US5571104A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical anchor and method for using the same
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
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Filing: 1995-06-06
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Granted: 1996-11-05
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Expires: 2015-06-06
Abstract
Abstract An anchor for attaching an object within a tunnel extending through a workpiece such as a bone or a bone-like structure, and a method for using the same. The anchor includes a body and a plurality of barbs located in circumferentially spaced relation about the body. The barbs are formed of a material which may be elastically deformed from a normal configuration wherein the outer ends of the barbs extend radially outwardly of the body toward a configuration wherein the barbs are located generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body. A diametrical opening in the front portion of the anchor is provided for engagement by a length of cord-like material such that the anchor may be pulled into a bone tunnel, and an opening in the rear portion of the anchor is provided for attaching either a ligament, tendon or the like to the anchor, or for grasping a bone plug or similar rigid object attached to a free end of the ligament, tendon or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Lehmann K. Li
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/08; A61F2/0811; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/0401; A61B2017/0412; A61B2017/0427; A61B2017/0437; A61F2002/0817; A61F2002/0823; A61F2002/0829; A61F2002/0847; A61F2002/0852; A61F2002/0864; A61F2002/0876; A61F2002/0882; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S606/00; Y10S606/907; Y10S606/911; Y10S606/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
299 words
A surgical anchor for fixedly locating a free end of a ligament, tendon or a similar elongated, non-rigid member formed from natural or artificial materials or both having a substantially rigid object attached to at least one free end thereof within a piece of bone or bone-like material defining a substantially symmetrical tunnel therein, comprising: a body adapted for longitudinal insertion into said tunnel, and a plurality of barbs; said body having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, a front end, a rear end, a front portion adjacent said front end, a rear portion adjacent said rear end, connection means associated with said front portion, and attachment means associated with said rear portion, said connection means being adapted to connect said anchor to anchor pulling means, and said attachment means being adapted to connect said rigid object to said anchor, said attachment means comprising a first section of said rear portion defining a first wall and a second section of said rear portion defining a second wall, said first and second walls being located in facing parallel relation so as to together define a diametrical slot extending through said body from said rear end to said front portion, at least one of said first and said second sections being pivotally movable relative to said front portion of said body; and said barbs each comprising an outer end and an inner end, said inner end being attached to said body, and each said barb being formed and connected to said body so that said outer end is normally disposed outwardly beyond an axial projection of the maximum transverse cross-section of said body, but each said barb being elastically deformable so that said outer end may be disposed inwardly of an axial projection of the maximum transverse cross-section of said body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
299 words
A surgical anchor for fixedly locating a free end of a ligament, tendon or a similar elongated, non-rigid member formed from natural or artificial materials or both having a substantially rigid object attached to at least one free end thereof within a piece of bone or bone-like material defining a substantially symmetrical tunnel therein, comprising: a body adapted for longitudinal insertion into said tunnel, and a plurality of barbs; said body having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, a front end, a rear end, a front portion adjacent said front end, a rear portion adjacent said rear end, connection means associated with said front portion, and attachment means associated with said rear portion, said connection means being adapted to connect said anchor to anchor pulling means, and said attachment means being adapted to connect said rigid object to said anchor, said attachment means comprising a first section of said rear portion defining a first wall and a second section of said rear portion defining a second wall, said first and second walls being located in facing parallel relation so as to together define a diametrical slot extending through said body from said rear end to said front portion, at least one of said first and said second sections being pivotally movable relative to said front portion of said body; and said barbs each comprising an outer end and an inner end, said inner end being attached to said body, and each said barb being formed and connected to said body so that said outer end is normally disposed outwardly beyond an axial projection of the maximum transverse cross-section of said body, but each said barb being elastically deformable so that said outer end may be disposed inwardly of an axial projection of the maximum transverse cross-section of said body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The surgical anchor of claim 1 wherein said first and second walls each define at least one inwardly facing tine extending therefrom at an acute angle pointed in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of intended forward movement of the anchor in said tunnel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
