Tissue anchoring system and method

Abstract

A tissue anchoring system includes a tissue anchor affixed to an end of a cable and supported for insertion on a delivery device, the manipulation of which permits placement of the anchor on a far side of the tissue. A tensioning, crimping and cutting tool designed for use along the cable's longitudinal axis, thus reducing the number of incisions required. A suture anchoring system is also described for introducing a loop of suture into a surgical site and anchoring it, for instance, across a tear in soft tissue.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to surgical devices and methods and, more particularly, to devices and methods for the repair of bone and soft tissue. [0002] It is a common requirement in orthopedic surgical procedures to anchor two or more elements together, such as pieces of a bone, two or more bones, or a combination of soft tissue and bone. This has been accomplished by a number of devices, such as bone bolts that penetrate two pieces of bone and use a nut to draw the segments together, bone screws and interconnecting plates, wires circling at least two pieces of bone, or sutures into the tissue. [0003] Often such devices require a relatively large access opening through surrounding and / or covering tissue to implant the anchoring devices. The enlarged access site may increase patient pain and lengthen recovery time. Further, in some locations it is difficult and impractical to make large access points to reach the appropriate site because of surr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] The present invention also contemplates a bone opening protector having a first portion defining an opening therein to receive a cable. The first portion is adapted to engage a surface surrounding a bone opening. The protector also includes an anchoring extension, connected to the first portion, adapted to extend into bone to inhibit movement of the first portion.

[0013] The invention further contemplates a method for joining two sections of tissue. The method includes providing a first anchor, an elongated member attached to the first anchor, a second anchor slidable on the elongated member and having a deformable portion adapted to engage the elongated member, and a crimping tool having an outer member and an inner member movably disposed within the outer member. The first anchor is inserted into a first section of tissue. The second anchor is threaded on the elongated member. Tension is applied on the elongated member to urge the first section of tissue toward a second section of tissue. The elongated member is threaded through the crimping device, and the inner member of the crimping device is moved with respect to the outer member thereby deforming the deformable portion of the second anchor and maintaining the tension applied to the elongated member.

Problems solved by technology

The enlarged access site may increase patient pain and lengthen recovery time.

Further, in some locations it is difficult and impractical to make large access points to reach the appropriate site because of surrounding joints and vessels.

Further, some of these devices may be difficult to use since it may be hard to reduce a fracture between two bone segments and maintain that reduction while the device is inserted.

This is particularly true with small bone fragments were the use of threaded implants may tend to rotate one bone segment with respect to another, thereby creating a misalignment between the fragments.

A significant drawback of these systems is that they require access around the entire bone.

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