Deformable fastener system
The guidance and positioning device may be a system for creating a passage in tissue, positioning fasteners or other implants, and tensioning an elongated fastening member, like a suture, thread, wire, or pin. In some embodiments, the device may allow for the implantation of multiple sutures and fasteners in tissue. A fastener may be positioned at the distal end of a flexible pushrod. The fastener may be connected with the pushrod or may be loosely fitted with the distal end of the pushrod. A suture may be looped through or connected with the fastener such that one, two, or more sections, legs, strands, or portions of the suture extend from the fastener.
1. A deformable fastener system comprising:
a flexible hollow fastener fabricated solely from a plurality of biocompatible fibers;
a suture extending through the hollow fastener such that two legs of the suture extend from the hollow fastener to enable a user to tension the suture, wherein at least a portion of the suture is fabricated with polyethylene; and
an introducer having a pushrod configured to engage the fastener and position the fastener relative to a body tissue, wherein the hollow fastener and suture are positioned on the distal end of the pushrod, and
wherein the hollow fastener is configured to deform from a first configuration to a second configuration to provide an anchor for the suture as the suture is tensioned relative to the body tissue; and
wherein the hollow fastener includes a polymeric material.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the suture includes at least a portion of polyester.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hollow fastener is knotless.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the suture is positionable through proximal and distal portions of body tissue.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pushrod is flexible.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the introducer has at least one of a linear configuration and a curved configuration.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the introducer is configured to penetrate an imperforate surface of the body.
8. A deformable fastener system comprising:
a suture;
a flexible hollow fastener fabricated solely from a plurality of fibers comprised of a biocompatible polymeric material, wherein at least a portion of the suture extends through the hollow fastener such that two legs of the suture extend from the hollow fastener to enable a user to tension the suture to deform the hollow fastener from a first configuration to a second configuration to anchor the suture within the body; and
an introducer with a pushrod configured to engage the fastener, wherein the hollow fastener and suture are positioned on the distal end of the pushrod.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the suture is at least one of braided and interlaced.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the suture includes polyethylene.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the suture includes at least a portion of polyester.
12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the pushrod is flexible.
13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the introducer has at least one of a linear configuration and a curved configuration.
14. A method of using a deformable fastener system, said method comprising:
inserting a deformable hollow fastener into a passage in a bone, the deformable hollow fastener being flexible and fabricated solely from a plurality of flexible biocompatible fibers, and having a suture extending through the deformable hollow fastener such that two legs of the suture extend from the deformable hollow fastener to enable a user to tension the suture, wherein the deformable hollow fastener and suture are positioned on the distal end of a pushrod during insertion;
tensioning the suture to anchor the deformable hollow fastener into the bone;
deforming the deformable hollow fastener from a first configuration to a second configuration in the bone; and
wherein inserting a deformable hollow fastener further comprises inserting a deformable hollow fastener that includes a polymeric material.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein inserting a deformable hollow fastener having a suture further comprises inserting a deformable hollow fastener having a suture that is at least one of braided and interlaced.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein inserting a deformable hollow fastener having a suture further comprises inserting a deformable hollow fastener having a suture that includes at least one of polyethylene and polyester.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein inserting a deformable hollow fastener further comprises inserting a deformable hollow fastener with a pushrod that is flexible.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein inserting a deformable hollow fastener further comprises inserting a deformable hollow fastener with an introducer that has at least one of a linear configuration and a curved configuration.
19. The system of claim 8 , wherein the hollow fastener is knotless.
20. The method of claim 14 , wherein inserting a deformable hollow fastener further comprises inserting a deformable hollow fastener that is knotless.