US5879372A — Apparatus and method for anchoring sutures

Claim 1

Independent Claim 227 words

An insertion tool for inserting a suture anchor through a substantially cylindrical hole in a live human bone and causing said suture anchor to be anchored in said live human bone, said suture anchor being substantially rigid and having a bore through which an end of said insertion tool is positioned, said suture anchor being shaped and said bore being oriented such that when said insertion tool is positioned in said bore and maintained parallel to said hole during insertion of said suture anchor said suture anchor must be reoriented in order to fit into said hole, said insertion tool comprising: an elongated main body having a first end and a second end; and an insertion end coupled to said first end of said main body for inserting into said bore of said suture anchor, said insertion end having properties wherein; said insertion end has an initial configuration before insertion of said suture anchor through said hole; said suture anchor causes said insertion end to bend from said initial configuration so that said suture anchor can fit through said hole while said main body of said insertion tool travels parallel to said hole; and said insertion end substantially returns to said initial configuration when said suture anchor is positioned in cancellous bone tissue, thereby reorienting said suture anchor to be firmly anchored in said live human bone.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 227 words

An insertion tool for inserting a suture anchor through a substantially cylindrical hole in a live human bone and causing said suture anchor to be anchored in said live human bone, said suture anchor being substantially rigid and having a bore through which an end of said insertion tool is positioned, said suture anchor being shaped and said bore being oriented such that when said insertion tool is positioned in said bore and maintained parallel to said hole during insertion of said suture anchor said suture anchor must be reoriented in order to fit into said hole, said insertion tool comprising: an elongated main body having a first end and a second end; and an insertion end coupled to said first end of said main body for inserting into said bore of said suture anchor, said insertion end having properties wherein; said insertion end has an initial configuration before insertion of said suture anchor through said hole; said suture anchor causes said insertion end to bend from said initial configuration so that said suture anchor can fit through said hole while said main body of said insertion tool travels parallel to said hole; and said insertion end substantially returns to said initial configuration when said suture anchor is positioned in cancellous bone tissue, thereby reorienting said suture anchor to be firmly anchored in said live human bone.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

The insertion tool of claim 1 further including means for limiting the movement of said insertion end into said bore.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The insertion tool of claim 2 wherein said means for limiting movement comprises a thickened area between said main body and said insertion end.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

The insertion tool of claim 2 wherein said insertion end is tapered from said main body, and said main body has a diameter wider than said bore.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

The insertion tool of claim 1 wherein said insertion end is formed of a material having superelastic properties.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 114 words

A system for anchoring a suture to live human bone through a substantially cylindrical bone hole having a longitudinal axis, said system comprising: an insertion tool having a flexible insertion end having properties for returning said insertion end to an initial configuration; and a substantially rigid suture anchor having a bore through which said insertion end of said insertion tool is positioned; wherein said suture anchor is shaped and said bore is oriented such that said insertion end of said insertion tool bends away from its initial configuration during insertion of said suture anchor through cortical bone tissue and returns to its initial configuration when said suture anchor is positioned within cancellous bone tissue.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 114 words

A system for anchoring a suture to live human bone through a substantially cylindrical bone hole having a longitudinal axis, said system comprising: an insertion tool having a flexible insertion end having properties for returning said insertion end to an initial configuration; and a substantially rigid suture anchor having a bore through which said insertion end of said insertion tool is positioned; wherein said suture anchor is shaped and said bore is oriented such that said insertion end of said insertion tool bends away from its initial configuration during insertion of said suture anchor through cortical bone tissue and returns to its initial configuration when said suture anchor is positioned within cancellous bone tissue.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 6 wherein said suture anchor has a conical surface, a base located substantially adjacent to the larger end of said conical surface, and a central axis.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 7 wherein the apex of said conical surface of said suture anchor is truncated.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 7 wherein: the angle of said base with respect to said central axis of said suture anchor is oblique; and said conical surface is a circular conical surface.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 130 words

