SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING SUTURE

Abstract

A suture transport system is disclosure for placing a flexible member along a tunnel, the system including a means of transporting a flexible member along a tunnel from a first opening in the tunnel through to a second opening at an opposite end of the tunnel, such that the flexible member extends from both the first and second opening. The system also includes a means of capturing a portion of the flexible member at the second opening, to inhibit the flexible member from retracting into the tunnel second opening. The means of capturing includes an aperture for capturing the portion of the flexible member.

Claims

1. A shuttle system comprising: a means of transporting a flexible member along a tunnel from a first opening in a tissue tunnel through to a second opening at an opposite end of the tissue tunnel, such that the flexible member extends from both the first and second openings; a guide having an aperture for receiving the flexible member therethrough after exiting the second opening, the aperture configured to cooperate with the flexible member and capture a portion of the flexible member at the second opening and wherein the guide includes a handle configured to draw the flexible member portion away from the second opening.

2. The shuttle system of claim 1 wherein the flexible member portion further comprises an expandable element operatively coupled thereto; and wherein the means of transporting disposes the expandable element through the guide aperture.

3. The shuttle system of claim 2 wherein the aperture defines a portion of a drill guide.

4. The shuttle system of claim 3 wherein the expandable element is configured to selectively change shape from a first cross sectional configuration that fits through the aperture, to a second cross sectional configuration that is too large to fit through the aperture and thereby captures the flexible member portion at the second opening.

5. The shuttle system of claim 4, wherein the means of transporting comprises an outer tube and an inner tube, both sized to fit through the guide aperture; and wherein the outer tube is configured to house the expandable element while in the first cross sectional configuration and wherein the inner tube is configured to cooperate with the flexible member to change the expandable element to the second cross sectional configuration.

6. The shuttle system of claim 2 wherein the expandable element is selected from a group consisting of and all-suture anchor; a rigid anchor; a toggle or a cortical button.

7. The shuttle system of claim 1, wherein the guide aperture includes at least one flexible arm configured to flex and allow passage of the flexible member through the guide aperture and then capture the flexible member.

8. The suture transport system of claim 7 wherein the at least one flexible arm is selectively coupled to a drill guide.

9. A method of transporting and retaining a flexible member through bone have a prepared tunnel therethrough, defining a first and second tunnel opening; comprising: placing a guide aperture of a guide around a bone and adjacent the second tunnel opening; inserting a flexible member through the tunnel, and through the guide aperture; capturing a first end of the flexible member with the guide aperture; withdrawing the guide and thereby the flexible member first end from the tunnel second opening; the flexible member extending from both the first and second tunnel open ends; coupling a secondary element to the first end of the flexible member; and drawing the second end of flexible member to draw at least a portion of the secondary element towards the tunnel second opening.

10. The method of transporting and retaining a flexible member of claim 9 wherein capturing a first end of the flexible member with the guide aperture comprises deploying an expandable element operably coupled to the flexible member.

11. The method of transporting and retaining a flexible member of claim 9 wherein capturing a first end of the flexible member with the guide aperture comprising deflecting a spring arm associated with the guide aperture.

12. The method of transporting and retaining the flexible member of claim 9 wherein withdrawing the guide and thereby the flexible member first end comprising withdrawing the guide around an external surface of the bone, laterally away from the tunnel.

13. The method of transporting and retaining a flexible member of claim 10 further comprising removing the expandable member from the flexible member first end before coupling the secondary element to the flexible member.

14. The method of claim transporting and retaining a flexible member of claim 9 wherein the bone is a glenoid bone and wherein the secondary element is graft tissue, configured to be attached to a surface of the bone adjacent the second tunnel opening.

15. The method of transporting and retaining a flexible member of claim 10 wherein drawing the second end of flexible member draws the secondary element into and along the tunnel second opening.

16. A suture transport system for placing a shuttling flexible member along a bone tunnel, the system comprising: a flexible member; a flexible member insertion instrument configured to insert the flexible member into a first end of the bone tunnel through the bone tunnel and out of a second end of the bone tunnel; and a guide including an aperture for receiving the flexible member therethrough at the tunnel second end and configured to capture the flexible member within the aperture.

17. The suture transport system of claim 16 wherein the guide includes a handle configured to withdraw the flexible member laterally away from the tunnel second end.

