Suture-implant construct and method of deploying the same

Inventors

Best, Joshua J. • Osika, Andrew K. • Helenbolt, Kenneth T.

Assignees

Arthrex Inc

Abstract

This disclosure relates to suture-implant constructs, surgical devices configured to deliver suture-implant constructs, and methods of repairing damaged tissue.

Core Innovation

The patent describes an orthopedic suture-implant construct for meniscus tear repair that includes a flexible strand carried by one or more tubular sheaths. The tubular sheaths form spaced-apart anchor portions, including a first anchor portion and a second anchor portion, with a central portion between the anchor portions. The central portion has an increased width dimension configured to disperse tension and to resist tear-through and abrasion when the strand is tensioned to close a meniscus tear.

The patent also describes a cannula-based delivery device for deploying the suture-implant construct, using a pusher with a distal deploy and a proximal return motion. A shuttling rack includes barbs configured to advance only distal anchor portions while preventing proximal anchor movement during the proximal return stroke, including a deploy position and a standby position. The deployment mechanics include deploying the first anchor portion out of the cannula, moving the pusher proximally without deploying the second anchor portion, and then deploying the second anchor portion out of the cannula in a second distal movement.

The patent further describes construct and coupling features that support deployment and tissue repair outcomes, including strand retention at splice points using looping or bulb affixation, optional barbed monofilament, and sheaths described as one-piece in at least one embodiment. The described techniques include meniscus penetration and closure outcomes via tensioning of the strand after both anchor portions have been deployed.

Claims Coverage

The independent claims cover two core aspects: a cannula-based method deploying first and second anchor portions by distal and proximal pusher movements, and a meniscus tear repair method where the pusher includes a shuttling rack with barbs that only move the second anchor portion distally. Across the independent claims, the main inventive features include controlled two-stage anchor deployment from a cannula and a barb-and-rack pusher mechanism that restricts distal movement to only the second anchor portion, with optional dependent refinements specifying meniscus targeting and structural/geometry constraints on the suture-implant construct and/or pusher actuation.

The claim coverage centers on deploying a suture-implant construct into a meniscus using a cannula and a pusher that executes a controlled sequence of distal-proximal-distal movement to deploy first and second anchor portions, with a shuttling rack and barbs configured so that only the second anchor portion advances distally.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications