# US 10,117,698 B2 · Devices, systems, and methods for driving an anchor into bone

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- Number: US 10,117,698 B2
- Document ID: US10117698B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/057,307
- Filed: 2016-03-01
- Published: 2017-09-07
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-01
- Assignees: Medos International Sarl
- Applicants: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
- Inventors: Gregory R. Whittaker; Gary McAlister
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117698B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/8872: {Instruments for putting said fixation devices against or away from the bone (A61B17/7074, A61B17/808 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/0401: {Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811)}
- A61B 17/844: {with expandable anchors or anchors having movable parts}
- A61B 17/8685: {comprising multiple separate parts}
- A61B 17/8875: {Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches}
- A61B 17/8897: {Guide wires or guide pins}
- A61F 2/0805: {Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments}
- A61F 2002/0864: {Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor elements, e.g. by additional screws in the anchor, anchor crimped around tendon}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

In general, devices, systems, and methods for driving an anchor into bone are provided. In one embodiment, a surgical tool is provided that includes a driver tool with a handle and an elongate shaft. A resistance element is disposed within the handle. An inner portion of an anchor is retained on a distal end of the elongate shaft, and a guidewire extends between the resistance element and an outer portion of the anchor that is in bone. As force is applied distally to the handle, the guidewire pushes the anchor into the bone before overcoming force of the resistance element and thereby allowing the inner portion of the anchor to be driven into the outer portion of the anchor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical tool, comprising:
a driver tool configured to drive an anchor into a bone, the driver tool including a handle and an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle, the elongate shaft having an inner passageway extending therethrough, the handle having an inner cavity formed therein, the inner passageway being in communication with the inner cavity;
a resistance element disposed within the inner cavity, a force required to cause the resistance member to yield being greater than a force required to drive the anchor into the bone; and
an anchor component retainer formed on a distal end of the elongate shaft
wherein the resistance member yielding includes penetration thereof by a guidewire extending through the inner passageway.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the resistance element includes a material that is softer than a material surrounding the inner cavity.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The surgical tool of claim 2, wherein the material disposed in the inner cavity is semi-rigid material, and material surrounding the inner cavity is rigid material.

### Claim 4

A surgical kit, comprising:
a driver tool including a handle and an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle, the handle having a resistance element disposed therein; and
a guidewire having a proximal end disposed within the handle, and a length of the guidewire extending through an inner passageway of the elongate shaft;
wherein the driver tool is configured to drive an anchor into bone, thereby causing the proximal end of the guidewire to move proximally within the handle after the guidewire overcomes a distal bias force exerted on the guidewire by the resistance element.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The kit of claim 4, wherein the resistance element includes an inner portion of semi-rigid material within the handle into which the proximal end of the guidewire is configured to move proximally within the handle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The kit of claim 4, wherein the resistance element includes a bias element disposed in the handle and applying the distal bias force to the guidewire, the distal bias force being configured to be overcome by the driver tool driving the anchor into bone to allow the proximal movement of the proximal end of the guidewire within the handle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The kit of claim 4, further comprising an anchor including an outer member and an inner member, the inner member being configured to be removably disposed on a distal end of the elongate shaft, and the outer member being configured to have a distal end of the guidewire disposed therein.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The kit of claim 7, wherein the driver tool is configured to drive the anchor into bone and thereby cause the guidewire to move distally and thereby push the outer member distally to move the outer member distally relative to the bone.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The kit of claim 8, wherein the outer member is configured to move distally within the bone before the proximal end of the guidewire moves proximally within the handle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The kit of claim 8, wherein the driver tool is configured to drive the anchor into bone to cause the inner member to move into the outer member after the driver tool causes the distal movement of the outer member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The kit of claim 7, wherein the inner member is configured to be removably disposed on the distal end of the elongate shaft at a location that is entirely proximal to the outer member having the distal end of the guidewire disposed therein.

### Claim 12

A surgical method, comprising:
disposing a tendon in a bone hole;
disposing an outer member of an anchor in the bone hole; and
distally advancing a driver tool having an inner member of the anchor disposed on a distal end thereof, thereby causing a guidewire disposed in an inner passageway of the driver tool to push the outer member in a distal direction within the bone hole, then causing the guidewire to overcome a bias force applied thereto by a resistance element disposed in the driver tool and move proximally within the inner passageway, and then causing the inner member to be disposed within the outer member to secure the tendon within the bone hole.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the guidewire moving proximally within the inner passageway includes a proximal end of the guidewire moving into an inner cavity formed in a proximal handle of the driver tool.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the resistance element is disposed within the inner cavity and includes a material that is softer than a material surrounding the inner cavity, the proximal movement of the guidewire resulting in the guidewire moving proximally within the softer material.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the resistance element is disposed within the inner cavity and includes a spring disposed therein that provides the bias force, the bias force biasing the guidewire in a distal direction, and the distal advancement of the driver tool overcoming the bias force to allow the proximal movement of the guidewire.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the distal advancement of the driver tool causes the guidewire to penetrate into the resistance element disposed within the driver tool.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein, prior to the distal advancement of the driver tool, a distal end of the guidewire is disposed within the outer member and the inner member is disposed on the distal end of the driver tool at a location that is entirely proximal to the outer member having the distal end of the guidewire disposed therein.

### Claim 18

A surgical tool, comprising:
a driver tool configured to drive an anchor into a bone, the driver tool including a handle and an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle, the elongate shaft having an inner passageway extending therethrough, the handle having an inner cavity formed therein, the inner passageway being in communication with the inner cavity;
a resistance element disposed within the inner cavity, a force required to cause the resistance member to yield being greater than a force required to drive the anchor into the bone; and
an anchor component retainer formed on a distal end of the elongate shaft
wherein the resistance member yielding includes compression thereof by a guidewire extending through the inner passageway.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The surgical tool of claim 18, wherein the resistance element includes a spring.