18. The suture transport system of claim 16 wherein the flexible member further comprises an expandable element operatively coupled thereto; the expandable element selected from a group consisting of and all-suture anchor; a rigid anchor; a toggle or a cortical button.

19. The suture transport system of claim 16 wherein the expandable element is configured to selectively change shape from a first cross sectional configuration that fits through the aperture, to a second cross sectional configuration that does not fit through the aperture and thereby captures the flexible member at the second opening.

20. The suture transport system of claim 16, wherein the guide aperture is defined by a suture capture member having at least one flexible arm and defining a first surface of a capture aperture and wherein the insertion instrument flexes the flexible arm to place the flexible member through the aperture.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] For a detailed description of example embodiments, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021] FIG. 1A illustrates unassembled components of a suture transporter assembly, in accordance with at least one embodiment disclosed;

[0022] FIG. 1B illustrates an assembled suture transporter assembly, in accordance with at least one embodiment disclosed;

[0023] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrates an example embodiment and method of deployment of a flexible expandable element, in accordance with at least one embodiment disclosed;

[0024] FIGS. 3A-3C shows an example embodiment and method of deployment of a flexible expandable element, in accordance with at least one embodiment disclosed;

[0025] FIGS. 4A-4C show a method of transporting and capturing a flexible member using a drill guide, in accordance with least one embodiment disclosed;

[0026] FIGS. 5A-5D show a method of transporting and capturing a flexible member through an ACL tunnel using a drill guide, in accordance with least one embodiment disclosed;

[0027] FIGS. 6A-6C show an alternative embodiment of a flexible member transport and capture assembly using a suture capture member, in accordance with the disclosure; and

[0028] FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate a method of transporting and capturing a flexible member through a glenoid using a drill guide, in accordance with least one embodiment disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The following discussion is directed to various embodiments. Although one or more of these embodiments may be preferred, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims. In addition, one skilled in the art will understand that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment, and not intended to intimate that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment.

[0030] The disclosure may generally include a method and system for transporting a flexible member such as a suture or tape from a first side of tissue to an opposite side of the tissue so as to be reliably discovered and manipulated thereafter. The method may include transporting the suture using a suture transporter assembly that may cooperate with a drill guide to reliably target the suture transport system through the tissue, maintain the flexible member within the tissue once transported and also allows for easy suture discovery at the opposing side. For example when used during ACL repair, the system may interact and be anchored with the ACL joint drill guide system.

[0031] Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an exemplary embodiment of a flexible member transporter assembly 10 is illustrated in a disassembled arrangement, including an outer tube 20, an inner push tube 30 and flexible member 40. Flexible member 40 may be operatively coupled to an expandable element 45 as defined herein. Expandable element 45 is operable to have a first configuration that is shaped or oriented to nest within a distal end of outer tube 20 and upon ejection from outer tube 20 (possibly using push tube 30) may change orientation or change shape to have a larger cross section and thereby prevent retraction of element 45 and thereby flexible member 40 back into the tissue. One non-limiting example element may include a button style anchor that may be oriented in a first orientation while within the outer tube 20 and may rotate to a second orientation once out of outer tube 30. Other non-limiting examples may include all-suture anchors, disclosed in more detail in FIGS. 2A-2C and 3A-3C. The expandable element 45 provides a temporary means of maintaining the flexible member 40 at the opposite end of the tissue and therefore does not need to provide long-term fixation. Flexible member 40 may be a single flexible member, or may be a bight, forming a flexible member distal end and expandable element 45 disposed at the flexible member distal end.

[0032] FIG. 1B shows the flexible member transporter assembly 10 with the outer tube 20 visible, the inner push tube 30 inserted therein. More detail of this assembly is shown in FIG. 2A-2C. The flexible member 40 may extend along the inner tube 30, with the expandable element 45 at a distal end of assembly, which as shown may be housed within outer tube 20. Example assembly 10 is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 9,962,149, and incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. FIGS. 2A-2C show an example distal end of tube 20, tube 30 and flexible member 40. The embodiment of expandable element 45 shown in FIG. 2A is formed from a coarse braided material. More specifically, the structure utilized is a cylindrical, helically wound braid, such as the common biaxial braid. Pulling the entire braid along its length (i.e., putting the braid in tension) lengthens and narrows it. The length is gained by reducing the angle between the braided threads of the wound braid at the crossing points of the threads so that the braided threads align mostly parallel, which also reduces the radial distance between opposing sides and hence the overall circumference. When counter traction occurs, the opposite action occurs, and the braid contracts axially and expands radially, in this case by increasing the angle between the braided threads. This helically wound braid provides an advantage in that the structure can collapse and elongate naturally due to the alignment of the braids.

