IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,648,772
Granted Patent B2
US 12,648,772 · App. 18/457,834 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Fenestrated locking suture anchor assembly

Inventors: Tatsuya Arai (Franklin, MA); Matthew Edwin Koski (Westford, MA); Mark Edwin Housman (North Attleboro, MA); Richard M. Lunn (Kingston, MA)
Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
A61B17/0401A61B2017/0409A61B2017/0414A61B2017/0424A61B2017/0438A61B2017/044A61B2017/0441A61B2017/0445A61B2017/0446A61B2017/0462
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,648,772
App. No.
18/457,834
Granted
Jun 9, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The technology includes an anchor assembly for tissue repair having an open helical coil sleeve and a tip structure. The tip structure includes an aperture for passing a suture and a suture capture member for capturing a suture. The technology also includes an anchor driver for installing an anchor into bone. The anchor driver includes an outer shaft and a sleeve advancement member for advancing the sleeve as well as an inner shaft and a suture capture advancement member for advancing the suture capture member. The technology also includes a system for tissue repair having an anchor assembly and an anchor driver for installing the anchor assembly into bone.

Claims (35)

1 . A tissue repair system comprising:

an anchor comprising:

a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end, a helical thread extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the sleeve further defining an internal volume communicating with a region exterior to the sleeve through at least two openings between two adjacent turns of the helical thread, a circumferential structural support connected to two proximal-most adjacent turns of the helical thread; and

a tip structure engageable with the sleeve, the tip structure defining an aperture sized to accept a suture; and

an anchor driver comprising:

an outer shaft configured to engage one or more components of the sleeve extending along an entire length of the interior volume of the sleeve between the at least two openings;

an intermediate shaft extending through the outer shaft, the intermediate shaft releasably attachable to the tip structure; and

a handle assembly comprising:

a handle grip for holding the anchor driver; and

a travel limiter comprising:

a threaded shaft;

an outer housing configured to spin freely about the threaded shaft upon a change in a holding force exerted on the threaded shaft; and

a ring for distributing an axial force applied to the travel limiter.

2 . The tissue repair system of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve further comprises a circumferential structural support connected to two distal-most adjacent turns of the helical thread.

3 . The tissue repair system of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve further comprises a circumferential structural support connected to two adjacent turns of the helical thread in an area distal to the at least two openings.

4 . The tissue repair system of claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly defines one or more slots for placing and/or maintaining tension on the suture during installation of the anchor into bone.

5 . The tissue repair system of claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly defines a pounding surface for pounding the tip structure into bone.

6 . The tissue repair system of claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly further comprises a sleeve advancement member operatively coupled to the outer shaft, and wherein rotation of the sleeve advancement member advances the sleeve into engagement with the tip structure.

7 . A method of tissue repair comprising:

driving a tip structure of a tissue repair system into a bone hole, the tissue repair system comprising:

an anchor comprising:

a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end, a helical thread extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the sleeve further defining an internal volume communicating with a region exterior to the sleeve through at least two openings between two adjacent turns of the helical thread, a circumferential structural support connected to two proximal-most adjacent turns of the helical thread; and

the tip structure engageable with the sleeve, the tip structure defining an aperture sized to accept a suture; and

an anchor driver comprising:

an outer shaft configured to engage one or more components of the sleeve extending along an entire length of the interior volume of the sleeve between the at least two openings;

an intermediate shaft extending through the outer shaft, the intermediate shaft releasably attachable to the tip structure;

a handle assembly comprising a handle grip for holding the anchor driver; and

a travel limiter comprising:

a threaded shaft;

an outer housing configured to spin freely about the threaded shaft upon a change in a holding force exerted on the threaded shaft; and

a ring for distributing an axial force applied to the travel limiter; and

using the anchor driver, advancing the sleeve into the bone hole and into engagement with the tip structure.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising releasing the tip structure from the intermediate shaft.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the advancing the sleeve into the bone hole further comprises axially sliding the sleeve along a longitudinal axis of the intermediate shaft.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the handle assembly further comprises a sleeve advancement member operatively coupled to the outer shaft, and wherein rotation of the sleeve advancement member causes the advancing of the sleeve into the bone hole.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2023
From: ARAI, TATSUYA; KOSKI, MATTHEW EDWIN; HOUSMAN, MARK EDWIN; LUNN, RICHARD M.
To: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Reel/Frame 064739/0654 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17227825 · Apr 12, 2021
Continuation 16407826 · May 9, 2019
Continuation 15346980 · Nov 9, 2016
Division 13838729 · Mar 15, 2013
Related Publication 20230404568A1 · Dec 21, 2023
References Cited (6)
US 20060247642A1 · Stone · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 20090112270A1 · Lunn · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20100016869A1 · Paulk · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20130178901A1 · Arai · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20150105831A1 · Yim · 2015 [cited by examiner]
WO WO2011060022A2 · 2011 [cited by examiner]