The system of claim 9 wherein: said bore is parallel to said base; said suture anchor has a leading edge along said base at which the angle between said base and said conical surface is most acute; said suture anchor has a trailing edge along said base at which the angle between said base and said conical surface is greatest; said insertion end of said insertion tool enters said bore adjacent said trailing edge; and said suture anchor is sufficiently long to force said insertion end of said insertion tool to bend from its initial configuration when said insertion tool enters said bone hole parallel to said longitudinal axis of said bone hole and with said base of said suture anchor parallel to said longitudinal axis of said bone hole.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system of claim 6 wherein said insertion tool further includes means for limiting the movement of said insertion end into said bore.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 199 words

A method of anchoring a suture to live human bone through a substantially cylindrical bone hole having a longitudinal axis, said method comprising the steps of: selecting an insertion tool comprising a main body and a flexible insertion end having elastic properties for returning said insertion end to an initial configuration; selecting a substantially rigid suture anchor having a central axis and a bore at an angle to said central axis; securing a suture to said suture anchor; positioning said insertion end of said insertion tool through said bore; advancing said insertion tool towards said bone hole with said main body parallel to said longitudinal axis and said insertion end in its initial configuration, wherein said suture anchor, as oriented on said insertion end, is too large to fit through said bone hole; advancing said insertion tool and said suture anchor into said bone hole, causing said suture anchor to reorient by bending said insertion end of said insertion tool; and advancing said insertion tool into said bone hole until said insertion end having elastic properties is able to return to its initial configuration, thereby reorienting said suture anchor to its orientation prior to insertion into said bone hole.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 199 words

A method of anchoring a suture to live human bone through a substantially cylindrical bone hole having a longitudinal axis, said method comprising the steps of: selecting an insertion tool comprising a main body and a flexible insertion end having elastic properties for returning said insertion end to an initial configuration; selecting a substantially rigid suture anchor having a central axis and a bore at an angle to said central axis; securing a suture to said suture anchor; positioning said insertion end of said insertion tool through said bore; advancing said insertion tool towards said bone hole with said main body parallel to said longitudinal axis and said insertion end in its initial configuration, wherein said suture anchor, as oriented on said insertion end, is too large to fit through said bone hole; advancing said insertion tool and said suture anchor into said bone hole, causing said suture anchor to reorient by bending said insertion end of said insertion tool; and advancing said insertion tool into said bone hole until said insertion end having elastic properties is able to return to its initial configuration, thereby reorienting said suture anchor to its orientation prior to insertion into said bone hole.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 12 wherein said step of securing said suture to said suture anchor further includes the step of inserting said suture through said bore in which said insertion end is inserted.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 12 wherein said suture anchor further comprises an accessory bore, and said step of securing said suture to said suture anchor further comprising the steps of inserting said suture through said accessory bore.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 12 further including the step of pulling said suture away from said bone hole after said suture anchor has been reoriented inside said bone hole, to thereby further secure said suture anchor in said bone hole.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method according to claim 12 wherein said suture anchor comprises: a first conical surface; a base, said base being located substantially adjacent to the larger end of said conical surface; a central axis; and an anchor bore across said conical surface.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 16 wherein said base is substantially planar and oblique to said central axis.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 17 wherein said anchor bore is parallel to the plane of said base.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 16 further comprising a cylindrical surface extending between said larger end of said first conical surface and said base.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 16 wherein said base comprises a second conical surface inverted with respect to said first conical surface.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 16 further including an accessory bore across said conical surface and substantially perpendicular to said anchor bore.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 16 wherein said suture anchor is formed from a bioabsorbable material.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 16 wherein said suture anchor is formed from a radiolucent material.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 16 wherein said suture anchor is formed from bone.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 24 wherein said suture anchor is formed from human bone.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 16 herein said suture anchor is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polymethylmethacrylate, polysulfone, polylactic acid, polydioxanone, polyglycolic acid, hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate, alumina and zirconia.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 16 wherein said suture anchor is formed from polysulfone.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 16 further including radiused areas joining said conical surface to said base.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-03-08	2002-09-07	2003-03-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-03-08	2006-09-07	2007-03-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-03-08	2010-09-07	2011-03-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus and method for anchoring sutures

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