# US 10,368,856 B2 · Apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a bone

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,368,856 B2
- Document ID: US10368856B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/131,663
- Filed: 2016-04-18
- Published: 2017-03-16
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2011-11-10
- Assignees: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
- Applicants: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
- Inventors: Kevin T. Stone; Gregory J. Denham; Daniel R Norton
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10368856B2

## CPC

- 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 17/0469: {Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery}
- A61B 17/16: Instruments for performing osteoclasis; Drills or chisels for bones; Trepans {(arthroscopic bone cutters A61B17/320016)}
- A61B 17/1655: {for tapping}
- A61B 17/0482: {Needle or suture guides (guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; guides for puncturing needles A61B17/3403)}
- A61B 17/0485: {Devices or means, e.g. loops, for capturing the suture thread and threading it through an opening of a suturing instrument or needle eyelet}
- A61B 17/0487: {Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks (suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122)}
- A61B 17/1615: {Drill bits, i.e. rotating tools extending from a handpiece to contact the worked material}
- A61B 17/1684: {for the shoulder}
- A61B 2017/00336: {with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable}
- A61B 2017/00858: {high friction or non-slip}
- A61B 2017/0404: {Buttons}
- A61B 2017/0406: {Pledgets}
- A61B 2017/0409: {Instruments for applying suture anchors}
- A61B 2017/0417: {T-fasteners}
- A61B 2017/0432: {the separate member staying in the anchor after placement}
- A61B 2017/044: {with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws}
- A61B 2017/0445: {cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument}
- A61B 2017/0458: {Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot}
- A61B 2017/0464: {for soft tissue}
- A61B 2017/0477: {with pre-tied sutures}
- A61B 2017/06185: {hollow or tubular}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A flexible member for coupling tissue. The flexible member includes a tail and a self-locking construct. The tail includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The tail defines a tail passageway proximate to the second end. The self-locking construct includes a first loop and an adjustable second loop. The second loop is slidably threaded through the tail passageway defined by the tail. The self-locking construct is configured such that passing the tail through the first loop so that the second loop extends into the first loop forms a tissue capture region defined by the self-locking construct. The tail passageway defined by the tail defines a locking member configured to secure the second loop to the first loop.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for coupling tissue with a flexible member including a tail and a self-locking construct coupled to the tail, the self-locking construct including an adjustable first loop and an adjustable second loop coupled thereto, the method comprising:
implanting an anchor in bone, the anchor slidably mounted to the tail;
positioning the tail relative to the tissue such that the tail passes around the tissue and is positioned between a first portion of the tail and a second portion of the tail;
inserting an end of the tail through the adjustable first loop;
passing the tail through the adjustable first loop;
pulling the adjustable second loop into the anchor;
positioning the self-locking construct relative to the tissue; and
tightening the self-locking construct against the tissue by pulling on an end of the self-locking construct.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion is between a first end of the tail and the anchor and the second portion is between a second end of the tail and the anchor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further including:
positioning the tail relative to the tissue before or after implanting the anchor in bone.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the anchor includes an internal passage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the adjustable second loop extends through the internal passage.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein, after the self-locking construct is positioned relative to the tissue, the tissue is encompassed entirely by the suture construct.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the adjustable first loop and the adjustable second loop surround the tissue and define a tissue capture region.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the adjustable second loop extends through the adjustable first loop.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further including:
tightening the adjustable first loop to the adjustable second loop by sliding a first body of the self-locking construct along the self-locking construct to decrease the size of, and adjust, the adjustable first loop.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further including:
tensioning the adjustable second loop by pulling on the end of the self-locking construct to move the anchor from an expanded position to a collapsed position by flexing the anchor to secure the anchor within the bone.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the adjustable first loop is self-locking and is locked onto the adjustable second loop without a knot.

### Claim 12

A method for coupling tissue with a flexible member including a tail and a self-locking construct coupled to the tail, the self-locking construct including a first loop and a second loop coupled thereto, the method comprising:
implanting an anchor in bone, the anchor slidably mounted to the tail;
positioning the tail relative to the tissue such that the tail passes around the tissue and is positioned between a first portion of the tail and a second portion of the tail;
inserting an end of the tail through the first loop;
passing the tail through the first loop, pulling the second loop into the anchor, and positioning the self-locking construct around the tissue; and
tightening the self-locking construct against the tissue by pulling on an end of the self-locking construct.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further including:
implanting the anchor one of before or after passing the tail through the tissue.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further including:
passing the anchor around the tissue prior to implanting the anchor in the bone.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the second loop is adjustable.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the first loop is adjustable, and further including:
closing the first loop onto the second loop of the self-locking construct to secure the first loop to the second loop.

### Claim 17

A method for coupling tissue with a flexible member including a tail and a self-locking construct coupled to the tail, the self-locking construct including a first loop and a second loop coupled thereto, the method comprising:
positioning the tail relative to the tissue such that the tail passes around the tissue and is positioned between a first portion of the tail and a second portion of the tail;
inserting an end of the tail through the first loop;
passing the tail through the first loop, pulling the second loop through the anchor such that the second loop extends through the anchor and the tissue is encompassed by the self-locking construct; and
tightening the self-locking construct against the tissue by pulling on an end of the self-locking construct.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further including:
passing the entire tail through the first loop and pulling the end of the suture construct to decrease the size of the second adjustable loop.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the anchor includes an internal passage and the second loop extends through the internal passage.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the first loop is adjustable, and further including:
closing the first loop onto the second adjustable loop of the self-locking construct to secure the first loop to the second adjustable loop and retain the first tissue in contact with the second tissue.