Knotless suture anchor for securing soft tissue to bone
OwnerJoseph H. Sklarinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A suture anchor for anchoring a length of suture to bone, the suture anchor comprising: an elongated expandable body having a distal end surface, a proximal end surface, an exterior sidewall extending between the distal end surface and the proximal end surface, and an interior passageway extending between the distal end surface and the proximal end surface; and an actuator comprising a distal end, a proximal end and a shaft extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the distal end of the actuator comprising a suture capture mechanism movably disposed relative to the elongated body; wherein the suture capture mechanism comprises a diamond-shaped structure configured to provide an opening into the interior thereof.
Claims27
A suture anchor for anchoring a length of suture to bone, the suture anchor comprising:
- an elongated body having a distal end surface, a proximal end surface, an exterior sidewall extending between the distal end surface and the proximal end surface, and an interior passageway extending between the distal end surface and the proximal end surface;
- and
- an actuator comprising a distal end, a proximal end and a shaft extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the distal end of the actuator comprising a suture capture mechanism, the proximal end being configured for engagement by a handle, and the shaft being slidably disposed within the passageway;
- the elongated body and the actuator being configured so that:
- (i) when the actuator is in a first, extended position relative to the elongated body, the suture capture mechanism is spaced a sufficient distance from the distal end surface of the elongated body such that a length of suture may enter the suture capture mechanism;
- (ii) when the actuator is in a second, intermediate position, the suture capture mechanism is positioned relative to the distal end surface of the elongated body such that the suture is slidably captured within the suture capture mechanism of the elongated body;
- and
- (iii) when the actuator is in a third, retracted position relative to the elongated body, the suture capture mechanism is positioned relative to the distal end surface of the elongated body such that the suture is securely captured within the suture capture mechanism of the elongated body.
A method for securing a suture to a bone, comprising:
- providing a suture anchor comprising an elongated body and a suture capture mechanism slidably disposed relative to the elongated body:
- positioning the suture capture mechanism so that it is spaced from the elongated body;
- passing a suture into the suture capture mechanism;
- repositioning the suture capture mechanism relative to the elongated body so that the suture is slidably captured within the suture capture mechanism of the elongated body;
- positioning the elongated body in a bone hole;
- and
- repositioning the suture capture mechanism relative to the elongated body so that the suture is bound within the suture capture mechanism of the elongated body, with the elongated body being secured in the bone hole.
A suture anchor for anchoring a length of suture to bone, the suture anchor comprising:
- an elongated expandable body having a distal end surface, a proximal end surface, an exterior sidewall extending between the distal end surface and the proximal end surface, and an interior passageway extending between the distal end surface and the proximal end surface;
- and
- an actuator comprising a distal end, a proximal end and a shaft extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the distal end of the actuator comprising a suture capture mechanism movably disposed relative to the elongated body;
- wherein the suture capture mechanism comprises a diamond-shaped structure configured to provide an opening into the interior thereof.
A method for anchoring a length of suture to bone, the method comprising:
- providing a suture anchor comprising:
- an elongated expandable body having a distal end surface, a proximal end surface, an exterior sidewall extending between the distal end surface and the proximal end surface, and an interior passageway extending between the distal end surface and the proximal end surface;
- and
- an actuator comprising a distal end, a proximal end and a shaft extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the distal end of the actuator comprising a suture capture mechanism movably disposed relative to the elongated body;
- wherein the suture capture mechanism comprises a diamond-shaped structure configured to provide an opening into the interior thereof;
- passing a suture into the suture capture mechanism;
- repositioning the suture capture mechanism relative to the elongated body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.