# US 2017/0281152 A1 · Anchor/implant deployment device and tissue repair methods related thereto > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0281152 A1 - Document ID: US20170281152A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/513,848 - Filed: 2015-10-13 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-15 - Assignees: Smith & Nephew, Inc. - Applicants: Smith & Nephew, Inc. - Inventors: James J. Kennedy, III; Brendan Collins; Robert J. McCaffrey; Jon B. Taylor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170281152A1 ## 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 2017/003: {Steerable} - A61B 2017/0409: {Instruments for applying suture anchors} - A61B 2090/3987: {Applicators for implanting markers} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Featured is an inventive anchor/implant deployment device for use in repairing damage to tissue (e.g., meniscus) as well as tissue repair methods related thereto. Such an anchor/implant deployment device is advantageously configured and arranged so the deployment device is capable of making at least an in situ adjustment to the path of a needle portion having the anchor(s)/implant(s); is capable of rotating such a needle portion or the portion extending into the tissue/meniscus so that the distal end entering into the tissue/meniscus is desirably oriented such as to, for example, minimize damage to tissue; and making the needle portion of the deployment device replaceable so as to allow the deployment device to be reloaded thereby making other portions of the deployment device reusable during a given, procedure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A deployment device for deploying an anchor/implant for treating damaged tissue; said deployment device comprising: a first member having a lumen extending along the longitudinal axis; a second member that is moveably disposed within the first member lumen; and a moving mechanism that is operably coupled or connected to the first member, said moving mechanism being configured so as to cause the first member to present one of a plurality of end geometries and so as to control the extent or amount of movement by the first member responsive to the moving mechanism. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The deployment device of claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism is arranged so that such moving of the first member occurs one of external to a body or in-situ within the body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The deployment device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of end geometries include a straight geometry, a bending geometry that bends in a first direction, another bending geometry that bends in a second direction (that is different from the first direction), an arcuate or curved geometry that curves in a first direction, an arcuate geometry that curves in a second direction (that is different from the first direction). ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The deployment device of claim 3, wherein the moving mechanism is further configured and arranged so as to control the extent or amount of bending or curving of the first member and also so as to maintain the straight end geometry of the first member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The deployment device of claim 1, wherein: the second member is coupled to the first member; the first member includes a flexible portion that moves responsive to the moving mechanism; the first and second members are configured and arranged such that movement of the first member flexible portion with respect to the longitudinal axis is imparted to the second member thereby causing the second member to move in the direction of the first member responsive to the action of the moving mechanism. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The deployment device of claim 5, wherein such coupling of the first and second members is such that the extent of movement in the given direction by the second member is related to the extent of movement of the first member with respect to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The deployment device of claim 1, wherein the second member includes a distal end portion which carries one or more anchors/implants for deployment and a shaft portion, wherein the second member distal end portion and the shaft portion are configured so that the second member distal end portion is removable secured to the shaft member portion and so that a new end portion that is loaded with new anchors/implants for deployment can be thereafter secured to the shaft member portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The deployment device of claim 7, wherein the distal end portion is removable secured to the shaft member portion such that a used distal end portion (a distal end portion were the anchors/implants have been deployed) can be removed and replaced by the new distal end portion (a distal end portion which has new anchors/implants to be deployed). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The deployment device of claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism includes a rod that is secured to the first member and which rod is arranged so that it extends along a length of the first body member and so as to be disposed off-axis (that is spaced a distance from the long axis of the first member). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The deployment device of claim 9, wherein the moving mechanism further includes a manipulation device that is operably coupled to the rod and arranged so that movement of the manipulation device in a given direction causes the rod to move axially and thus move the first member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The deployment device of claim 10, wherein movement of the rod in one direction causes the first member to present one end geometry and movement of the rod in a second direction causes the first member to present a second end geometry. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The deployment device of claim 1, further comprising a rotation device being operably coupled to the second body member such that operation of the rotation device causes a distal end of the second body member to be rotated about its long axis such that the distal end is orientated in a desired angular orientation. ### Claim 13 A method for treating damaged tissue, comprising the steps of: providing a deployment device that is configured and arranged so that one or more anchors/implants can be deployed from a distal end portion thereof, wherein the distal end portion also is configured and arranged so as to be adjustable, at least in-situ, so that the distal end portion presents one of a plurality of end geometries; selecting one of the plurality of geometries and controlling the deployment device so the distal end portion presents a desired one of the plurality of end geometries; inserting the deployment device into the body and manipulating the deployment device so as to navigate the distal end portion within the body; while inserting the deployment device, determining if the geometry of the distal end portion should be adjusted so that it can be navigated to a targeted location; if said determining concludes that the end geometry should be adjusted, then selecting another one of the plurality of geometries and thereafter controlling the deployment device so the distal end portion presents the another one of the plurality of geometries; further manipulating the so-adjusted deployment device until the distal end portion is proximal the targeted tissue location; and when the distal portion is so located, deploying the anchor/implant from the deployment device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of: after said deploying, determining if another anchor/implant should be deployed; manipulating the so-adjusted deployment device until the distal end portion is proximal another targeted tissue location; and when the distal portion is so located, deploying the another anchor/implant from the deployment device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of: after said deploying, determining if another anchor/implant should be deployed; determining if the so-adjusted deployment device has another anchor implant for deployment; if it is determined that the inserted deployment device does not have another anchor to deploy then: withdrawing the inserted deployment device from the body, detaching the distal end portion from the second member, attaching a new distal end portion to the second member; and repeating said steps of selecting and controlling, inserting, determining if the geometry of the distal end portion should be adjusted while it is being inserted, manipulating the so-adjusted deployment device so its proximal yet another targeted site and said step of deploying. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein if it is determined that the deployment device does have another anchor to deploy then: manipulating the so-adjusted deployment device until the distal end portion is proximal another targeted tissue location; and when the distal portion is so located, deploying the anchor/implant from the deployment device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of rotating the second member so that an end surface of the second member distal end portion is oriented to a desired arrangement for insertion of the distal end portion into tissue. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of end geometries being selected includes one of a straight geometry, a bending geometry that bends in a first direction, another bending geometry that bends in a second direction (that is different from the first direction), an arcuate or curved geometry that curves in a first direction, an arcuate geometry that curves in a second direction (that is different from the first direction). ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein said selecting includes controlling the extent or amount of bending or curving of the first member and controlling the deployment device so as to maintain the straight end geometry. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the tissue being treated is the meniscus of a knee joint.