# US 11,439,382 B2 · Surgical constructs and methods of tissue repair > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,382 B2 - Document ID: US11439382B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/419,801 - Filed: 2019-05-22 - Published: 2019-09-05 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-20 - Assignees: Arthrex, Inc. - Applicants: Arthrex, Inc. - Inventors: Stephen S. Burkhart - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439382B2 ## 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 17/0485: {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 2017/00004: {(bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive} - A61B 2017/0409: {Instruments for applying suture anchors} - A61B 2017/0412: {having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body} - A61B 2017/0414: {having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening} - 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 2017/045: {snug fit within the anchor} - A61B 2017/0454: {the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture} - A61B 2017/0458: {Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot} - A61B 2017/0464: {for soft tissue} - A61B 2017/06185: {hollow or tubular} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Systems and methods for soft tissue to bone repairs employing tensionable knotless anchors, without knot tying. The tensionable knotless anchors may be used by themselves or in combination with additional constructs (which may have a similar or different configuration, i.e., modified according to the specific repair) to achieve novel remplissage and soft tissue repairs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for tissue repairs, comprising: an anchor body that is cannulated and that comprises an outer surface having a fixation structure for securing the anchor body in a bone hole; a tip that is separable from the anchor body, wherein the tip defines a recess configured to hold a flexible material; and a tensionable construct extending from a first portion of the tip, the tensionable construct comprising a flexible strand defining two apertures at different locations along a length of the flexible strand, and a passage extending through the flexible strand and connecting the two apertures, for forming a splice and a loop with an adjustable perimeter adjacent the splice; wherein the first portion of the tip is insertable into an opening at an end face of the anchor body and configured to remain spaced apart radially from an inner surface of the anchor body to facilitate rotation of the tip relative to the anchor body while inserted, and wherein the tensionable construct is configured to extend into the anchor body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising the flexible material that is separate from the tensionable construct, wherein the flexible material is held in the recess. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the flexible material comprises a suture tape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the flexible material is releasably attached to the tip. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible strand of the tensionable construct further comprises the splice formed at the passage and the loop, wherein the loop is a knotless, tensionable, self-cinching loop with the adjustable perimeter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the tensionable construct further comprises a knot and a free end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the knotless, tensionable, self-cinching loop is pre-looped. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the passage forms a coreless portion of the flexible strand. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the fixation structure on the outer surface of the anchor body comprises a thread. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the fixation structure on the outer surface of the anchor body comprises a plurality of ribs. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the tip and the anchor body are rotatable relative to one another when the first portion of the tip is inserted into the opening at the end face of the anchor body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the recess forms an eyelet that extends through the tip. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the tip comprises a tip body defining the recess and a shaft connected to the tip body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein the tensionable construct is connected to the shaft of the tip. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein the shaft is cannulated and defines a passage that extends into the tip body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein the recess forms an eyelet that extends through the tip body, and wherein at least one internal channel defined by the shaft has at least a closed annular region that extends transverse to an axis of extension of the eyelet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the tip is insertable into the anchor body such that the entire recess of the tip is located inside the anchor body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the recess extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the anchor body when the first portion of the tip is inserted into the opening at the end face of the anchor body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the tensionable construct and the recess are separated entirely from one another. ### Claim 20 A device for tissue repairs, comprising: an anchor comprising: an anchor body that is cannulated and that comprises an outer surface having a fixation structure for securing the anchor body in a bone hole; a tip that is separate from the anchor body, wherein the tip defines a recess and has a first portion that is insertable into the anchor body; and a tensionable construct extending from the first portion of the tip, the tensionable construct comprising a flexible strand with a free end, a splice, and a knotless, tensionable, self-cinching loop with an adjustable perimeter formed adjacent the splice; and a flexible material that is separate from the tensionable construct, wherein the flexible material has a distalmost portion that is configured to extend through the recess of the tip and two proximal portions that extend from either end of the distalmost portion, and wherein another portion of the anchor radially separates a region of each of the proximal portions from the tensionable construct. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein the recess forms an eyelet that extends through the tip, and wherein the flexible material is threaded through the eyelet. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein the first portion of the tip is insertable into an opening at an end face of the anchor body, and wherein the tensionable construct is configured to extend into the anchor body. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein the tip is insertable into the anchor body such that the entire recess of the tip is located inside the anchor body. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein the flexible material is releasably attached to the tip. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein the first portion of the tip is formed at a proximal end of the tip, wherein a central axis of the tip extends from the proximal end to an opposite distal end, and wherein a solid portion of the tip formed along the longitudinal axis separates the recess from the proximal end of the tip. ### Claim 26 A device for tissue repairs, comprising: an anchor body that is cannulated and that comprises an outer surface having a fixation structure for securing the anchor body in a bone hole; a tip that is separable from the anchor body, wherein the tip defines a recess configured to hold a flexible material; and a tensionable construct configured to extend from the tip into the anchor body, the tensionable construct comprising a flexible strand defining two apertures at different locations along a length of the flexible strand, and a passage extending through the flexible strand and connecting the two apertures, for forming a splice and a loop with an adjustable perimeter adjacent the splice; wherein a proximal end of the tip has a first portion that is insertable into an opening at an end face of the anchor body, wherein a central axis of the tip extends from the proximal end to an opposite distal end, and wherein the tensionable construct is connected to the tip with a portion of the tensionable construct extending transversely to the central axis through the tip. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein the fixation structure of the anchor body comprises a thread. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein the tensionable construct extends from the first portion of the tip. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein the first portion of the tip comprises a shaft of the tip, and wherein a tip body connected to the shaft is wider than the shaft and forms an abutment that limits proximal movement of the tip relative to the anchor body. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The device of claim 29, wherein the tensionable construct extends from the shaft of the tip. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein the recess forms an eyelet that extends transverse to the central axis of the tip. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein the tip further defines an internal channel with a closed annular region through which the tensionable construct extends, wherein the internal channel of the tip extends along an axis that is transverse to an axis of extension of the recess. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The device of claim 32, wherein at least part of the closed annular region of the internal channel extends along the central axis of the tip. ### Claim 34 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, further comprising the flexible material held in the recess that is separate from the tensionable construct. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The device of claim 34, wherein the flexible material comprises a suture tape. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The device of claim 34, wherein the flexible material is releasably attached to the tip. ### Claim 37 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein the tip is configured to remain spaced apart radially from an inner surface of the anchor body to facilitate rotation of the tip relative to the anchor body when at least part of the tip is inserted in the anchor body. ### Claim 38 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein a knot is formed at the end of the tensionable construct, and wherein other portions of the tensionable construct are configured to extend proximally from the knot into the anchor body. ### Claim 39 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein when the splice and the loop with the adjustable perimeter are formed, a post of the device extends through the loop. ### Claim 40 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein the passage forms a coreless portion of the flexible strand. ### Claim 41 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein the flexible strand of the tensionable construct further comprises the splice formed at the passage and the loop, wherein the loop is a knotless, tensionable, self-cinching loop with the adjustable perimeter. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The device of claim 41, wherein the knotless, tensionable, self-cinching loop is pre-looped. ### Claim 43 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, further comprising a removable shuttling device that extends through the passage of the flexible strand in an initial configuration, the shuttling device being configured to facilitate formation of the splice and the loop with the adjustable perimeter. ### Claim 44 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein the tip is insertable into the anchor body such that the recess of the tip is located inside the anchor body. ### Claim 45 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein the recess extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the anchor body when the first portion of the tip is inserted into the opening at the end face of the anchor body. ### Claim 46 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein the tensionable construct and the recess are separated entirely from one another.