Patent US5643320A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5643320A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Soft tissue anchor and method
Assignee: DePuy Orthopaedics Inc
•
Filing: 1995-03-13
•
Granted: 1997-07-01
•
Expires: 2015-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A preassembled disposable driver and suture anchor are provided for threaded engagement into a bone to provide an attachment point for soft tissue. The anchor is formed to have an externally threaded body portion for engaging the bone, a distal end portion, and a proximal end portion. When the anchor is threaded into an opening in a bone, the distal end portion is adjacent a bottom of the opening and the proximal end portion is adjacent a mouth of the opening. A suture is attached to said anchor having free ends extending outwardly from the bone opening. The driver is elongated and has a distal end which engages the proximal end of the anchor and a proximal end for gripping by the surgeon. The driver also has a slot for receiving the suture which extends away from the anchor. The distal end portion of the driver is radially enlarged relative to the body portion of the anchor to engage the bone surrounding the mouth of the opening to limit the internal advancement of the driver such that further rotation and threading of the anchor into the bone by the driver will separate the anchor from the driver.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerry L. Lower
- 👤 E. Marlowe Goble
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/08; A61F2/0811; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/0401; A61B17/16; A61B17/1613; A61B17/1615; A61B2017/0409; A61B2017/0414; A61B2017/044; A61B2017/0446; A61B2017/0458; A61F2/0805; A61F2002/0817; A61F2002/0823; A61F2002/0829; A61F2002/0847; A61F2002/0858; A61F2002/0876; A61F2002/0888; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S606/00; Y10S606/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
A preassembled disposable driver and suture anchor for threaded engagement into a bone to provide an attachment point for soft tissue, comprising: an anchor being formed to have an externally threaded body portion for engaging the bone, a distal end portion, and a proximal end portion such that, when the anchor is threaded into an opening in a bone, the distal end portion is adjacent a bottom of the opening and the proximal end portion is adjacent a mouth of the opening, a suture attached to said anchor having free ends extending outwardly from the bone opening, said driver being elongated and having a distal end means for engaging the proximal end of said anchor and a proximal end for gripping by the surgeon, said driver also having means for receiving the suture which extends away from said anchor, at least a portion of the distal end means of said driver at the proximal end of the anchor when the anchor and the driver are assembled being radially enlarged relative to the body portion of the anchor to engage the bone surrounding the mouth of the opening to limit the internal advancement of the driver such that rotation of the driver causes no axial movement between the driver and anchor until the distal end means engages the bone surrounding the mouth of the opening whereupon continued rotation of the driver produces relative axial movement between the driver and anchor to provide continued threading of the anchor into the bone by the driver and subsequently separation of the anchor from the driver.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
261 words
A preassembled disposable driver and suture anchor for threaded engagement into a bone to provide an attachment point for soft tissue, comprising: an anchor being formed to have an externally threaded body portion for engaging the bone, a distal end portion, and a proximal end portion such that, when the anchor is threaded into an opening in a bone, the distal end portion is adjacent a bottom of the opening and the proximal end portion is adjacent a mouth of the opening, a suture attached to said anchor having free ends extending outwardly from the bone opening, said driver being elongated and having a distal end means for engaging the proximal end of said anchor and a proximal end for gripping by the surgeon, said driver also having means for receiving the suture which extends away from said anchor, at least a portion of the distal end means of said driver at the proximal end of the anchor when the anchor and the driver are assembled being radially enlarged relative to the body portion of the anchor to engage the bone surrounding the mouth of the opening to limit the internal advancement of the driver such that rotation of the driver causes no axial movement between the driver and anchor until the distal end means engages the bone surrounding the mouth of the opening whereupon continued rotation of the driver produces relative axial movement between the driver and anchor to provide continued threading of the anchor into the bone by the driver and subsequently separation of the anchor from the driver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the anchor is configured to form a male head, and the distal end means of the driver is formed to include a female socket opening configured to receive the male head to provide the means for engaging the proximal end of said anchor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the male head and the female socket opening have a square shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the male head includes four corners which are each threaded.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the threaded body portion of the anchor includes threads having a major diameter and a minor diameter, the head of the anchor having a diameter larger than the minor diameter of the threads.