# US 2014/0194938 A1 · Sheaths for implantable fixation devices

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- Number: US 2014/0194938 A1
- Document ID: US20140194938A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/208,776
- Filed: 2014-03-13
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2000-03-16
- Assignees: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
- Applicants: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
- Inventors: Raymond A. Bojarski; Paul A. Torrie; Frazer Harvie; Steven W. Ek
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194938A1

## CPC

- A61F 2/0811: {Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments}
- 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 17/3431: {being collapsible, e.g. made of thin flexible material (A61B17/3423 takes precedence)}
- A61B 17/686: {Plugs, i.e. elements forming interface between bone hole and implant or fastener, e.g. screw}
- A61F 2/08: Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments
- A61B 17/8861: {Apparatus for manipulating flexible wires or straps (devices for inserting Kirschner wires A61B17/1697)}
- A61B 17/8869: {Tensioning devices}
- A61B 2017/00004: {(bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive}
- A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable}
- A61F 2/30749: {Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body}
- A61F 2002/0835: {with deformation of anchor parts, e.g. expansion of dowel by set screw}
- A61F 2002/0864: {Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor elements, e.g. by additional screws in the anchor, anchor crimped around tendon}
- A61F 2002/0882: {Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone}
- A61F 2002/30062: {(bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive}
- A61F 2002/30235: {tubular, e.g. sleeves}
- A61F 2002/30677: {Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body}
- A61F 2002/30914: {Details of the mesh structure, e.g. disposition of the woven warp and weft wires}
- A61F 2002/30919: {Sleeves}
- A61F 2210/0004: bioabsorbable
- A61F 2220/0008: Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
- A61F 2230/0069: cylindrical
- A61F 2250/0067: Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
- Y10S 623/908: Bone
- 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)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

Sheaths for implantable fixation devices are disclosed. Sheaths have a flexible body with a perforated wall, an open end, a closed end, and a body interior sized and shaped to receive the fixation device.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-18. (canceled)

### Claim 34

A sheath for an implantable fixation device, the sheath comprising:
a flexible body having a relieved wall, the body defining an interior sized and shaped to receive the fixation device and including an open end and a closed end.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The sheath of claim 34, wherein the body defines a tube, the tube being sized and shaped to receive the fixation device.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The sheath of claim 35, wherein the tube is sized and shaped to snugly receive a shaft of a bone screw fixation device.

### Claim 37 (depends on 34)

The sheath of claim 34, wherein the relieved wall comprises a mesh wall.

### Claim 38 (depends on 34)

The sheath of claim 34, wherein the flexible body comprises a tube that defines at least one perforation in a circumferential side wall of the tube.

### Claim 39 (depends on 34)

The sheath of claim 34, wherein the flexible body includes an interior that is flexible such that, when the fixation device is inserted into the body, the body flexibly expands to allow the fixation device to fit snugly within the body.

### Claim 40 (depends on 34)

The sheath of claim 34, wherein the body defines a tube and the threads are longitudinally aligned with a central axis of the tube.

### Claim 41 (depends on 34)

The sheath of claim 34, wherein the body defines a tube and the mesh wall includes additional threads that are perpendicular to a central axis of the tube.

### Claim 42 (depends on 34)

The sheath of claim 34, wherein the body is made from a bioabsorbable material.

### Claim 43 (depends on 42)

The sheath of claim 42, wherein the shaft of the bone screw fits snugly within the interior of the sheath.

### Claim 44 (depends on 42)

The sheath of claim 42, wherein the shaft includes generally rounded screw threads.

### Claim 45 (depends on 42)

The sheath of claim 42, wherein the body defines a tube, the tube being sized and shaped to receive the fixation device.

### Claim 46 (depends on 42)

The sheath of claim 42, wherein the relieved wall comprises a mesh wall.

### Claim 47 (depends on 42)

The sheath of claim 42, wherein the flexible body comprises a tube that defines at least one perforation in a circumferential sidewall of the tube.

### Claim 48 (depends on 42)

The sheath of claim 42, wherein the flexible body includes an interior that is flexible such that, when the fixation device is inserted into the body, the body flexibly expands to allow the fixation device to fit snugly within the body.

### Claim 49

A sheath assembly for an implantable fixation device, the sheath assembly comprising:
a sheath including a flexible body having a relieved wall, the body comprising an exterior surface with a roughened finish, and the body defining an interior sized and shaped to receive the fixation device and including two open ends, each end comprising an opening of substantially the same dimensions.

### Claim 50 (depends on 49)

The sheath assembly of claim 49, wherein the body includes a relieved wall.

### Claim 51 (depends on 50)

The sheath assembly of claim 50, wherein the relieved wall comprises a mesh wall.

### Claim 52 (depends on 49)

The sheath assembly of claim 49, wherein the body defines a tube that defines at least one perforation in a circumferential side wall of the tube.

### Claim 53 (depends on 49)

The sheath assembly of claim 49, further comprising the fixation device.

### Claim 54 (depends on 53)

The sheath assembly of claim 53, wherein the fixation device is a bone screw, the bone screw having a shaft sized and shaped to fit within the interior of the sheath and including generally rounded screw threads.

### Claim 55 (depends on 53)

The sheath assembly of claim 53, wherein the fixation device is a tack, a plug or a suture anchor.

### Claim 56 (depends on 53)

The sheath assembly of claim 53, wherein the sheath is formed by winding a strip of material around the fixation device.

### Claim 57 (depends on 49)

The sheath assembly of claim 49, wherein the body defines holes in its exterior surface such that less than 60% of a surface area of its exterior surface is occupied by holes.

### Claim 58 (depends on 49)

The sheath assembly of claim 49, wherein the body is made from a bioabsorbable material.