[0033] FIG. 2B shows the expandable element 45 in its elongated, compressed state and loaded into an inserter tube 20 in preparation for insertion through tissue and eventual deployment. The easily collapsible structure of the helically wound braid permits an installer to quickly and efficiently stretch the implant to the elongate position, and insert it into the inserter tube 20. Upon insertion into and through tissue to an opposite side of the tissue, deployment of the soft anchoring expandable element 45 by tensioning the flexible member 40, the fibers of the textile assume an orientation more orthogonally aligned with respect to the axis 170. FIG. 2C shows this deployed state, wherein the expandable element 45 is generally shortened and larger in diameter or cross section than in the pre-deployed state (FIG. 2A). In this example embodiment the outer tube may withdraw while the inner push tube 30 may remain stationary and tension on flexible member ends may deploy the expandable 45.

[0034] A second non-limiting example assembly is shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, similar to the assembly described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,795,334, incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. Expandable element 45 and a flexible member or flexible member 40 is interwoven through the expandable element 45. The expandable element 45 may be formed of a malleable or flexible braided body, the body defining a plurality of openings formed crosswise through, or substantially along, the width W of the body. The flexible member 40 includes two terminal ends, 40a and 40b. One of the terminal ends 40a, 40b is passed through each of the openings in the body forming multiple curved portions 35 of the fixation member 45 to form substantially S-shaped curved portions 35. The curved portions 35 may slide with respect to the flexible member 40 to form a cluster or bunch including a number of folds as shown in FIG. 3C and at least two S-shaped curved portions is preferred. The cluster in conjunction with the terminal ends 40a, 40b, may be used to secure flexible member 40 transported through to an opposing side of tissue as will be described in more detail heretoforth. Expandable element 45 may be a tape, mesh, tube, or other type of malleable or flexible structure, and the flexible member 40 may be made from a flexible member of different size depending upon the surgical procedure or application. In an alternative assembly, push tube may be a rod or sliding member operably coupled to expandable element 45. The user may advance the rod 30 forward within the outer tube 20 to deploy the expandable element 45 from the outer tube 20.

[0035] Assembly 10 may cooperate with a drill guide 50, illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4C. Drill guide 50 may be similar to known ACL drill guides and may include an aperture 60 sized for receiving a drill tip 80 therethrough. Drill tip 80 may slide within a drill guide cannula 85, and cannula 85 may define an OD that inhibits the cannula from extending through aperture 60, and therefore abuts a first side 60A of aperture 60. Once drill tip 80 is removed from cannula 85, assembly 10 may then be inserted along cannula 85 and through aperture 60. Assembly outer tube 20 is therefore sized to extend through drill cannula 85 and aperture 60. Expandable element 45 may then be deployed so as have a second larger cross sectional shape or orientation, preventing expandable element 45 and thereby flexible member 40 from extending back through aperture 60, as shown in FIG. 4C. FIG. 4C shows the expandable element embodiment disclosed in FIG. 3A-3C. Expandable element 45 is disposed on the far side 60B of aperture 60. Drill guide 55 may then be removed, drawing the flexible member 40 and expandable element 45 with it. The flexible member 40 is sufficiently long or coupled to a further surgical device such that it remains disposed along the tunnel and out of both openings of the tunnel for later shuttling. The captured portion of the flexible member may then be disengaged from the drill guide and a secondary element such as tissue or surgical device may be selectively coupled to flexible member 40. Pulling the opposite end of flexible member 40 may then draw or shuttle the secondary element into the tissue tunnel.

