# US 2019/0167258 A1 · Systems and methods for fixing soft tissue > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167258 A1 - Document ID: US20190167258A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/268,254 - Filed: 2019-02-05 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-05-26 - Assignees: Lmt, LLC - Applicants: Lmt, LLC - Inventors: Graham C. Langley; Jesse A. McCarron - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167258A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/0469: {Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery} - A61B 17/06166: {Sutures (suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M)} - A61B 17/1146: {of tendons} - A61B 17/29: Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery - A61B 2017/0498: {for advancing a suture filament along a helical path through tissue} - A61B 2017/06042: {located close to needle tip} - A61B 2017/06076: {helically or spirally coiled} - A61B 2017/061: {hollow or tubular} - A61B 2017/06171: {helically or spirally coiled} - A61B 2017/2932: {Transmission of forces to jaw members} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Embodiments of systems and methods for fixing soft tissue are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, soft tissue may be fixed to an attachment surface (such as bone, other soft tissue, other implants, or allograft or xenograft materials) by providing a helical suture in the soft tissue, wherein the soft tissue has a longitudinal axis along which the soft tissue undergoes tension under normal physiological conditions, and wherein a longitudinal axis of the helical suture in the soft tissue is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the soft tissue; and securing the helical suture to an attachment surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for fixing soft tissue of a subject to an attachment surface, comprising: inserting a helical suture having a longitudinal axis in the soft tissue of the subject, wherein the soft tissue has a longitudinal axis and wherein the longitudinal axis of the helical suture in the soft tissue is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the soft tissue; and securing the helical suture to the attachment surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the soft tissue undergoes tension, under normal physiological conditions, along the longitudinal axis of the soft tissue. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the soft tissue comprises a tendon. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the helical suture comprises at least two turns of suture material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein securing the helical suture to the attachment surface comprises securing the helical suture to an anchor secured to the attachment surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the attachment surface comprises a bone, tendon, soft tissue, allograft material, xenograft material, or a synthetic material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the helical suture comprises a turn angle between approximately 20 degrees and approximately 70 degrees. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the helical suture is a first helical suture and the method further comprises inserting a second helical suture in the soft tissue. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising securing the second helical suture to the attachment surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein a longitudinal axis of the second helical suture is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first helical suture. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein a longitudinal axis of the second helical suture is oriented non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first helical suture. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first helical suture and second helical suture have opposite directions of rotations. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first helical suture and second helical suture have the same direction of rotation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first helical suture and the second helical suture overlap. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first helical suture is a first end of a single strand of suture material and the second helical suture is a second end of the single piece of suture material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first helical suture is a first piece of suture material and the second helical suture is a second piece of suture material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the helical suture in the soft tissue comprises: inserting a helix-shaped needle having a tip into the soft tissue; and rotating the helix-shaped needle to provide a helical channel in the soft tissue; securing suture material to the tip of the helix-shaped needle; and reversing a direction of rotation of the helix-shaped needle thereby inserting the helical suture in the soft tissue. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein inserting a helical suture comprises: inserting a helix-shaped needle into the soft tissue, wherein the suture is coupled to the helix-shaped needle; and rotating the helix-shaped needle to insert the suture in the soft tissue. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein rotating the helix-shaped needle advances the helix-shaped needle through the soft tissue. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein rotating the helix-shaped needle comprises: linearly translating a slide component of an insertion instrument comprising the helix-shaped needle, wherein the linear translation of the slide component causes rotation of the helix-shaped needle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein linearly translating the slide component comprises linearly translating a trigger lever along the longitudinal axis of the helix-shaped needle to cause translation of the slide component, which causes rotation of the helix-shaped needle. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: gripping, with a gripping portion of an insertion instrument comprising a helix-shaped needle, the soft tissue; and pulling, with the gripping portion, the soft tissue toward and over the helix-shaped needle while the helix-shaped needle rotates. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the insertion instrument comprises a trigger lever extending perpendicularly from a longitudinal axis of the helix-shaped needle, rotating the trigger lever around the longitudinal axis of the helix-shaped needle causes the gripping portion to grip the soft tissue, and translating the trigger lever along the longitudinal axis of the helix-shaped needle and longitudinal axis of the helix-shaped needle causes the helix-shaped needle to rotate. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the helical suture distributes stress across the soft tissue. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein, when the soft tissue undergoes deformation due to tension forces, the helical suture directs the tension forces normally and tangentially with respect to the soft tissue.