Granted Patent B2

US 9,561,026 · App. 14/463,301 · Granted Feb 7, 2017

Abstract

Claims (28)

1. A surgical fastening device, comprising:

an anchor assembly formed of a plurality of rigid anchor segments, each including a longitudinal axis, a proximal segment and a distal anchor segment comprising a force transferring element, and at least one segment having at least one interdigitation element configured to create an engagement force between the at least one segment and a tissue; and

a flexible member linking the plurality of anchor segments and configured to transition the anchor assembly from a first, flexible configuration when the flexible member is in a relaxed state to a second, substantially rigid configuration when the flexible member is in a taut state, wherein the flexible member is a suture configured to connect each of the plurality of anchor segments, and the suture includes a first limb and a second limb, and at least one limb is placed external to a portion of at least one of the plurality of anchor segments, wherein, in the substantially rigid configuration, the longitudinal axis of one of the plurality of anchor segments is non-aligned with the longitudinal axis of an adjacent anchor segment.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is operably coupled to the force transferring element such that the application of a tensile force to the flexible member is effective to compress adjacent segments.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the distal segment is smaller in diameter than the proximal segment and comprises a substantially conical tip configured to assist an insertion of the plurality of anchor segments into the tissue.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the force transferring element comprises one of an eyelet, a knot, and a cross pin.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein each anchor segment comprises a receiver element configured to receive the flexible member.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the receiver element comprises a lumen.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the lumen extends through each segment such that the lumens of adjacent segments are oriented with respect to each other in one of a coaxial manner and a non-coaxial manner.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein each anchor segment is of a substantially frustrum-like shape.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the proximal segment includes an interface element configured to receive an inserter tool.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein adjacent ends of adjacent segments are configured to mate to one another.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the adjacent ends of adjacent segments mate as a ball and socket.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the interdigitation element comprises a bone engaging surface feature.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the assembly includes from about 4 to 7 segments.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the anchor assembly decrease in diameter from the proximal segment to the distal segment.

15. A surgical suture anchor assembly, comprising:

a plurality of anchor segments configured to selectively interlock with each other, each segment including a receiver element configured to accept a flexible member, a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end;

a flexible member extending through the receiver element of each of the plurality of anchor segments, the flexible member being operatively coupled to a force transferring element on a terminal segment and being configured to transform the plurality of anchor segments from a flexible assembly to a substantially rigid body when tension is applied thereto, wherein the flexible member is a suture configured to connect each of the plurality of anchor segments, and the suture includes a first limb and a second limb, and at least one limb is placed external to at least a portion of one of the plurality of anchor segments so that the substantially rigid body includes non-aligned anchor segments when tension is applied, and wherein, in the substantially rigid body, the longitudinal axis of one anchor segment is non-aligned with the longitudinal axis of the adjacent anchor segment.

16. The anchor assembly of claim 15 , wherein the receiver element is at least one of a lumen and a slot.

17. The anchor assembly of claim 15 , wherein the at least one limb is placed external to at least two nonadjacent anchor segments.

18. A surgical method, comprising:

delivering a suture anchor assembly formed of a plurality of substantially rigid segments, each segment comprising a longitudinal axis, to a cavity formed in a bone, the suture anchor assembly having a delivery configuration in which the suture anchor assembly is flexible and able to assume a non-linear orientation;

anchoring the suture anchor assembly in a delivered configuration within the cavity such that the suture anchor assembly assumes a substantially rigid configuration by tensioning a flexible member extending through the assembly, wherein the flexible member is a suture configured to connect each of the plurality of segments, and the suture includes a first limb and a second limb, and at least one limb is placed external to at least one of the plurality of segments so that the substantially rigid configuration includes non-aligned segments, wherein, in the substantially rigid configuration, the longitudinal axis of one segment is non-aligned with the longitudinal axis of the adjacent segment;

passing a suture attached to the suture anchor assembly through a detached soft tissue; and

tensioning the suture to re-approximate detached soft tissue.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the suture anchor assembly is passed through a curved pathway.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least one limb is placed external to at least two nonadjacent segments.

Assignments (8)