Suture/anchor and delivery device combination
AssigneesSmith & Nephew, Inc., Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited
InventorMark Edwin HOUSMAN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A suture/anchor and delivery device combination includes a first cannulated suture and a second stepped or staged suture that has a smaller diameter section connected to a larger diameter section. The smaller diameter of the second suture is passed through the first suture and the assemblage of sutures is further passed through a tube which acts as an inserter. To actuate the device, the larger diameter of the second suture is pulled into the lumen of the first suture, thereby expanding the first diameter of the first suture to create an interference fixation within bone.
Claims20
A suture/anchor and delivery device combination comprising:
- a tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the tube defining a channel extending from the distal end to the proximal end:
- a first flexible strand having a distal end and a proximal end, the first flexible strand extending through the channel of the tube such that the distal end of the first flexible strand extends from the distal end of the tube;
- and
- a second flexible strand having a first region with a first diameter and a second region with a second diameter, the first diameter selected to be smaller than the second diameter:
- wherein the first region of the second flexible strand extends through a lumen defined by the first flexible strand such that the second region is adjacent the distal end of the first flexible strand;
- and
- wherein the second region of the second flexible strand is configured to be pulled into the lumen of the first flexible strand to expand a diameter of the first flexible strand.
A method of surgical repair comprising:
- inserting a suture/anchor and delivery device combination into a hole in bone, the device comprising:
- a tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the tube defining a channel extending from the distal end to the proximal end:
- a first flexible strand having a distal end and a proximal end, the first flexible strand extending through the channel of the tube such that the distal end of the first flexible strand extends from the distal end of the tube;
- and
- a second flexible strand having a first region with a first diameter and a second region with a second diameter, the first diameter selected to be smaller than the second diameter:
- wherein the first region of the second flexible strand extends through a lumen defined by the first flexible strand such that the second region is adjacent the distal end of the first flexible strand;
- and
- pulling the second region of the second flexible strand into the lumen of the first flexible strand to expand a diameter of the first flexible strand.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.