Soft tissue repair assembly and associated method
AssigneeArthrotek, Inc.
InventorsKevin Stone, Troy Walters, Andrew Holst
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A soft tissue repair assembly. The assembly includes a flexible member having first and second ends, and a strand passing through the flexible member. The strand has first and second strand ends extending through the flexible member, such that pulling at least one of the first and second strand ends changes the flexible member from a first shape suitable for insertion through soft tissue to a second shape suitable for securely lodging the soft tissue repair assembly relative to soft tissue.
Claims40
A soft tissue repair assembly comprising:
- a flexible member having first and second ends;
- and
- a flexible strand passing through the flexible member, the strand having first and second strand ends extending through the flexible member, such that pulling at least one of the first and second strand ends changes the flexible member from a first shape suitable for insertion through soft tissue to a second shape suitable for securely lodging the soft tissue repair assembly relative to the soft tissue.
A soft tissue repair assembly comprising:
- an inserter;
- at least one flexible member preloaded on the inserter in a first shape;
- and
- a flexible strand coupled to the flexible member for changing the shape of the flexible member from the first shape to a second shape after implantation, wherein the second shape is suitable for securely lodging the flexible member relative to soft tissue.
A method for repairing a tear in soft tissue, the method comprising:
- preloading a flexible member coupled to a flexible strand on an inserter;
- inserting the inserter through tissue from a first side of the tear to a second side of the tear;
- deploying the flexible member relative to the soft tissue;
- tensioning the strand;
- changing the shape of the flexible member from a first shape to a second shape suitable for securely lodging the flexible member relative to the soft tissue;
- and
- reducing or closing the tear.
A method for repairing a tear in a meniscus during arthroscopic knee procedure, the method comprising:
- inserting an inserter through the tear to an outer surface of the meniscus;
- deploying a first flexible member coupled to a flexible strand from the inserter on an outer surface of the meniscus;
- tensioning the strand;
- changing the shape of the first flexible member from a first shape to a second shape for securing the flexible member on the outer surface;
- and
- reducing or closing the tear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.