Soft tissue rivet and method of use
AssigneeBiomet Sports Medicine, LLC
InventorJason D Meridew
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for reattaching soft tissue to a selected boney structure using a rivet. Generally, a rivet having first portion and a second portion is provided to fully secure a soft tissue in the boney structure. The first portion of the rivet retains the soft tissue via a suture which is threaded through the first portion. The second portion of the rivet has at least one expanding member which engages the boney structure upon contact with the first portion of the rivet. Thus, the soft tissue is fully secured to the boney structure, ensuring proper healing.
Claims15
A method for attaching a soft tissue to a boney structure, the method comprising:
- forming a cavity in the boney structure for receipt of an anchor assembly;
- piercing the soft tissue with a guide pin extending beyond a surface of the first portion of the anchor assembly;
- coupling the soft tissue to a first portion of the anchor assembly;
- disposing the first portion of the anchor assembly in the cavity;
- engaging a second portion of the anchor assembly with the first portion of the anchor assembly with the attached soft tissue in the cavity;
- and
- securing the first portion in the boney structure by applying a retractive force to the guide pin to fully expand an expandable member, the application of the retractive force to the guide pin shearing a stepped portion on the first portion of the anchor assembly when the expandable member is fully expanded.
A method for attaching a soft tissue to a boney structure, the method comprising:
- forming a cavity in the boney structure for receipt of an anchor assembly;
- threading a flexible strand through a first portion of the anchor assembly;
- securing the soft tissue with the flexible strand;
- pulling the flexible strand such that a guide pin inserted through the first portion of the anchor assembly pierces the soft tissue;
- inserting the first portion of the anchor assembly and the guide pin into the cavity;
- passing a second portion of the anchor assembly over the guide pin into the cavity;
- retracting the guide pin from the cavity to deploy the second portion of the anchor assembly;
- wherein inserting the first portion of the anchor assembly and the guide pin into the cavity further comprises:
- coupling an instrument to the first portion of the anchor assembly;
- inserting the first portion of the anchor assembly and the guide pin into the cavity with the instrument;
- and
- removing the instrument from the first portion of the anchor assembly prior to passing the second portion of the anchor assembly over the guide pin.
A method for attaching a soft tissue to a boney structure, the method comprising:
- forming a cavity in the boney structure for receipt of an anchor assembly;
- threading a flexible strand through at least one eyelet in a first portion of the anchor assembly;
- securing the soft tissue with the flexible strand;
- pulling the flexible strand such that a guide pin inserted through the first portion of the anchor assembly pierces the soft tissue;
- inserting the first portion of the anchor assembly and the guide pin into the cavity;
- passing a second portion of the anchor assembly over the guide pin until the second portion of the anchor assembly is coupled to the first portion of the anchor assembly, the second portion of the anchor assembly including at least one expandable member;
- retracting the guide pin to fully expand the at least one expandable member of the second portion;
- and
- shearing a stepped portion of the first portion of the anchor assembly when the at least one expandable member is fully expanded.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.