A61F2002/087

DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TENDON REPAIR
20170035553 · 2017-02-09 ·

Disclosed is a device and method for repairing a partially or totally ruptured tendon. The device comprises an implant placed inside or outside of the tendon on either side of the rupture in order to strengthen the ruptured area during repair. Once positioned inside the tendon, the tendon is held in place so it can heal either by sewing or stapling through the tendon and implant, or by any other suitable method that utilizes the implant to provide strength to the ruptured area. In this manner the tendon can heal with less chance of rupturing again prior to healing.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING ANATOMICAL FEATURES
20170020507 · 2017-01-26 ·

A method of coupling a first portion of an anatomy to a second portion of the anatomy includes coupling first and second bones of the anatomy with a bone-tendon-bone implant. The bone-tendon-bone implant has a first bone end, a second bone end and a replacement tendon between the first and second bone ends. The first and second bone ends are positioned in corresponding first and second bores of the first and second bones. The first bone end is secured to the first bone with a first bone anchor. A second anchor coupled to the bone-tendon-bone implant is passed through and outside the second bore. The second anchor is coupled to an adjustable suture construct having two adjustable suture loops. Tensioning at least one of first and second ends of the adjustable suture construct tensions the replacement tendon and positions the first bone relative to the second bone.

Soft anchors with soft eyelets

Soft anchor constructs and methods for soft tissue to bone repairs. The soft anchors may be knotted or knotless constructs. The soft anchors include a body formed of various soft materials (including, but not limited to, suture) and provided in various shapes and configurations that confer the anchors the ability to be easily inserted within bone tunnels or sockets and be bunched up within the bone tunnels or sockets. At least one closed loop or soft eyelet is attached to the soft anchor to allow additional sliding strands and/or shuttle/pull devices (suture passing devices) to pass through the eyelet and aid in the knotted or knotless fixation of tissue to bone.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING SOFT TISSUE TO A BONE
20170014225 · 2017-01-19 ·

A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a member to pull the soft tissue implant into a femoral tunnel. The member includes a suture having first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with the longitudinal passage to form a pair of loops. A collapsible tube is positioned about the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel and the collapse of the tube to form an anchor.

Multi-component non-biodegradable implant, a method of making and a method of implantation

An implant having at least three components, namely, a solid hydrogel, a porous hydrogel adjacent to or surrounding the solid hydrogel (together considered the hydrogel), and a porous rigid base. The solid hydrogel and porous rigid base carry joint load, and the porous hydrogel layer and the porous rigid base allow for cellular migration into and around the implant. The invention is also a novel method of manufacturing the implant, a novel method of implanting the implant, and a method of treating, repairing or replacing biological tissue, more preferably musculoskeletal tissue, with the implant.

Devices and methods for tendon repair

Disclosed is a device and method for repairing a partially or totally ruptured tendon. The device comprises an implant placed inside or outside of the tendon on either side of the rupture in order to strengthen the ruptured area during repair. Once positioned inside the tendon, the tendon is held in place so it can heal either by sewing or stapling through the tendon and implant, or by any other suitable method that utilizes the implant to provide strength to the ruptured area. In this manner the tendon can heal with less chance of rupturing again prior to healing.

METHODS OF MAKING REINFORCED SOFT TISSUE GRAFTS WITH SUTURE LOOP/NEEDLE CONSTRUCTS

A method of reinforcing a biological construct according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, attaching a suture loop/needle construct to a reinforcement material and stitching the reinforcement material to a biological construct to form a reinforced biological construct. The reinforcement material is attached to the suture loop/needle construct prior to approximating the reinforcement material to the biological construct.

Tendon repair system

A system for coupling a tendon to a bone may include a tendon coupling device engageable with a tendon, a fastener to secure the tendon coupling device to the tendon, a bone coupling device, and a flexible element. The flexible element may include a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the flexible element may be couplable with the fastener to securably attach the flexible element to the tendon. The bone coupling device may include a bone-facing surface engageable with a surface of the bone proximate a bone tunnel formed through the bone, and a hole formed through the bone coupling device. The second portion of the flexible element may be receivable through the bone tunnel and the hole formed through the bone coupling device to engage an opposing surface of the bone coupling device and securably couple the tendon to the bone.

SOFT ANCHORS WITH SOFT EYELETS

Soft anchor constructs and methods for soft tissue to bone repairs. The soft anchors may be knotted or knotless constructs. The soft anchors include a body formed of various soft materials (including, but not limited to, suture) and provided in various shapes and configurations that confer the anchors the ability to be easily inserted within bone tunnels or sockets and be bunched up within the bone tunnels or sockets. At least one closed loop or soft eyelet is attached to the soft anchor to allow additional sliding strands and/or shuttle/pull devices (suture passing devices) to pass through the eyelet and aid in the knotted or knotless fixation of tissue to bone.

Systems and methods for ligament graft preparation

Systems and methods for preparing a ligament graft for a ligament reconstruction procedure are provided. In general, the described techniques utilize a graft preparation system having a holder and a delivery suture assembly removably coupled thereto. The delivery suture assembly can include a spine coupled with an anchor suture configured to form a self-tightening knot used to position the assembly around a graft and a plurality of suture windings configured to be affixed to the graft when the assembly is deployed. The assembly is delivered to the graft using the holder and the sutures can be affixed to the graft without penetrating therethrough. The spine helps to evenly distribute the load among the windings compressing the graft which are thus are capable of withstanding increased loads. Thus, an improved, simplified, and time- and labor-saving approach to preparing ligament grafts is provided.