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driver includes means for holding the free ends of the suture in tension to hold the anchor on the driver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchor is formed to include first and second passageways extending longitudinally from the distal end of the anchor to the proximal end of the anchor to provide a web therebetween at the distal end of said anchor, and wherein the suture is threaded through the first passageway of the anchor over the web and back through the second passageway so that the free ends of the suture extend away from the distal end of the anchor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the suture is movable in the first and second passageways to equalize a load on the anchor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchor is made from a plastic material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchor is made from an absorbable plastic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchor is absorbable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the suture, when tensioned, applies a compressing force along a longitudinal axis of the anchor to expand the anchor radially outwardly within the opening of the bone to increase a retention force of the anchor in the bone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 for use with a bone having a countersink surrounding the opening, and wherein the driver includes a conically shaped distal end located adjacent the anchor, the conically shaped distal end being configured to engage the countersink to separate the driver from the anchor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the longitudinally extending means for receiving the suture includes a longitudinally extending slot for receiving the free ends of the suture.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
276 words
A preassembled disposable driver and suture anchor for threaded engagement into a drilled and threaded opening in a bone to provide an attachment point for soft tissue to the bone with the opening deeper than the axial length of said anchor, comprising: an anchor being formed to have an externally threaded body portion for engaging the bone, distal end portion, and a proximal end portion such that, when the anchor is threaded into the threaded opening in the bone, the distal end portion is adjacent and spaced apart from the bottom of the opening leaving an internal cavity and the proximal end portion is adjacent a mouth of the opening, said anchor also having a pair of suture openings extending longitudinally from the proximal end to the distal end, a suture extending into one of said pair of openings into the internal cavity and back out through the other of said pair of openings to have opposite free ends extending outwardly away from the proximal end of the anchor and movable within the pair of openings to equalize the tension in the suture when a soft tissue load is placed on the suture, an elongated driver having a distal end including means for drivingly engaging the proximal end of said anchor and a proximal end for gripping by the surgeon and wherein the driver has an enlarged distal end at the proximal end of the anchor when the anchor and the driver are connected wherein the driving connection causes the insert to automatically move into the bone away from the driver as the driver rotates the insert toward the bottom of the opening in the bone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
276 words
A preassembled disposable driver and suture anchor for threaded engagement into a drilled and threaded opening in a bone to provide an attachment point for soft tissue to the bone with the opening deeper than the axial length of said anchor, comprising: an anchor being formed to have an externally threaded body portion for engaging the bone, distal end portion, and a proximal end portion such that, when the anchor is threaded into the threaded opening in the bone, the distal end portion is adjacent and spaced apart from the bottom of the opening leaving an internal cavity and the proximal end portion is adjacent a mouth of the opening, said anchor also having a pair of suture openings extending longitudinally from the proximal end to the distal end, a suture extending into one of said pair of openings into the internal cavity and back out through the other of said pair of openings to have opposite free ends extending outwardly away from the proximal end of the anchor and movable within the pair of openings to equalize the tension in the suture when a soft tissue load is placed on the suture, an elongated driver having a distal end including means for drivingly engaging the proximal end of said anchor and a proximal end for gripping by the surgeon and wherein the driver has an enlarged distal end at the proximal end of the anchor when the anchor and the driver are connected wherein the driving connection causes the insert to automatically move into the bone away from the driver as the driver rotates the insert toward the bottom of the opening in the bone.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the driver is formed to include a longitudinally extending opening for receiving the free ends of the suture therein, the distal end portion of said driver being radially enlarged relative to the anchor to engage the bone surrounding the mouth of the opening to limit the internal advancement of the driver such that further rotation and threading of the anchor into the bone by the driver will separate the anchor from the driver.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the proximal end of the anchor is configured to form a male head, and the distal end of the driver is formed to include a female socket opening configured to receive the male head to provide the means for engaging the proximal end of said anchor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the male head and the female socket opening have a square shape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the driver includes means for holding the free ends of the suture in tension to hold the anchor on the driver.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the anchor is made from a plastic material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the anchor is made from an absorbable plastic material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the anchor is absorbable.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the suture, when tensioned, applies a compressing force along a longitudinal axis of the anchor to expand the anchor radially outwardly within the opening of the bone to increase a retention force of the anchor in the bone.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
264 words
