Suture anchor with insert-molded suture eyelet
An insert-molded suture anchor with a biodegradable polymer body in which a loop of suture is totally contained within the polymer. The suture anchor body features a drive end that is shaped to be received into a recess in the end of a hand driver. Anchoring ribs are formed along the remaining length of the anchor. The loop of suture which includes and eyelet for attaching a suture strand is totally embedded within the anchor body during the insert-molding fabrication process. The anchor is produced by placing the suture in an injection mold, and injecting biodegradable polymer into the mold.
1. An insert-molded suture anchor, comprising:
a ribbed body formed of a biodegradable polymer, the ribbed body having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, the ribbed anchor body being provided with a plurality of adjacent, truncated cones and terminating at its distal end in a truncated cone with a blunt tip;
an eyelet formed in a drive end provided at the proximal end of the anchor, the eyelet being formed as an opening through the drive end, the drive end being configured to be received in a driver head of a driver, so that the drive end of the anchor is received in a recess in a cannula of the driver head; and
a suture completely insert molded within the anchor, the suture including an insert-molded portion in the form of a loop disposed around the eyelet at the drive end of the suture anchor body, the loop being totally contained within the polymer of the body.
2. The insert-molded suture anchor of claim 1 further comprising two diametrically opposite apertures provided within the drive end of the anchor, the apertures intersecting at least a portion of the eyelet.
3. The insert-molded suture anchor of claim 2 , wherein the apertures are oriented about parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ribbed body.
4. The insert-molded suture anchor of claim 1 , wherein the eyelet has a circular cross-sectional configuration.
5. The insert-molded suture anchor of claim 1 , wherein the suture loop is recessed from the proximal end of the anchor by about one fourth the length of the drive end.
6. The insert-molded suture anchor of claim 1 , further comprising at least one strand attached to the eyelet.
7. The insert-molded suture anchor of claim 1 , wherein the ribbed body comprises bioabsorbable material.
8. A suture anchor formed by a process comprising the steps of:
placing at least one strand of suture in a mold;
molding a suture anchor body completely surrounding the suture by delivering an uncured polymer into the mold, wherein the molded suture anchor has an eyelet formed in a drive end, the eyelet being formed as an opening through the drive end, and the suture forms a loop inside the polymer of the drive end of the suture anchor body and around the eyelet; and
causing the polymer to cure to allow the loop of the suture to be totally contained within the polymer.
9. The suture anchor of claim 8 , wherein the suture loop is recessed from a proximal end of the anchor by about one fourth the length of the drive end.
10. The suture anchor of claim 8 , wherein the strand of suture is provided with irregularities.