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US 6,620,185 B1Granted
Surgical procedures and instruments
AssigneeSmith & Nephew, Inc.
InventorsFraser Harvie, Adam James, Peter Richardson, James William Huckle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Surgical instruments and methods are provided. In one aspect, a method of securing a fixation device within an opening in a tissue is provided, including delivering a material in a flowable state to said opening, and changing the state of the material so that the material forms an interference fit that secures the fixation device in the opening.
Claims102
A method of anchoring soft tissue to bone comprising:
- piercing the soft tissue;
- forming an opening in an underlying area of the bone;
- delivering a material, in a flowable state, to the opening;
- and
- molding a portion of the material that is not in the opening to form a fixation device constructed to hold the soft tissue in place against the bone after the material changes state to a relatively less flowable state.
2 more elements
A method of fixing soft tissue to bone comprising:
- (a) at a first location, piercing through the soft tissue;
- (b) forming an opening in the bone underlying the soft tissue;
- (c) delivering a fixation device through the pierced tissue to the opening;
- (d) delivering a material, in a non-liquid state, to the vicinity of the opening;
- and
- (e) after delivery, liquifying and subsequently resolidifying the material to anchor at least a portion of the fixation device in the opening.
3 more elements
A surgical instrument for tissue fixation comprising:
- a handpiece constructed to be held by a surgeon during a fixation procedure;
- and
- a fixation instrument, mounted on the handpiece and comprising a cannulated tube defining a lumen;
- a piercing element constructed to be delivered through the lumen, to pierce through bone and form an opening therein;
- a delivery device for delivering a flowable material and a fixation device through the lumen to the opening;
- and
- a heating element for heating said material to a molten state.
4 more elements
A method of securing a first layer of soft tissue to a second layer of soft tissue comprising:
- forming an opening extending through both layers of soft tissue;
- delivering a material, in a flowable state, through the opening so that the flowable material extends beyond the soft tissue at each end of the opening;
- and
- causing the material to change state, to a relatively less flowable state, forming an anchor to secure the two layers of soft tissue together.
1 more element
A method of securing a fixation device within an opening in a tissue, comprising:
- forming an opening in the tissue using a consumable cutting tool;
- delivering a material in a flowable state to said opening, the delivery comprising causing the cutting tool to melt in response to frictional heat generated during the forming step;
- and
- changing the state of the material so that the material forms an interference fit that secures the fixation device in the opening.
1 more element
A method of securing a fixation device within an opening in a tissue, comprising:
- forming an opening in a tissue with a cutting tool having a detachable portion;
- detaching the detachable portion in the opening after the forming step is completed, to serve as the fixation device;
- delivering a material in a flowable state to said opening;
- and
- changing the state of the material so that the material forms an interference fit that secures the fixation device in the opening.
2 more elements
A method of fixing soft tissue to bone comprising:
- (a) at a first location, piercing through the soft tissue;
- (b) forming an opening in the bone underlying the soft tissue;
- (c) delivering a fixation device through the pierced tissue to the opening;
- (d) providing a material in the form of a pellet, powder, chips, flakes or rod;
- (e) melting the material to a flowable state;
- (d) delivering the material to the opening;
- and
- (e) causing the material to change state, to a relatively less flowable state, to anchor at least a portion of the fixation device in the opening.
5 more elements
A surgical instrument for tissue fixation comprising:
- a handpiece constructed to be held by a surgeon during a fixation procedure;
- and
- a fixation instrument, mounted on the handpiece and comprising
- a cannulated tube defining a lumen;
- a piercing element constructed to be delivered through the lumen, to pierce through bone and form an opening therein;
- a delivery device for delivering a flowable material and a fixation device through the lumen to the opening;
- and
- a heating element for heating said material to a molten state.
5 more elements
A surgical instrument for tissue fixation comprising:
- a handpiece constructed to be held by a surgeon during a fixation procedure;
- and
- a fixation instrument, mounted on the handpiece and comprising
- a cannulated tube defining a lumen;
- a piercing element constructed to be delivered through the lumen, to pierce through bone and form an opening therein;
- a delivery device for delivering a flowable material and a fixation device comprising a suture through the lumen to the opening;
- and
- a suture feed mechanism constructed to deliver the suture through the lumen to the opening, comprising a movable needle.
5 more elements
A surgical instrument for tissue fixation comprising:
- a handpiece constructed to be held by a surgeon during a fixation procedure;
- and
- a fixation instrument, mounted on the handpiece and comprising
- a cannulated tube defining a lumen;
- a piercing element constructed to be delivered through the lumen, to pierce through bone and form an opening therein;
- and
- a delivery device for delivering a flowable material and a fixation device through the lumen to the opening;
- said handpiece including a reservoir for receiving a supply of pellets of the material and a mechanism for delivering the pellets from the reservoir to the lumen.
5 more elements
A surgical instrument for tissue fixation comprising:
- a handpiece constructed to be held by a surgeon during a fixation procedure;
- and
- a fixation instrument, mounted on the handpiece and comprising
- a cannulated tube defining a lumen;
- a piercing element constructed to be delivered through the lumen, to pierce through bone and form an opening therein;
- a delivery device for delivering a flowable material and a fixation device comprising a suture through the lumen to the opening;
- and
- a suture feed mechanism constructed to deliver the suture through the lumen to the opening;
- the handpiece including a drive mechanism constructed to drive the piercing element and suture feed mechanism.
6 more elements
A method of securing a tissue to bone, comprising:
- forming an opening in the bone at a first location;
- delivering a flowable material and a suture to said opening,
- allowing the flowable material to at least partially solidify and secure a portion of the suture in the opening,
- drawing a free portion of the suture that extends from the secured portion across the soft tissue to a second location;
- forming a second opening in the bone at the second location;
- delivering a flowable material and a portion of the suture to said second opening;
- and
- allowing the flowable material to at least partially solidify, the suture defining a stitch between the first and second locations.
5 more elements
A method of securing a fixation device within an opening in bone to secure a soft tissue to the bone, comprising:
- piercing the soft tissue;
- forming the opening in an underlying area of the bone using a consumable cutting tool;
- delivering the fixation device through the pierced tissue, the fixation device being constructed to hold the soft tissue in place against the bone;
- delivering a material in a flowable state to said opening by causing the cutting tool to melt in response to frictional heat generated during the forming step;
- and
- changing the state of the material so that the material forms an interference fit that secures the fixation device in the opening.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.