# US 12,178,425 B2 · Suture based clamping device

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- Number: US 12,178,425 B2
- Document ID: US12178425B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/046,439
- Filed: 2022-10-13
- Published: 2023-07-06
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-30
- Assignees: Responsive Arthroscopy, Inc.
- Applicants: Responsive Arthroscopy, LLC
- Inventors: Jacob Hustedt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178425B2

## 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 17/8869: {Tensioning devices}
- A61B 17/888: {the driver bit acting on the central region of the screw head}
- A61B 17/8061: {specially adapted for particular bones (A61B17/70 and A61B17/74 take precedence)}
- A61B 2017/0404: {Buttons}
- A61B 2017/0406: {Pledgets}
- A61B 2017/0409: {Instruments for applying suture anchors}
- A61B 2017/0417: {T-fasteners}
- A61B 2017/044: {with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws}
- A61B 2017/0453: {threaded elements, e.g. set screws}
- A61B 2017/0454: {the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture}
- A61B 2017/0496: {for tensioning sutures}
- A61B 2017/565: {for surgical correction of axial deviation, e.g. hallux valgus or genu valgus}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Systems, assemblies, and methods are provided herein for fastening of one bone to another bone using one or more sutures. The features herein enable such fastening with a more accurate strength, and which can be more easily fastened in-situ.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A suture-button system comprising:
(a) a suture strand;
(b) a primary button having a primary aperture and a primary threaded portion, the primary aperture configured to receive the suture strand therethrough;
(c) a secondary button having a secondary aperture configured to receive the suture strand therethrough, such that the suture-button system is configured to clamp at least one targeted tissue of a subject between a distal surface of the primary button and a proximal surface of the secondary button upon applying a tension to the suture strand;
(d) a lock having a secondary threaded portion, wherein the secondary threaded portion is configured to be removably coupled to the primary threaded portion, wherein coupling the secondary threaded portion of the lock to the primary threaded portion secures the at least one targeted tissue clamped between the primary button and the secondary button, the lock further comprising a driver feature, an alignment feature, or both; and
(e) a tensioning system having a tensioning feature configured to i) rotate the driver feature or couple to the alignment feature, ii) apply tension to the suture strand, or both
wherein the tensioning system comprises
(a) a handle rod having the tensioning feature at a distal portion thereof the tensioning feature configured to rotate the driver feature of the lock;
(b) a threaded rod configured to be coupled to a threaded feature within a channel of the handle rod;
(c) a knob coupled to a proximal end of the threaded rod, the knob located proximal to the handle rod; and
(d) a spinner disposed between the knob and the handle rod, wherein the spinner comprises i) an aperture accepting the threaded rod, and ii) a terminator channel configured to accept an end of the suture strand.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the knob is coupled to the proximal end of the threaded rod by a pin, an adhesive, a fastener, a press-fit, a weld, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the spinner rotates freely about the threaded rod, the knob, or both.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein rotating the knob and the threaded rod in a first direction with respect with to the handle rod translates the spinner proximally from the handle rod, thereby applying tension to the suture strand.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein rotating the handle rod in a first direction inserts the secondary threaded portion of the lock distally through the primary threaded portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the primary button comprises at least 4 primary apertures.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the lock comprises a head and wherein the secondary threaded portion extends from the head.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein a distal surface of the head is tapered outwards from a center axis of the lock.

### Claim 9

A suture-button system comprising:
(a) a plurality of sub-systems, each sub-system comprising:
(i) a suture strand;
(ii) a primary button having a primary aperture configured to receive the suture strand therethrough;
(iii) a secondary button having a secondary aperture configured to receive the suture strand therethrough, such that the suture-button system is configured to clamp at least one targeted tissue of a subject between a distal surface of the primary button and a proximal surface of the secondary button upon applying a tension to the suture strand; and
(iv) a lock, wherein the lock is configured to be removably coupled to the primary button, wherein coupling the lock to the primary button secures the at least one targeted tissue clamped between the primary button and the secondary button, the lock further comprising a driver feature, an alignment feature, or both;
(b) an insertion plate comprising a plurality of insertion plate apertures, wherein each insertion plate aperture is configured to receive i) the primary button of a sub-system of the plurality of sub-systems, or ii) the secondary button of a sub-system of the plurality of sub-systems;
(c) an insertion screw configured to be removably coupled to a screw hole disposed through the insertion plate; and
(d) a tensioning system having a tensioning feature configured to i) rotate the driver feature or couple to the alignment feature, ii) apply tension to the suture strand, or both
wherein the tensioning system comprises
(a) a handle rod having the tensioning feature at a distal portion thereof, the tensioning feature configured to rotate the driver feature of the lock;
(b) a threaded rod configured to be coupled to a threaded feature within a channel of the handle rod;
(c) a knob coupled to a proximal end of the threaded rod, the knob located proximal to the handle rod; and
(d) a spinner disposed between the knob and the handle rod, wherein the spinner comprises i) an aperture accepting the threaded rod, and ii) a terminator channel configured to accept an end of the suture strand.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The suture-button system of claim 9, wherein each sub-system further comprises:
(a) a primary threaded portion located within the primary button; and
(b) a secondary threaded portion located on the lock, wherein the secondary threaded portion is configured to be removably coupled to the primary threaded portion, wherein coupling the secondary threaded portion of the lock to the threaded portion secures the clamping of the at least one targeted tissue.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The assembly of claim 10, wherein the lock comprises a head and wherein the secondary threaded portion extends from the head.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The assembly of claim 11, wherein a distal surface of the head is tapered outwards from a center axis of the lock.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The assembly of claim 9, wherein the screw hole is positioned between two of the plurality of insertion plate apertures.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The assembly of claim 13, wherein the screw hole is positioned equidistant between the two of the plurality of insertion plate apertures.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The assembly of claim 9, wherein the insertion screw comprises a first portion having a dimension greater than a dimension of the screw hole, and a second portion configured to attach to a bone of a patient.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The assembly of claim 15, wherein the first portion of the insertion screw prevents a proximal end of the insertion screw from passing through screw hole.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The assembly of claim 15, wherein the second portion comprises a threaded feature.

### Claim 18 (depends on 9)

The assembly of claim 9, wherein a sub-system of the plurality sub-system has the primary button having at least 4 primary apertures.