US 11,766,252 B2 · Noninvasively adjustable suture anchors

Abstract

In one embodiment, an adjustable implant system includes a bone anchor having first and second ends, a bone engagement surface adjacent the first end, and a housing extending between the first and second ends. The adjustable implant system can further include a non-invasively actuatable driving element within the housing and coupled to an adjustment component configured to couple to a flexible elongate tension member which is capable of engaging a patient's soft tissue (e.g., rotator cuff or ACL). Non-invasive actuation of the driving element can cause the adjustment component to change the amount of tension on the flexible elongate tension member and consequently on the patient's soft tissue. The adjustable implant system can include an external adjustment device configured to be placed on or adjacent the patient's skin and comprising at least one energy transferring component configured to energize/actuate the driving element inside the housing of the adjustable implant.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method of treating a patient, comprising the steps of:

providing a tensioning device having:
a connector configured to couple to a soft tissue, and
an adjustable anchor configured to couple to the connector and to couple to a bone,
wherein the adjustable anchor comprises:
a first end and a second end;
a housing extending between the first end and the second end;
and
an adjustable component disposed within a longitudinal cavity in the housing, wherein the adjustable component comprises:
a shaft;
a hollow, radially poled magnet disposed about the shaft;
and
a magnet housing disposed about and radially affixed to the hollow, radially poled magnet, the magnet housing having an external thread along a portion of an axial extent thereof;
inserting the second end of the adjustable anchor into the bone;
connecting the connector to the soft tissue;
coupling the connector to the adjustable anchor;
adjusting a tension on the connector by rotating the adjustable component within the housing in response to a wireless signal, thereby axially translating the adjustable component within the longitudinal cavity in the housing.

13 more elements

A method of treating a patient, comprising the steps of:

providing a tensioning device having:
a connector configured to couple to a soft tissue, and
an adjustable anchor configured to couple to the connector and to couple to a bone,
wherein the adjustable anchor comprises:
a first end and a second end;
a housing extending between the first end and the second end;
and
an adjustable component disposed within the housing,
wherein the adjustable component comprises:
a cylindrical magnet configured to rotate within the housing;
and
a spool coupled to the cylindrical magnet, wherein the spool is configured to rotate within a longitudinal cavity of the housing upon actuation by the cylindrical magnet, and wherein the connector is partially wound on the spool;
inserting the second end of the adjustable anchor into the bone;
connecting the connector to the soft tissue;
coupling the connector to the adjustable anchor;
and
adjusting a tension on the connector by rotating the adjustable component within the housing in response to a wireless signal.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Noninvasively adjustable suture anchors

Life of this patent

Noninvasively adjustable suture anchors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19