotation at a second or lateral row reels in and tightens slack-containing flexible strands.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim directed to a method for repairing tissue with a surgical anchor assembly, supported by dependent claims that narrow engagement mechanics, delivery tooling, slack-reduction sequence, bone-hole geometry, and an optional piggyback fixation piece concept.
Stop mechanism preventing rotational movement between fixation device and implant
Rotational movement between the fixation device and the implant is prevented in at least one direction by a stop mechanism when the fixation device is advanced over the implant to connect the implant to the fixation device.
Capturing flexible strand while advancing implant in bone hole
The implant is advanced in a bone hole while the flexible strand is captured by the second portion of the implant.
Co-rotation to wrap flexible strand to reduce slack
The fixation device and the implant are rotated together in the at least one direction to wrap the flexible strand around at least one of the implant or the fixation device to reduce slack in the flexible strand.
Threaded engagement of fixation device and implant
The first and second engagement features are threads, and advancing the fixation device over the implant includes threadably engaging the fixation device with the implant.
Advancing implant using an inserter through fixation device cannulation
An inserter extends through the cannulation of a fixation device and holds the implant at its end while advancing the implant into a bone hole.
Threading flexible strand through or around tissue before rotation
Threading a flexible strand through or around tissue is performed before rotating the fixation device and the implant together to reduce slack in the flexible strand.
Bone hole cylindrical profile length constraint based on combined device and implant
Forming a bone hole with a cylindrical profile is defined such that a length of the cylindrical profile is at least the combined length of the fixation device and the implant when connected.
Piggyback fixation piece removal to enable slack reduction
After rotating the fixation device and the implant together to reduce slack in a flexible strand, parts of a piggyback fixation piece that extend outside a bone hole are removed.
Overall, the claim set centers on preventing relative rotation between a cannulated fixation device and a rotatably coupled implant using a stop mechanism, while coordinating advancement and captured flexible-strand handling so that co-rotation wraps the strand to reduce slack. Dependent claims further specify threaded engagement, an inserter passing through the cannulation, an optional strand threading sequence, bone-hole geometry with a cylindrical length constraint, and a piggyback fixation piece concept with removal of external portions.
Stated Advantages
Reduce slack in the flexible strand by wrapping the flexible strand around at least one of the implant or the fixation device.
Enable coordinated rotation of the fixation device and the implant together by preventing rotational movement between them using a stop mechanism.
Documented Applications
Repairing tissue using a surgical anchor assembly in which a slack-containing flexible strand is wrapped/reduced in a surgical repair context.
Bridge-repair constructs in which additional rotation at a second or lateral row reels in and tightens slack-containing flexible strands.
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