[0036] An example method of transporting and capturing a flexible member 40 that may be used to shuttle a secondary device during a surgery of the knee 200 is shown in FIGS. 5A-5D. FIG. 5A shows a femur 220, tibia 230 and a portion of the patient skin 210. Drill guide 55 is shown extending through a skin incision 211. In this procedure a second skin incision 212 is not needed. The method may include using the drill guide 55 to form a tunnel 95 through the bone. The tunnel 95 may have been prepared using a drill 80 that extends through a cannula 85, and the flexible member transporter assembly 10 may slide along the cannula 85 once the drill 80 has been removed. The method may include sliding a flexible member transporter assembly 10 through and along a prepared tunnel 95 and adjacent an aperture 60 of a drill guide. In some embodiments, an expandable element 45 is operatively coupled to the flexible member 40 and a distal portion of assembly 10 may be inserted through the aperture 60. The expandable element 45 may then be deployed to an expanded or deployed configuration that cooperates with the aperture 60 to prevent the expandable element 45 and flexible member 40 from being drawn back through the aperture 60 as shown in FIG. 5C. Drill guide and captured portion of flexible member 40 may then be removed from tunnel opening in the direction indicated by arrow A and through an existing skin incision formed to insert the drill guide 55. A second incision for example area around 212 is therefore avoided. The captured portion may be disengaged from the gill guide and coupled to a secondary element 42. Expandable element 45 may be removed to couple the secondary element 42. Secondary element 42 may be drawn into the tunnel, indicated by arrow B and shown in FIG. 5D.

[0037] A further example method of transporting and capturing a flexible member 40 that may be used to draw a secondary element towards a tissue surface during surgery on the shoulder 700 is shown in FIGS. 7A-7C. Details of an example shoulder procedure that this method and system may be useful for, are disclosed in more detail in at least U.S. Pat. No. 9,402,650, commonly owned and herein incorporated in its entirety by reference. FIG. 7A shows a glenoid drill guide 716 inserted through a portal 715 in the patient's skin 725 adjacent the glenoid 712. An engagement member 714 on the distal end of the glenoid drill guide 716 (e.g., a hook) is placed at a selected position on the glenoid 710 and the drill guide 716 is aligned. Engagement member 714 may include a means to engage a suture transport system such as an aperture 760 as disclosed herein. A tunnel 721 is shown drilled from a first glenoid surface 722 to a second surface 723 and the second surface may be configured to receive a graft thereon. A drill bullet (not shown) may form a tunnel. The method may include using the drill guide 716 to form a tunnel 721 through the bone. Illustrated in FIG. 7B the flexible member transporter assembly 10 may then be inserted through tunnel 721, and may be inserted along a cannulation of the drill guide 716. In some embodiments, an expandable element 45 is operatively coupled to the flexible member 40 and a distal portion of assembly 10 may be inserted through the aperture 760. The expandable element 45 may then be deployed to an expanded or deployed configuration that cooperates with the aperture 760 to prevent the expandable element 45 and flexible member 40 from being drawn back through the aperture 760 as shown in FIG. 7B. Engagement member 714 and captured portion of flexible member 40 may then be removed through portal 715, illustrated in FIG. 7C. The captured portion may be disengaged from the engagement member 714 (and drill guide) and coupled to a secondary element (not shown). Expandable element 45 may be removed to couple the secondary element. Secondary element may be drawn through portal 715, around the glenoid and may be drawn towards the second surface 723. Secondary element may be drawn into the tunnel 721. A second incision for example area around area 730 is therefore avoided to place a secondary element adjacent second surface 723. Secondary element may be a coracoid graft that may be attached to the second surface 723 of the glenoid 712. The method may therefore include coupling a coracoid graft (not shown) to the flexible member 40 and drawing the coracoid graft onto the surface 723.