The surgical anchor of claim 1 wherein said front portion of said body defines a bore extending transversely therethrough and includes a first part, a second part and a hollow pin; said hollow pin being located within said bore such that said first part and said second part are pivotally movable relative to each other about said hollow pin; and wherein each of said first and second sections of said rear portion of said body is attached to a separate one of said parts of said front portion of said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The surgical anchor of claim 1 wherein said barbs are formed of wire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The surgical anchor of claim 4 wherein said wire is made of a pseudoelastic shape memory alloy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
The surgical anchor of claim 1 wherein said body defines a plurality of identical longitudinal channels located substantially adjacent said rear end of said body, said channels being located in circumferentially spaced relation to each other about said outer surface, each said channel including a forward end lying in the same plane transverse to said longitudinal axis; and one of said plurality of barbs extends outwardly and rearwardly from a forward end of each of said channels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The surgical anchor of claim 6 wherein three of said longitudinal channels are located adjacent said rear end on the outer surface of the first and second sections of the rear portion of the body, respectively.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
386 words
A method of affixing a rigid object attached to a free end of a ligament, tendon or similar elongate, non-rigid object formed of natural or artificial material within a piece of bone or bone-like material defining a substantially symmetrical tunnel therein, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a body adapted for longitudinal insertion into said tunnel, and a plurality of barbs; said body having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, a front end, a rear end, a front portion adjacent said front end, a rear portion adjacent said rear end, connection means associated with said front portion, and attachment means associated with said rear portion, said connection means being adapted to connect said anchor to anchor pulling means, and said attachment means being adapted to connect said rigid object to said anchor, said attachment means comprising a first section of said rear portion defining a first wall and a second section of said rear portion defining a second wall, said first and second walls being located in facing parallel relation so as to together define a diametrical slot extending through said body from said rear end to said front portion, and at least one of said first and said second sections being pivotally movable relative to said front portion of said body; said barbs each comprising an outer end and an inner end, said inner end being attached to said body, and each said barb being formed and connected to said body so that said outer end is normally disposed outwardly beyond an axial projection of the maximum transverse cross-section of said body, but each said barb being elastically deformable so that said outer end may be disposed inwardly of an axial projection of the maximum transverse cross-section of said body; (b) connecting a length of suture or suture-like material to said connecting means; (c) attaching said rigid object between said first and said second walls of said attachment means; (d) threading the free ends of said suture or suture-like material through said tunnel in said bone or bone-like material; and (e) pulling on the free ends of said suture or suture-like material extending through said tunnel to thereby draw said anchor and the end of said ligament, tendon or similar elongate non-rigid object attached to said rigid object into said tunnel to a desired depth.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
386 words
A method of affixing a rigid object attached to a free end of a ligament, tendon or similar elongate, non-rigid object formed of natural or artificial material within a piece of bone or bone-like material defining a substantially symmetrical tunnel therein, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a body adapted for longitudinal insertion into said tunnel, and a plurality of barbs; said body having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, a front end, a rear end, a front portion adjacent said front end, a rear portion adjacent said rear end, connection means associated with said front portion, and attachment means associated with said rear portion, said connection means being adapted to connect said anchor to anchor pulling means, and said attachment means being adapted to connect said rigid object to said anchor, said attachment means comprising a first section of said rear portion defining a first wall and a second section of said rear portion defining a second wall, said first and second walls being located in facing parallel relation so as to together define a diametrical slot extending through said body from said rear end to said front portion, and at least one of said first and said second sections being pivotally movable relative to said front portion of said body; said barbs each comprising an outer end and an inner end, said inner end being attached to said body, and each said barb being formed and connected to said body so that said outer end is normally disposed outwardly beyond an axial projection of the maximum transverse cross-section of said body, but each said barb being elastically deformable so that said outer end may be disposed inwardly of an axial projection of the maximum transverse cross-section of said body; (b) connecting a length of suture or suture-like material to said connecting means; (c) attaching said rigid object between said first and said second walls of said attachment means; (d) threading the free ends of said suture or suture-like material through said tunnel in said bone or bone-like material; and (e) pulling on the free ends of said suture or suture-like material extending through said tunnel to thereby draw said anchor and the end of said ligament, tendon or similar elongate non-rigid object attached to said rigid object into said tunnel to a desired depth.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-11-05 | 2000-05-06 | 2000-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-05 | 2004-05-06 | 2004-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-05 | 2008-05-06 | 2008-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |