# US 10,478,175 B2 · Method and apparatus for meniscal repair

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

- Number: US 10,478,175 B2
- Document ID: US10478175B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/208,341
- Filed: 2016-07-12
- Published: 2017-01-05
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-02
- Assignees: Linvatec Corporation
- Applicants: Linvatec Corporation
- Inventors: David Caborn; Dennis McDevitt; Akbar Nawab; Vincent Novak
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478175B2

## CPC

- 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 17/0401: {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 2017/00743: {Type of operation; Specification of treatment sites (A61B2017/00238 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/0409: {Instruments for applying suture anchors}
- A61B 2017/0414: {having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening}
- A61B 2017/0417: {T-fasteners}
- A61B 2017/0427: {having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body}
- A61B 2017/0456: {Surface features on the anchor, e.g. ribs increasing friction between the suture and the anchor}
- A61B 2017/0464: {for soft tissue}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An anchor for securing suture to tissue, the anchor comprising: an elongated body having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end having a distal slot extending proximally into the elongated body, and the proximal end having a proximal slot extending distally into the body; the distal slot comprising a wide section and a narrow section, wherein the wide section has a width such that the suture is slidably accommodated therein and the narrow section has a width such that the suture is bound therein, and further wherein the wide section is disposed distally of the narrow section.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An anchor, comprising:
an elongated cylindrical body having a distal end and a proximal end, a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end, and a cylindrical outer surface radially offset from the longitudinal axis, the distal end having a distal slot opening on the cylindrical outer surface of the body and extending from the distal end of the body proximally along the longitudinal axis of the body, and the proximal end having a proximal slot opening on the cylindrical outer surface of the body and extending from the proximal end of the body distally along the longitudinal axis of the body, and wherein the elongated body is non-tubular;
the distal slot comprising a wide section and a narrow section, wherein the wide section has a width configured to slidably accommodate a suture in the wide section and the narrow section has a width configured to bind the suture in the narrow section, and further wherein the wide section is disposed distally of the narrow section.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An anchor according to claim 1 wherein the distal slot is aligned with the proximal slot.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An anchor according to claim 2 wherein the elongated body further comprises a recess, and further wherein the recess is diametrically opposed to the distal slot and the proximal slot.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

An anchor according to claim 3 wherein the recess communicates with the wide section of the distal slot, the narrow section of the distal slot and the proximal slot.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An anchor according to claim 1 wherein the proximal slot comprises a wide section and a narrow section, and further wherein the narrow section has a width such that the suture is slidably accommodated therein.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An anchor according to claim 1 wherein the elongated body further comprises a fin.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

An anchor according to claim 6 wherein the fin is opposed to the distal slot.

### Claim 8

A system comprising:
a suture;
at least one anchor, the anchor comprising:
an elongated cylindrical body having a distal end and a proximal end, a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end, and a cylindrical outer surface radially offset from the longitudinal axis, the distal end having a distal slot opening on the cylindrical outer surface of the body and extending from the distal end of the body proximally along the longitudinal axis of the body, and the proximal end having a proximal slot opening on the cylindrical outer surface of the body and extending from the proximal end of the body distally along the longitudinal axis of the body, and wherein the elongated body is non-tubular;
the distal slot comprising a wide section and a narrow section, wherein the wide section has a width such that the suture is slidably accommodated in the wide section and the narrow section has a width such that the suture is bound in the narrow section, and further wherein the wide section is disposed distally of the narrow section;
wherein the suture is initially disposed within the wide section of the distal slot of the at least one anchor so that the suture is slidable relative to the at least one anchor.