# US 12,758,208 B2 · Suture button and methods

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- Number: US 12,758,208 B2
- Document ID: US12758208B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/439,038
- Filed: 2024-02-12
- Published: 2024-08-15
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2023-02-12
- Assignees: INS Ortho, Inc.
- Applicants: INS Ortho, Inc.
- Inventors: Christian N. Anderson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12758208B2

## 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 17/0466: {Suture bridges}
- A61F 2/0811: {Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments}
- A61B 2017/0404: {Buttons}
- A61B 2017/0414: {having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening}
- A61B 2017/0458: {Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot}
- A61B 2017/0459: {Multiple holes in the anchor through which the suture extends and locking the suture when tension is applied}
- A61B 2017/0464: {for soft tissue}
- A61F 2002/0823: {Modular anchors comprising a plurality of separate parts}
- 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}
- 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 suture button includes a body having first and second ends and first and second sides between the respective ends. Shoulders extend from each side of the body near the respective ends. A first recess is defined between the first and second shoulders on the first side, and a second recess is defined between the first and second shoulders on the second side. Each recess narrows toward its midpoint to receive a suture strand around the body in a loop or a hitch. The shoulders on each end of each recess prevents the suture material, once tightened around the body, from inadvertently slipping off the button. A center passage through the button accommodates passage of one or more suture constructs for ligament fixation and/or internal bracing. One or more holes are defined through the button between the center passage and one or both ends of the button in some embodiments.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A suture button apparatus, comprising:
a body including a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side;
a first recess defined in the first side;
a second recess defined in the second side;
a center passage defined through the body between the first end, the second end, the first side and the second side;
a first hole defined through the body between the center passage and the first end; and
a second hole defined through the body between the center passage and the first hole, the second hole centered on a longitudinal midline of the body,
wherein the center passage is disposed on a lateral midline of the body, and
wherein the first recess and second recess each form an uninterrupted arc.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body includes a longitudinal dimension greater than a lateral dimension.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the first recess includes a first side radius bottoming toward the center passage along the lateral midline; and
the second recess includes a second side radius bottoming toward the center passage along the lateral midline.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the center passage includes a rectangular profile.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the center passage includes a center passage length and a center passage width, wherein the center passage length is greater than the center passage width.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the center passage width is substantially equal to the diameters of the first and second holes.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first end first shoulder on the first side and a first end second shoulder on the second side opposite the first end first shoulder.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a second end first shoulder on the first side and a second end second shoulder on the second side opposite the second end second shoulder.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:
a convex radius on the body between the first end and the first end first shoulder on the first side;
a convex radius on the body between the first end and the first end second shoulder on the second side;
a convex radius on the body between the second end and the second end first shoulder on the first side; and
a convex radius on the body between the second end and the second end second shoulder on the second side.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:
a substantially flat planar surface on the body between first end and the first end first shoulder on the first side;
a substantially flat planar surface on the body between the first end and the first end second shoulder on the second side;
a substantially flat planar surface on the body between the second end and the second end first shoulder on the first side; and
a substantially flat planar surface on the body between the second end and the second end second shoulder on the second side.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the first end includes a tapered profile having a first end radius on the first end; and
the second end includes a tapered profile having a second end radius on the second end.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first recess and the second recess are both centered along the lateral midline of the body.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bridge defined between the center passage and the second hole.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The appartus of claim 1, wherein the center passage is centered on the lateral midline.

### Claim 15

A suture button apparatus, comprising:
a suture button body including a first end, a second end, a first side recess and a second side recess;
a center passage defined through the suture button body between the first and second side recesses;
a first hole defined through the suture button body between the center passage and the first end; and
a second hole defined through the suture button body between the center passage and the first hole, the second hole centered on a longitudinal midline of the suture button body,
wherein the center passage is disposed on a lateral midline of the suture button body.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:
a ligament fixation suture construct disposed on the suture button body, wherein a portion of the ligament fixation suture construct is disposed around the suture button body in the first and second side recesses.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:
an internal brace suture construct disposed on the suture button body, wherein a portion of the internal brace suture construct extends through both the center passage and one of the first and second holes.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:
a passing suture disposed on the suture button body separate from the ligament fixation suture construct and the internal brace suture construct.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the center passage is centered on the lateral midline.