[0038] An alternative embodiment of a suture transporter system may include a flexible suture member capture member(s) 120 associated with the drill guide 155, schematically shown in FIGS. 6A-6C. This may eliminate the need for an expandable element as described in previous embodiments. Flexible member 40 may therefore be pushed through cannula 185 by a forked rod for example, which pushes the flexible member 40 through an aperture 160 of the drill guide and then through an aperture of the flexible capture member 120. Suture capture member 120 may, in some embodiments comprise a suture capture cartridge selectively disposed over aperture 160, aperture 160 being configured to receive a drill tip 80 as disclosed in previous embodiments. Suture capture cartridge may selectively couple and uncouple from drill guide 155. Alternatively, suture capture member 120 may be a separate instrument having a handle that may place suture capture member 120 adjacent drill guide aperture 160. Referring now to FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, suture capture member 120 comprises an elongate aperture 130 formed by edges 204, 206 on each opposed side. Edges 204, 206 may further comprise suture capture surfaces 208 in certain embodiments. Suture capture member may operate in a similar manner to the suture cartridge disclosed in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 9,211,118, commonly owned and herein incorporated in its entirety by reference. Suture capture surface 208 may be configured as opposed serrated edges, a plurality of interdigitating teeth, a plurality of opposed notches, or other similar opposed edge features. Suture capture cartridge 125 further comprises deflecting portions 210, 212 (i.e., arms 210, 212) which extend from edges 204, 206 respectively, and may be formed in a curved or arcuate shape. In certain embodiments, cartridge 125 and/or the components of suture capture member 120 are preferably comprised of high temper spring steel material.

[0039] The flexible member 40 may therefore by pushed through cannula 185, with a forked push rod 230, the forked portion configured to hold a flexible member 40. Forked push rod 230 is advanced through aperture 130 and thereby between deflecting portions 210, 212. As forked rod and flexible member 40 pass through aperture 130, forked rod 230 contacts edges 204, 206 such that each of arms 210, 212 are deflected away from rod 230. The deflection of arms 210, 212 is designed to be elastic such that arms 210, 212 respectively return to or spring back into a pre-deflected or lesser-deflected position upon the subsequent withdrawal of rod 130 through aperture 130. With the flexible member bight portion 40 protruding through suture capture member 120, rod 230 may be withdrawn through aperture 130 and returned to a retracted position. As rod 230 is withdrawn through suture capture member 120, arms 210, 212 spring back to a non-deflected position such that aperture 130 and suture capture surface 208 are allowed to close around flexible member bight portion 40. Aperture 130 is large enough and the spring deflection of arms 210, 212 is great enough that these characteristics of suture capture member 120 do not restrict the movement of rod 230 during displacement to the extended position. In addition, aperture 130 is sufficiently small when arms 210, 212 are in the non-deflected configuration so that flexible member portion 40 is not allowed to pass back through suture capture member 120. A loop or bight of flexible member 40 then remains between edges of suture capture member 125. Drill guide 155 or just the removable cartridge 125 may then be removed from tunnel end, drawing the bight portion 40 with it. While drawing the bight portion 40 away from the tunnel end, the flexible member 40 may be sufficiently long to extend from both end of the tunnel. Flexible member bight portion 40 may then be disengaged from cartridge 125. A secondary element such as tissue or surgical device may be selectively coupled to bight portion 40 as described previously. Flexible member 40 may therefore act as a shuttling member.

[0040] The method of transporting and capturing the flexible member 40 may therefore include preparing a tunnel through tissue, which may include using a drill guide having a distal opening for guiding the second or distal end of the tunnel location. A suture capture member may then be placed near the second end of the tunnel and may be operatively coupled to the drill guide and over the distal opening of the drill guide. A suture transporter push rod 230 selectively coupled to a flexible member 40 may then be inserted from a tunnel first or proximal end through the prepared tunnel 95 and through an aperture 160 of a drill guide. Drill guide may include a cannula 185 and the tunnel 95 may have been prepared using a drill 80 that extends through cannula 185; the push rod 230 may also slide along the cannula 85 once the drill 80 has been removed. Suture capture member 120 may include at least one flexible arm member defining a portion of a suture capture slot or aperture 130. Push rod 230 may be operable to elastically deflect flexible arm member to place a bight portion 40 of flexible member 40 through aperture 130 and upon withdrawal of push rod 230 from within the aperture, the flexible member 40 may be released from push rod 230 and captured by the aperture 130 as the flexible arm springs back. Suture capture member 120 may then be removed, with a portion 40 of the flexible member 40 captured therein, the flexible member 40 still extending from the first or proximal opening of tissue tunnel. The captured portion of the flexible member 40 may then be disengaged from the suture capture member 120 and may be coupled to a second element such as but not limited to a second suture, flexible member, medical device or tissue such as a graft. Tension on the flexible member extending from the proximal tunnel opening may draw the second element towards the tunnel. Tension may further draw the second element into the tunnel second end.

[0041] Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.