# US 11,998,185 B2 · Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a bone

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- Number: US 11,998,185 B2
- Document ID: US11998185B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/940,022
- Filed: 2022-09-08
- Published: 2023-01-05
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2009-05-29
- Assignees: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
- Applicants: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
- Inventors: Ryan A. Kaiser; Gregory J. Denham; Kevin T. Stone
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998185B2

## 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 17/0487: {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 17/06166: {Sutures (suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M)}
- A61F 2/0811: {Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments}
- A61B 17/0482: {Needle or suture guides (guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; guides for puncturing needles A61B17/3403)}
- A61B 17/1631: {Special drive shafts, e.g. flexible shafts (A61B17/1642, A61B17/164 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/1642: {for producing a curved bore}
- A61B 17/3417: {Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating (syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00)}
- A61B 2017/00336: {with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable}
- A61B 2017/00858: {high friction or non-slip}
- A61B 2017/0406: {Pledgets}
- 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 2017/0417: {T-fasteners}
- A61B 2017/0432: {the separate member staying in the anchor after placement}
- A61B 2017/044: {with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws}
- A61B 2017/0477: {with pre-tied sutures}
- A61B 2017/0496: {for tensioning sutures}
- A61B 2017/06185: {hollow or tubular}
- A61B 2090/064: {for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension}
- A61F 2002/0852: {Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes}
- A61F 2002/0858: {Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges}
- A61F 2002/0882: {Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone}
- A61F 2002/0888: {Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel}
- 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

A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a member to pull the soft tissue implant into a femoral tunnel. The member includes a suture having first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with the longitudinal passage to form a pair of loops. Portions of the suture lay parallel to each other within the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of securing soft tissue to bone, comprising:
locating an adjustable suture construct in a first bone hole, the adjustable suture construct including a first suture with a first free end that extends longitudinally through a first longitudinal passage in the first suture to form a first self-locking adjustable loop, wherein said locating leaves at least a first part of the first longitudinal passage inside the first bone hole and at least a first segment of the first self-locking adjustable loop outside the first bone hole and extending through soft tissue adjacent the first bone hole, the first segment of the first self-locking adjustable loop including an outside anchor coupled thereto so that the soft tissue is left positioned between the outside anchor and the first bone hole, wherein the outside anchor comprises a deformable tube anchor, and wherein the outside anchor being coupled to the first segment of the first self-locking adjustable loop includes suture material of the first segment extending longitudinally through at least part of a longitudinal bore in the deformable tube anchor;
moving the outside anchor into a second bone hole after said locating, the second bone hole spaced apart from the first bone hole; and
pulling on the first free end of the first suture from outside the first bone hole so as to reduce a size of the first self-locking adjustable loop.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said moving includes inserting the outside anchor into the second bone hole with an insertion tool.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said moving leaves the first self-locking adjustable loop extending all the way from inside the first bone hole to inside the second bone hole.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said pulling forces the soft tissue against an outer surface of the bone between the first bone hole and the second bone hole.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the soft tissue is positioned over the first bone hole.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said locating leaves the first part of the first longitudinal passage inside the first bone hole coupled to a first anchor in the first bone hole.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the first anchor comprises a two-piece anchor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said locating leaves the entirety of the first longitudinal passage inside the first bone hole.

### Claim 9

A method of securing soft tissue to bone, comprising:
locating an adjustable suture construct in a first bone hole, the adjustable suture construct including a first suture with a first free end that extends longitudinally through a first longitudinal passage in the first suture to form a first self-locking adjustable loop, wherein said locating leaves at least a first part of the first longitudinal passage inside the first bone hole coupled to a first anchor in the first bone hole, and wherein said locating also leaves at least a first segment of the first self-locking adjustable loop outside the first bone hole and extending through soft tissue adjacent the first bone hole; and
coupling the first segment of the first self-locking adjustable loop to an outside anchor outside the first bone hole, wherein said coupling occurs after said locating and leaves the soft tissue positioned between the outside anchor and the first bone hole.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the outside anchor comprises a deformable tube anchor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the soft tissue is positioned over the first bone hole.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein said locating leaves the entirety of the first longitudinal passage inside the first bone hole.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 further comprising pulling on the first free end of the first suture from outside the first bone hole so as to reduce a size of the first self-locking adjustable loop.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein said pulling forces the soft tissue against an outer surface of the bone.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 further comprising moving the outside anchor into a second bone hole that is spaced apart from the first bone hole.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein said moving leaves the first self-locking adjustable loop extending all the way from inside the first hone hole to inside the second hone hole.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the soft tissue is positioned over the first bone hole and the second bone hole.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein said moving includes delivering the outside anchor into a second anchor that is positioned in the second bone hole.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein said moving includes pulling the outside anchor into the second hone hole with a second suture that is coupled to a second anchor in the second bone hole.