A driver suture anchor for threaded engagement into an opening in a bone to provide an attachment point for soft tissue to the bone and the driver therefor, comprising: an anchor with an externally threaded body portion for engaging the bone, the body portion having a distal end, a proximal end, first and second passageways extending longitudinally from the distal end of the anchor to the proximal end of the anchor to provide a web therebetween at the distal end of the anchor; a suture extending through the first passageway of the anchor over the web and back through the second passageway so that free ends of the suture extend away from the proximal end of the anchor, the suture being movable in the passageways; and an elongated driver having a distal end formed to include means for engaging the proximal end of the anchor and a proximal end for gripping by the surgeon to rotate the driver and the anchor to thread the anchor into the bone and wherein the driver has an enlarged distal end at the proximal end of the anchor when the anchor and driver are connected wherein rotation of the driver by the surgeon causes concurrent rotation of driver and anchor into the bone without axial movement therebetween and wherein continued rotation of the driver and anchor causes relative axial movement of the anchor with respect to the driver when the driver engages the bone, with the relative axial movement continuing with conjoint rotation until the anchor is separated from the driver at a location completely within the bone.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
264 words
A driver suture anchor for threaded engagement into an opening in a bone to provide an attachment point for soft tissue to the bone and the driver therefor, comprising: an anchor with an externally threaded body portion for engaging the bone, the body portion having a distal end, a proximal end, first and second passageways extending longitudinally from the distal end of the anchor to the proximal end of the anchor to provide a web therebetween at the distal end of the anchor; a suture extending through the first passageway of the anchor over the web and back through the second passageway so that free ends of the suture extend away from the proximal end of the anchor, the suture being movable in the passageways; and an elongated driver having a distal end formed to include means for engaging the proximal end of the anchor and a proximal end for gripping by the surgeon to rotate the driver and the anchor to thread the anchor into the bone and wherein the driver has an enlarged distal end at the proximal end of the anchor when the anchor and driver are connected wherein rotation of the driver by the surgeon causes concurrent rotation of driver and anchor into the bone without axial movement therebetween and wherein continued rotation of the driver and anchor causes relative axial movement of the anchor with respect to the driver when the driver engages the bone, with the relative axial movement continuing with conjoint rotation until the anchor is separated from the driver at a location completely within the bone.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the driver is formed to include a longitudinally extending slot for receiving the free ends of the suture therein.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the distal end of the driver has a larger diameter than a diameter of the body portion of the anchor so that the driver engages the bone surrounding a mouth of the opening to block internal advancement of the driver so that further rotation and threading of the anchor into the bone by the driver will automatically separate the driver from the inserted anchor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the proximal end of the anchor is configured to form a male head, and the distal end of the driver is formed to include a female socket opening configured to receive the male head to provide the means for engaging the proximal end of said anchor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the driver includes means for holding the free ends of the suture in tension to hold the anchor on the driver.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the suture is movable in the first and second passageways to equalize a load on the anchor.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the anchor is made from a plastic material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the anchor is made from an absorbable plastic material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the anchor is absorbable.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
219 words
A method for attaching soft tissue to a bone using an anchor having an externally-threaded body portion, the method comprising the steps of: (a) drilling a hole into the bone to a first predetermined depth with a spot faced, dressed area cut in the bone about an outer periphery of the hole; (b) tapping the hole to provide internal threads to a second predetermined depth less than the first predetermined depth; (c) inserting the externally threaded anchor, having an axial length less than the first predetermined depth and a threaded length less than the second predetermined depth, into the hole so that a distal end of the anchor is spaced apart from a bottom of the hole to provide an internal cavity and a proximal end of the anchor is disposed adjacent a mouth of the hole, the anchor carrying means for engaging the soft tissue to position the soft tissue against the spot faced, dressed area around the hole; and wherein the inserting step uses a driver to rotate the anchor, the driver having a larger diameter than the anchor so that the driver engages the countersink to block internal advancement of the driver and so that further rotation and threading of the anchor into the bone by the driver automatically separates the driver from the inserted anchor.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
219 words
