# US 9,517,062 B2 · Closed loop suture for anchoring tissue grafts > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,062 B2 - Document ID: US9517062B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/630,868 - Filed: 2015-02-25 - Published: 2016-06-09 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-03 - Assignees: Smith & Nephew, Inc. - Applicants: Smith & Nephew, Inc. - Inventors: Stephen Anthony Santangelo; Alfred Rodrigue Berube, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517062B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/06166: {Sutures (suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M)} - 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)} - A61F 2/0811: {Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments} - A61B 2017/00969: {used for transplantation} - A61B 2017/0404: {Buttons} - A61B 2017/06185: {hollow or tubular} - A61F 2002/0852: {Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes} - A61F 2002/0882: {Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone} - A61F 2210/0004: bioabsorbable - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A method and device for securing a tissue graft within a bone passage includes providing a graft fixation device that houses a closed loop having both braided and non-braided portions. A tissue graft is looped through the closed loop at the non-braided portion to attach the tissue graft to the graft fixation device. The graft fixation device is passed through the bone passage and seated against the surface of the bone to secure the tissue graft within the bone passage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A suture loop comprising: a tubular braided length of filaments, the braided length of filaments defining a hollow conduit; and a non-braided length of filaments, where the braided length of filaments and the non-braided length of filaments form the suture loop, wherein filaments that are braided to define the hollow conduit are not braided to form the non-braided length of filaments. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The suture loop of claim 1, wherein the filaments of the tubular braided length of filaments and the filaments of the non-braided length of filaments are in the form of yarns, each yarn including multiple filaments. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The suture loop of claim 2, wherein the braided length of filaments comprises braided yarn. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The suture loop of claim 2, wherein the non-braided length of filaments comprises yarn twisted together. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The suture loop of claim 2, wherein the yarns comprise monofilaments twisted together. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The suture loop of claim 2, wherein the yarns comprise air-entangled monofilaments. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The suture loop of claim 2, wherein each yarn has a minimum denier of 198 and comprises monofilaments. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The suture loop of claim 1, wherein the braided length of filaments comprises a first section of braided filaments and a second section of braided filaments, and the non-braided length of filaments is located between the first and second sections, wherein the first and second sections each have a terminal end, and the first and second sections connect to form the suture loop. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The suture loop of claim 8, wherein the second section defines a hollow conduit and a portion of the first section is inside the conduit to form the suture loop. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The suture loop of claim 8, comprising at least one stitch securing the connection between the first and second sections. ### Claim 11 A surgical device for securing a tissue graft within a bone passage comprising: an elongated body; and a loop of suture housed by the elongated body, wherein the loop of suture comprises a tubular braided length of filaments, the braided length of filaments defining a hollow conduit, and a non-braided length of filaments, wherein filaments that are braided to define the hollow conduit are not braided to form the non-braided length of filaments. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The surgical device of claim 11, wherein the elongated body defines a hole that receives the loop of suture. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The surgical device of claim 11, wherein the elongated body defines a first hole and a second hole that receive the loop of suture. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The surgical device of claim 13, wherein the elongated body defines a third hole and a fourth hole. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The surgical device of claim 14, including a leading filament and a trailing filament each received by one of the third and fourth holes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The surgical device of claim 14, wherein the first hole and the second hole are positioned centrally, the third hole is positioned on one side of the first and second holes and the fourth hole is positioned on an opposite side of the first and second holes.