Apparatus for tissue repair
AssigneeSmith & Nephew, Inc.
InventorsRaymond A. Bojarski, George Sikora, Paul Alexander Torrie, Steven W. Ek
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Abstract
An apparatus includes first and second fixation members, a flexible member coupled to the first and second fixation members, and a limiting element coupled to the flexible member. The limiting element is movable relative to the second fixation member and acts to limit loosening of the flexible member relative to the second fixation member. The limiting element can be slidably received by the flexible member. The flexible member can be coupled to the fixation members such that pulling on a free end of the flexible member shortens a length of the flexible member between the fixation members.
Claims15
A tissue repair device, comprising:
- first and second fasteners, the first and second fasteners having an elongated main body and a projection extending from the main body;
- a flexible member coupling the projections of the first and second fasteners, the flexible member including a limiting element between the first and second fasteners, such that tensioning an end of the flexible member shortens a length of the flexible member between the first and second fasteners;
- and
- a delivery device comprising:
- a handle;
- a cannula extending from the handle and including a longitudinal opening in the cannula along at least a portion of the length of the cannula;
- and
- a pusher member slidably positioned and advanceable within the cannula;
- wherein the first and second fasteners are slidably disposed within the cannula such that, upon the advancement of the pusher member, at least one of the first and second fasteners is deployed from the cannula;
- and
- wherein, after the at least one of the first and second fasteners is deployed from the cannula, the at least one of the first and second fasteners is configured to rotate in response to the tensioning of the end of the flexible member.
A method of repairing tissue, the method comprising:
- selecting a tissue repair device, the tissue repair device comprising:
- first and second fasteners, the first and second fasteners having an elongated main body and a projection extending from the main body;
- a flexible member coupling the projections of the first and second fasteners, the flexible member including a limiting element between the first and second fasteners;
- and
- a delivery device comprising:
- a handle;
- a cannula extending from the handle and including a longitudinal opening in the cannula along at least a portion of the length of the cannula;
- and
- a pusher member slidably positioned and advanceable within the cannula;
- advancing the pusher member to deploy at least one of the first and second fasteners from the cannula, and
- tensioning an end of the flexible member to shorten a length of the flexible member between the first and second fasteners and to rotate the at least one of the first and second fasteners.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.