US20220061980A1 - Tenodesis anchor - Google Patents

Abstract

A tenodesis anchor having an anchor member coupled to at least one fiber loop. The anchor member is inserted into a bone and the loop closed about a tendon to be anchored to the bone. Closing the loops additionally deforms the anchor member so that it remains within the bone, thereby securing the tendon trapped in the loop to the bone without the use of a staple.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/297,793 filed on Mar. 11, 2019 (now U.S. patent Ser. No. 11/185,404), which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/640,888 filed on Mar. 9, 2018 the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
• The present invention to tenodesis anchors and, more specifically, to a soft anchor and loop system for securing a tendon to bone without staples.
2. Description of the Related Art
• The treatment of tendonitis, such as biceps tendonitis, may require a surgical procedure to repair a torn tendon and reattach it to the appropriate bone. This procedure is known as tenodesis and involved cutting the attachment of the tendon to the bone, removing any torn portion, then reattaching the tendon to the bone. Reattachment of the tendon to the bone is typically performed using staples. Staples can be irritating to the patient, however, as they are rigid and are typically used in series so that they occupy a large footprint. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an approach for anchoring the tendon to bone in a tenodesis procedure that is less irritating and preferably avoids the use of staples.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention comprises a tenodesis anchor system for attaching a tendon to bone without the use of staples. The tenodesis anchor system comprise an anchor member having a series of slots formed therein and at least one closable loop that is woven through the series of slots in the anchor member and has a predetermined diameter for accepting a tendon therein. The loop includes a free end that, when pulled, will reduce the diameter of the loop and cause the loop to slide relative to the anchor member to capture the tendon therein. The anchor member is configurable between a first configuration that will pass through a hole in a bone and a second configuration that cannot pass through the hole in response to sliding of the loop relative to the anchor member. In one embodiment, two loops pass through the series of slots in the anchor member. A first end of each of the loops is fixed and second end of each of loops forms the free ends that, when pulled, will reduce the diameter of each of the loops. The system may further comprise an inserter extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first end configured as a fork having a pair of spaced apart tines. The pair of tines are configured to form a hole in a bone when driven therein.
• The present invention also comprises a method of attaching a tendon to bone. The first step is providing an anchor member having a series of slots formed therein and at least one loop having a predetermined diameter that is woven through the series of slots in the anchor member and terminates in a free end that, when pulled, will cause the loop to slide relative to the anchor member. Next, the anchor member into a bone so that the loop remains on the outside of the bone. A tendon may then be passed through the loop and the free end of the loop pulled to reduce the diameter of the loop until the tendon is securely trapped within the loop.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
• The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
• FIG. 1 is a schematic of a tenodesis anchor system according to the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a schematic of an anchor member for a tenodesis anchor system according to the present invention;
• FIG. 3 is a schematic of a pair of loops that are interconnected according to the present invention
• FIG. 4 is a schematic of an inserter for a tenodesis anchor according to the present invention;
• FIG. 5 is a schematic of an inserter coupled to a tenodesis anchor according to the present invention prior to inserting the anchor into a bone;
• FIG. 6 is a schematic of a tenodesis anchor according to the present invention installed into a bone and ready to secure a tendon in place.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• Referring to the figures, wherein like numeral refer to like parts throughout, there is seen inFIG. 1 atenodesis anchor10 according to the present invention.Anchor10 comprises ananchor member12 spliced to afiber14, such as by weavingfiber14 through a series ofslots16 formed inanchor member12, as seen inFIG. 2.Anchor member12 preferably comprises a fibrous pad that will be compressed into a different shape as a result of movement of fiber throughanchor member12 when anchor member is held in place within a bone. Alternatively,anchor member12 may comprise a rigid anchor formed from metal plastic or a bioabsorbable material through whichfiber14 may slide.
• Fiber14 may be configured asmultiple loops20 each of which have a predetermined diameter and each of which passes throughslots16.Loops20 each have afixed end22 that is fixed to theother loop20 and afree end24 that can slide relative to theother loop20. For example, as seen inFIG. 3, fixedend22 ofloop20 may be configured to form atube26 through whichfree end24 of theother loop20 can freely pass, and vice versa. It should be recognized that various approaches may be used for securingfixed ends22 and allowing for movement offree ends24, such as running knots, eye splices, sliding splices, etc. As eachloop20 can slide freely throughanchor member12 independently of each other, a force applied tofree end24 of eachloop20 will causeloops20 to reduce in diameter asfree ends24 slide though or relative to thefixed ends22 of theother loop20.
• Referring toFIG. 4,anchor member12 may be inserted through a small aperture40 formed into a bone withloops20 remaining on the outside of the bone. Atendon28 may be positioned withinloops20 and free ends18 pulled to reduce the diameter ofloops20. When free ends18 are pulled so thatloops20 are substantially closed,tendon28 will become trapped inloops20 andanchor member12, if formed from a fibrous pad, will become compressed into a configuration that cannot slide out of bone aperture40. Consequently,tendon28 will be secured withinloops20 andanchor member12 will holdloops20, and thustendon28, securely in place against the bone. Thus,tendon28 to be anchored in place may be placed throughloops20 andfree ends24 pulled toclose loops20 aroundtendon28 and also compressinganchor member12 into a configuration that cannot be withdrawn from the insertion hole. The ends ofloops20 may then be tied up to preventloops20 from opening.
• Referring toFIG. 5, the present invention also includes aninserter30 adapted for installation ofanchor10 in a bone. Inserter30 extends along a longitudinal axis to anend32 defining afork34 having a pair oftines36 that terminate insharp points38.
• Referring toFIG. 6,anchor10 may be positioned betweentines36 and inserter30 mechanically driven longitudinally into a bone so thatsharp points38 form an insertion hole therein andanchor member20 is pushed into the bone through the insertion hole. Withdrawal ofinserter30 will leaveanchor member20 within the bone.

Claims (6)

What is claimed is:

1. A method of attaching a tendon to bone, comprising the steps of:

providing an anchor member having a series of slots formed therein and at least one loop having a predetermined diameter that is woven through the series of slots in the anchor member and terminates in a free end that, when pulled, will cause the loop to slide relative to the anchor member;

driving the anchor member into a bone so that the loop remains on the outside of the bone;

passing a tendon through the loop;

pulling the free end of the loop to reduce the diameter of the loop until the tendon is securely trapped within the loop.

2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the anchor member transitions from a first configuration that was able to pass through the hole in a bone into a second configuration that cannot pass through the hole in the bone in response to sliding of the loop relative to the anchor member as the free end of the loop is pulled.

3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the anchor comprises two of the loops passing through the series of slots in the anchor member.

4. The method ofclaim 3, wherein a second end of each of the loops is fixed and second end of each of loops forms the free ends that, when pulled, will reduce the diameter of each of the loops.

5. The method ofclaim 4, further comprising an inserter extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first end configured as a fork having a pair of spaced apart tines.

6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the pair of tines are configured to form a hole in a bone when driven therein.

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