# US 2014/0155944 A1 · Atraumatic fastener and bone stabilization system and method of use

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- Number: US 2014/0155944 A1
- Document ID: US20140155944A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/895,158
- Filed: 2013-05-15
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2008-08-13
- Inventors: Mari S. Truman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155944A1

## 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 17/683: {comprising bone transfixation elements, e.g. bolt with a distal cooperating element such as a nut}
- A61B 17/8061: {specially adapted for particular bones (A61B17/70 and A61B17/74 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/844: {with expandable anchors or anchors having movable parts}
- A61B 17/8855: {inflatable, e.g. kyphoplasty balloons}
- A61B 17/842: {Flexible wires, bands or straps (A61B17/72, A61B17/82, A61B17/86 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/863: {with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper}
- A61B 17/864: {hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated}
- A61B 2017/0404: {Buttons}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Atraumatic fasteners involving flexible membranes and tensioning means can be used in conjunction with one or more plates, other fastener types of other materials, particularly locked cannulated screws-plate interfaces providing improved capture and restraint of articular and/or juxta-articular bone fragments. A method of securing bone fragments includes securing or capturing a fragment, at least in part, with an atraumatic foldable and/or expandable device which can be inserted “inside out”, that is, the expandable form is inserted through a channel which has been created in the bone or tissue, from the opposite side of the bone or tissue fragment.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1- A method of securing biological materials comprising the steps of:
creating a passage through said biological materials, said passage having a distal end and a proximal end,
inserting a flexible connector through said passage, said flexible connector having a length greater than the length of said passage,
securing said connector to a first securing member, said first securing member being exterior of said passage distal end,
locking said connector external of said proximal end,
inserting said securing member, said securing member being a folded, flexible biocompatible membrane, and said flexible connector, into a deployment tube,
inserting said deployment tube into said passage,
deploying said membrane and said connector from said deployment tube to a position external said distal end of said passage,
removing said deployment tube,
locking said connector external of said proximal end.

### Claim 2

(canceled)

### Claim at position 3 (depends on 1)

3- The method of claim 1, further comprising said biological materials being at least one member of the group comprising bone fragments, tissue fragments, and combinations of bone and tissue fragments and comprising the step of applying a compressive force to fix bone fragments to bone, tissue to tissue, or bone and tissue fragments to bone.

### Claim at position 4 (depends on 1)

4- The method of claim 1 further wherein said securing member is at least one member of the group comprising plate, flexible membrane, tensioning bar, and/or bone.

### Claim at position 5 (depends on 1)

5- The method of claim 1 wherein said flexible membrane is bioincorporable.

### Claim at position 6 (depends on 1)

6- The method of claim 1, wherein said connector material is at least one member of the biocompatible material group comprising resorbable and non-resorbable materials, woven cords, fibers, strands, K-wires, polymeric materials, composites, and metallic cables, wires, or rods.

### Claim at position 7 (depends on 1)

7- The method of claim 1, wherein said connector is a tensioning member, said tensioning member applying compressive force to said biological material.

### Claim at position 8 (depends on 7)

8- The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of tying said connector to a plate and securing said plate to bone, or tissue fragments, or combinations thereof with said tensioning member.

### Claim at position 9 (depends on 7)

9- The method of claim 7, further comprising a block tube, said block tube being dimensioned to receive said deployment tube, and comprising the steps inserting said block tube into said passage, deploying said flexible membrane external of said passage and removing said deployment tube, leaving said flexible membrane external of said passage.

### Claim at position 10 (depends on 7)

10- The method of claim 7, wherein said connector member is a suture looped through said first membrane and further comprising the step of tying off said connector at the proximate end of said passage.

### Claim at position 11 (depends on 10)

11- The method of claim 10, wherein said tying of said fastener comprising the step of fixing said fastener proximal ends with a locking means.

### Claim at position 12

12-30. (canceled)