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US6319271B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Suture locking device

Assignee: DePuy Spine LLC
•
Filing: 1999-12-29
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Granted: 2001-11-20
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Expires: 2019-12-29
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Abstract

Abstract The invention disclosed is a device for locking a suture in place without the need for tying knots once the suture is placed within tissue. The device comprises anchor having a front section and a rear section, a cannula extending through the front and rear sections through which the suture extends, and a locking mechanism for locking the suture within the cannula.

Inventors

  • 👤 Herbert E. Schwartz
  • 👤 Thomas C. May
  • 👤 Robert-Jan Enzerink
  • 👤 John Margetts

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 18:03
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/0487; A61B17/0401; A61B2017/0404; A61B2017/0445; A61B2017/0446; A61B2017/0448; A61B2017/0451; A61B2017/0454; A61B2017/0458; A61B2017/0464; A61B2017/0488

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 136 words
A device for locking a suture in place, comprising: an anchor having a cannula through which the suture extends, the anchor further comprising a rear edge and a front edge; and a locking mechanism for locking the suture within the cannula; wherein the suture comprises a first end and a second end, the suture extending through the cannula of the anchor from the rear edge of the anchor to the front edge of the anchor, adapted to pass through a portion of tissue, and extend back through the cannula from the front edge to the rear edge; and wherein the locking mechanism comprises a knot formed at the first end of the suture, the knot sized to wedge within the cannula to lock the first end and the second end of the suture in the cannula.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 136 words
A device for locking a suture in place, comprising: an anchor having a cannula through which the suture extends, the anchor further comprising a rear edge and a front edge; and a locking mechanism for locking the suture within the cannula; wherein the suture comprises a first end and a second end, the suture extending through the cannula of the anchor from the rear edge of the anchor to the front edge of the anchor, adapted to pass through a portion of tissue, and extend back through the cannula from the front edge to the rear edge; and wherein the locking mechanism comprises a knot formed at the first end of the suture, the knot sized to wedge within the cannula to lock the first end and the second end of the suture in the cannula.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 11 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein the cannula is tapered.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 63 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein the knot is a slip knot and the second end passes through the slip knot, whereby tension on the second end of the suture causes the slip knot to travel distally toward the front edge of the anchor until the slip knot tightens on the second end locking the first and second ends within the cannula.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein the cannula is stepped to have a diameter at the front edge that is smaller than a diameter at the rear edge.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 112 words
A device for locking a suture in place, comprising: an anchor having a cannula through which the suture extends, the anchor further comprising a rear edge and a front edge; the suture having a first and a second end, the suture extending through the cannula of the anchor from the rear edge of the anchor to the front edge of the anchor, adapted to pass through a portion of tissue, and extend back through the cannula from the front edge to the rear edge; and a knot formed at the first end of the suture, the knot sized to wedge within the cannula and lock the first and second ends in place.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 112 words
A device for locking a suture in place, comprising: an anchor having a cannula through which the suture extends, the anchor further comprising a rear edge and a front edge; the suture having a first and a second end, the suture extending through the cannula of the anchor from the rear edge of the anchor to the front edge of the anchor, adapted to pass through a portion of tissue, and extend back through the cannula from the front edge to the rear edge; and a knot formed at the first end of the suture, the knot sized to wedge within the cannula and lock the first and second ends in place.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 11 words
The device of claim 5 , wherein the cannula is tapered.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 67 words
The device of claim 6 , wherein the knot is a slip knot defining a loop and the second end passes through the loop, whereby tension on the second end of the suture causes the slip knot to travel distally toward the front edge of the anchor until the slip knot tightens on the second end locking the first and second ends in place within the cannula.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 29 words
The device of claim 5 , wherein the cannula is stepped to have a diameter at the front edge that is smaller than a diameter at the rear edge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 67 words
The device of claim 8 , wherein the knot is a slip knot defining a loop and the second end passes through the loop, whereby tension on the second end of the suture causes the slip knot to travel distally toward the front edge of the anchor until the slip knot tightens on the second end locking the first and second ends in place within the cannula.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2004-11-19 2005-05-21 2005-11-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2008-11-19 2009-05-21 2009-11-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2012-11-19 2013-05-21 2013-11-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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