# US 10,441,277 B2 · Apparatus and method for securing tissue

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- Number: US 10,441,277 B2
- Document ID: US10441277B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/858,695
- Filed: 2017-12-29
- Published: 2018-05-03
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-12
- Assignees: Ziptek LLC.
- Applicants: Ziptek LLC
- Inventors: William F Bennett; Ramses Galaz Mendez; Daniel Francisco Gomez Romo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441277B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/06166: {Sutures (suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M)}
- 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 17/0482: {Needle or suture guides (guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; guides for puncturing needles A61B17/3403)}
- 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 17/8888: {at its central region}
- A61F 2/0811: {Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments}
- A61B 17/0483: {Hand-held instruments for holding sutures (A61B17/0469 takes precedence; other holders for needles or sutures A61B17/06061; surgical forceps A61B17/28; surgical pincettes A61B17/30)}
- 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 17/06061: {Holders for needles or sutures, e.g. racks, stands (hand-held holding instruments A61B17/0483; holders for articles A61B50/20; racks for syringes or for hypodermic or infusion needles A61M5/008)}
- A61B 2017/00526: {Methods of manufacturing}
- A61B 2017/0404: {Buttons}
- A61B 2017/0406: {Pledgets}
- A61B 2017/0409: {Instruments for applying suture anchors}
- A61B 2017/0414: {having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening}
- A61B 2017/044: {with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws}
- A61B 2017/0461: {with features cooperating with special features on the suture, e.g. protrusions on the suture}
- A61B 2017/0464: {for soft tissue}
- A61B 2017/0488: {Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks}
- A61B 2017/06176: {with protrusions, e.g. barbs}
- A61F 2002/0817: {Structure of the anchor}
- A61F 2002/0858: {Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges}
- 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

An apparatus and method is disclosed for securing tissue to a bone comprising a novel screw anchor for insertion into a bone by a novel rotational driver. The screw anchor and rotation driver enables the screw to be completely embedded into the bone while permitting a suture to be threaded through a transverse aperture in the screw. The rotation driver facilitates insertion and engagement of a capture with one of a series of protuberance formed along a length of a suture. In addition, the method is disclosed of forming the series of protuberance.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of securing a tissue to a bone with a suture, the suture having a series of protuberances spaced apart along a length thereof, comprising the steps of:
rotating a driver for driving a screw into the bone with the suture extending through the transverse aperture in the screw;
passing the first end of the suture through a central aperture in the driver;
threading the first end of the suture through a central aperture in a capture;
pushing the capture with the driver along the suture to lockingly engage the capture with one of the series of protuberances for securing the first end of the suture; and
securing a second end of said suture for securing the tissue to the bone.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method of securing a tissue to a bone with a suture as set forth in claim 1, including the step of passing the suture through the tissue.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method of securing a tissue to a bone with a suture as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of rotating a driver for driving a screw into the bone includes cutting the bone with the driver to countersink the screw within the bone to completely embed the screw into the bone.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method of securing a tissue to a bone with a suture as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of securing the second end of said suture includes the step of;
rotating a driver for driving a second screw into the bone with the suture loop through the transverse aperture in the second screw;
threading the second end of the suture through suture loop;
pulling the suture loop for threading the second end of the suture through the transverse aperture in the second screw;
threading the second end of the suture through a central aperture in a second capture;
pushing the second capture with the driver along the suture to lockingly engage the second capture with one of the series of protuberances for securing the second end of the suture for securing the tissue to the bone.

### Claim 5

The method of securing a tissue, comprising the steps of: passing a first end of a suture into an entry point of first side of the tissue to pass through the tissue and to extend outside of the tissue; fastening the capture to the suture to be fixed adjacent to a second end of the suture; pulling the first end of the suture extending outside of second side of the tissue to bring the capture into engagement with the entry point of the tissue; and affixing the first end of the suture for securing the tissue.