# US 9,517,060 B2 · Method and device for approximating tissue > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,060 B2 - Document ID: US9517060B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/629,112 - Filed: 2012-09-27 - Published: 2014-03-27 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-27 - Assignees: Ethicon, Inc. - Applicants: Ethicon, Inc. - Inventors: James A. Flint - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517060B2 ## 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 17/0466: {Suture bridges} - A61B 2017/0409: {Instruments for applying suture anchors} - A61B 2017/0414: {having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening} - A61B 2017/0417: {T-fasteners} - A61B 2017/0419: {H-fasteners} - A61B 2017/0475: {using sutures having a slip knot} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A wound closure device including a first tissue anchor with a first suture filament fixedly coupled thereto at a proximal end and extending along a length to a free distal end, and a second tissue anchor with a second suture filament fixedly coupled thereto at a proximal end and extending along a length to a free distal end. The first suture filament is configured to form a slip knot at its proximal end substantially adjacent the first tissue anchor, and the second suture is configured to form a slip knot at its proximal end substantially adjacent the second tissue anchor. The length of the first suture filament passes through the slip knot of the second suture and the length of the second suture filament passes through the slip knot of the first suture filament. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wound closure device comprising: a first tissue anchor; a first suture filament fixedly coupled to the first tissue anchor at a proximal end and extending along a length to a free distal end; a second tissue anchor; a second suture filament fixedly coupled to the second tissue anchor at a proximal end and extending along a length to a free distal end; wherein the first suture filament forms a slip knot at its proximal end substantially adjacent the first tissue anchor; wherein the second suture filament forms a slip knot at its proximal end substantially adjacent the second tissue anchor; wherein the length of the first suture filament passes through the slip knot of the second suture filament and the length of the second suture filament passes through the slip knot of the first suture filament, and wherein the first and second tissue anchors can be drawn closer together in a direct path to enable point to point fixation of tissue pulling on either the free distal end of the first suture filament, the free distal end of the second suture filament, or both; and wherein the first and second tissue anchors are capable of being drawn together to a point substantially adjacent to one another. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second tissue anchors are substantially axial, and include a tissue penetrating distal end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the first and second suture filaments are coupled to a mid-section of the first and second tissue anchors respectively. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device according to claim 3, wherein the first and second tissue anchors are comprised of an absorbable material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein the absorbable material is polydioxanone. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device according to claim 5, wherein the first and second tissue anchors have a length of approximately 7 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the proximal end of the first and second anchors has a recess therein, sized and shaped to removably receive therein a distal end of an insertion device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second suture filaments are comprised of an absorbable material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, wherein the absorbable material is polydioxanone. ### Claim 10 A kit for performing tissue approximation comprising: a wound closure device including a substantially axial first tissue anchor having a tissue penetrating distal end and a recess in a proximal end, and a first suture filament fixedly coupled to the first tissue anchor at a proximal end and extending along a length to a free distal end, and a substantially axial second tissue anchor having a tissue penetrating distal end and a recess in a proximal end and a second suture filament fixedly coupled to the second tissue anchor at a proximal end and extending along a length to a free distal end, wherein the first suture filament forms a slip knot at its proximal end substantially adjacent the first tissue anchor, wherein the second suture filament forms a slip knot at its proximal end substantially adjacent the second tissue anchor, and wherein the length of the first suture filament passes through the slip knot of the second suture filament and the length of the second suture filament passes through the slip knot of the first suture filament so that the first and second anchors can be drawn closer together in a direct path to enable point to point fixation of tissue by pulling on either the free distal end of the first suture filament, the free distal end of the second suture filament, or both and wherein the first and second tissue anchors are capable of being drawn together to a point substantially adjacent to one another, and a substantially axial insertion device having a distal tip sized and shaped to be removably received within the recess in the first and second anchors. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The kit according to claim 10, wherein the first and second suture filaments are coupled to a mid-section of the first and second tissue anchors respectfully. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The kit according to claim 11, wherein the first and second tissue anchors are comprised of an absorbable material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The kit according to claim 12, wherein the absorbable material is polydioxanone. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The kit according to claim 13, wherein the first and second tissue anchors have a length of approximately 7 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The kit according to claim 10, wherein the first and second suture filaments are comprised of an absorbable material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The kit according to claim 15, wherein the absorbable material is polydioxanone. ### Claim 17 A wound closure device comprising: a predetermined number of wound closure devices N, where N>2, wherein each wound closure device includes a tissue anchor and a suture filament fixedly coupled thereto and forming a slip knot substantially adjacent said anchor before extending outwardly to a free distal end; wherein for each wound closure device from x=1 to N, the suture filament of wound closure device x=1 to (N−1) passes through the slip knot of the wound closure device x+1, and the suture filament of the wound closure device x=N passes through the slip knot of the wound closure device x=1. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device according to claim 17, wherein each of said predetermined number of tissue anchors are substantially axial, and include a tissue penetrating distal end. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device according to claim 18, wherein the first and second suture filaments are coupled to a mid-section of the first and second tissue anchors respectfully. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The device according to claim 19, wherein the first and second tissue anchors are comprised of an absorbable material. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The device according to claim 20, wherein the absorbable material is polydioxanone. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The device according to claim 21, wherein the first and second tissue anchors have a length of approximately 7 mm. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The device according to claim 18, wherein a proximal end of the predetermined number of tissue anchors has a recess therein, sized and shaped to removably receive therein a distal end of an insertion device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The device according to claim 17, wherein each of said predetermined number of suture filaments are comprised of an absorbable material. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The device according to claim 24, wherein the absorbable material is polydioxanone.