A method for attaching soft tissue to a bone using an anchor having an externally-threaded body portion, the method comprising the steps of: (a) drilling a hole into the bone to a first predetermined depth with a spot faced, dressed area cut in the bone about an outer periphery of the hole; (b) tapping the hole to provide internal threads to a second predetermined depth less than the first predetermined depth; (c) inserting the externally threaded anchor, having an axial length less than the first predetermined depth and a threaded length less than the second predetermined depth, into the hole so that a distal end of the anchor is spaced apart from a bottom of the hole to provide an internal cavity and a proximal end of the anchor is disposed adjacent a mouth of the hole, the anchor carrying means for engaging the soft tissue to position the soft tissue against the spot faced, dressed area around the hole; and wherein the inserting step uses a driver to rotate the anchor, the driver having a larger diameter than the anchor so that the driver engages the countersink to block internal advancement of the driver and so that further rotation and threading of the anchor into the bone by the driver automatically separates the driver from the inserted anchor.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 33, wherein the drilling step forms a countersink surrounding a mouth of the hole and the dressed area is cut around the countersink so that the proximal end of the anchor is disposed generally within the countersink.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 34, wherein the engaging means includes a spike formed on the proximal end of the anchor to extend outwardly from the hole and penetrate the soft tissue.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 34, wherein the engaging means includes a suture coupled to the anchor.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 34, wherein the anchor is absorbable.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 34, wherein the anchor is made from a plastic material.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
291 words
A method for attaching soft tissue to a bone using a suture anchor having an externally threaded body portion for engaging the bone, the body portion having a distal end, a proximal end, first and second passageways extending longitudinally from the distal end of the anchor to the proximal end of the anchor, the method comprising the steps of: (a) drilling a hole into the bone to a first predetermined depth with a dressed area cut in the bone about an outer periphery of the hole to provide a contact surface for the soft tissue; (b) tapping the hole to provide internal threads; (c) providing a suture loosely threaded through the first passageway formed in the anchor, over a web of material at the distal end of the anchor between the first and second passageways, and back through the second passageway formed in the anchor so that free ends of the suture extend away from the proximal end of the anchor; (d) inserting the anchor into the hole so that the distal end of the anchor is adjacent a bottom of the hole, the proximal end of the anchor is adjacent an opening of the hole and the free ends of the suture extend outwardly from the hole; (e) attaching the free ends of the suture to the soft tissue to position the soft tissue against the dressed area around the hole; and wherein the inserting step uses a driver to rotate the anchor, the driver having a larger diameter than the anchor so that the driver engages the countersink to block internal advancement of the driver and so that further rotation and threading of the anchor into the bone by the driver automatically separates the driver from the inserted anchor.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
291 words
A method for attaching soft tissue to a bone using a suture anchor having an externally threaded body portion for engaging the bone, the body portion having a distal end, a proximal end, first and second passageways extending longitudinally from the distal end of the anchor to the proximal end of the anchor, the method comprising the steps of: (a) drilling a hole into the bone to a first predetermined depth with a dressed area cut in the bone about an outer periphery of the hole to provide a contact surface for the soft tissue; (b) tapping the hole to provide internal threads; (c) providing a suture loosely threaded through the first passageway formed in the anchor, over a web of material at the distal end of the anchor between the first and second passageways, and back through the second passageway formed in the anchor so that free ends of the suture extend away from the proximal end of the anchor; (d) inserting the anchor into the hole so that the distal end of the anchor is adjacent a bottom of the hole, the proximal end of the anchor is adjacent an opening of the hole and the free ends of the suture extend outwardly from the hole; (e) attaching the free ends of the suture to the soft tissue to position the soft tissue against the dressed area around the hole; and wherein the inserting step uses a driver to rotate the anchor, the driver having a larger diameter than the anchor so that the driver engages the countersink to block internal advancement of the driver and so that further rotation and threading of the anchor into the bone by the driver automatically separates the driver from the inserted anchor.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 39, wherein the drilling step forms a countersink surrounding a mouth of the hole and the dressed area is cut around the countersink so that the proximal end of the anchor is disposed generally within the countersink.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 39, wherein the anchor is absorbable.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 39, wherein the anchor is made from a plastic material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
SU827050A1
Cited
US4590928A
Cited
US4592346A
Cited
US4632100A
Cited
DE3538593A1
Cited
US4793335A
Cited
US4779616A
Cited
US4711234A
Cited
US5064425A
Cited
US4738255A
Cited
WO1988009157A1
Cited
US4960420A
Cited
US5037426A
Cited
US4988351A
Cited
US4946468A
Cited
US5129906A
Cited
US5246441A
Cited
US4997433A
Cited
US5139520A
Cited
US5013316A
Cited
US5102421A
Cited
US5224946A
Cited
US5236445A
Cited
US5041129A
Cited
US5100417A
Cited
US5258016A
Cited
US5268001A
Cited
US5211650A
Cited
US5354298A
Cited
US5071420A
Cited
US5207679A
Cited
US5141520A
Cited
US5156616A
Cited
US5370662A
Cited
US5324308A
Cited
US5411523A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-30 | 2000-12-30 | 2001-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-30 | 2004-12-30 | 2005-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-30 | 2008-12-30 | 2009-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |