Wedge screw suture anchor

Details Wedge screw suture anchor Wedge screw suture anchor

1999-09-02

2001-07-24

Buiz, Michael (Department: 3731)

Surgery

Instruments

Suture retaining means

C606S075000, C411S414000, C411S426000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06264677

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to wedge screws and more particularly pertains to wedge screw suture anchors for fastening soft tissue to a bony site.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A variety of surgical procedures are known that involve the attachment of soft tissue to bone. Examples of such procedures in the shoulder include but are not limited to open and arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs of the shoulder, acromioclavicular separation repair, bankart lesion repair, biceps tenodesis, deltoid repair, and capsular shift or capsulolabral reconstruction. Representative examples of procedures in the knee include but are not limited to lateral and/or medial collateral ligament repair, iliotibial band tenodesis, patellar tendon repair and posterior tendon repair. In the elbow, ulnar or radial collateral ligament reconstruction and biceps tendon reattachment may be performed while representative foot/ankle repairs may include medial and/or lateral stabilization, Achilles tendon repair, midfoot reconstruction and hallux valgus reconstruction. Such procedures typically require the positive anchoring of a suture to the bone or bony site. The anchored suture is then attached to the muscle, tendon, ligament or other soft tissue component so as to maintain such component in position during the healing process.
Previously used suture anchors have demonstrated a tendency to pull out of the anchor site when considerable forces are applied to or generated by the soft tissue component. Additionally, it has been noted that some currently available suture anchors require an inordinate amount of torque to be applied in order to drive the anchor into the bone. Finally, some heretofore known anchor configurations do not allow the anchor to be easily retrieved in order to replace a broken suture or for replacement with a larger anchor. Thus, a need exists for a high strength suture anchor for use in surgical procedures, with which a positive anchorage is achieved and which is easily, quickly and reversibly driven into a bony site.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of previously known suture anchors by providing a wedge screw configuration that when properly engaged in bone will require a higher pull out force than a suture can withstand. Moreover, the anchor requires the application of a minimal amount of torque to drive into the bone. The suture anchor is driven into the bone by engaging a drive head that extends from the anchor with a socket drive tool and rotating the tool so as to thread the anchor into the bone. The anchor is easily retrievable without compromise to the surgical site by simply reversing rotation of the tool. An eyelet formed in the drive head receives a suture to which the soft tissue is subsequently attached.
The suture anchor includes a threaded section wherein a screw thread spirals about a central root structure. The root is tapered relative to the longitudinal axis of the anchor to define a root taper angle, while the crests of the threads define a crest taper angle relative to the same longitudinal axis. The device is configured such that the crest taper angle is larger than the root taper angle. Additionally, the threads are buttressed on their distal sides so as to reinforce the threads to be more capable of resisting pull-out forces. The upper threads may or may not include one or more cutting flutes to enhance the cutting action and thereby ease insertion. Any reduction in stress to the bone achieved thereby may reduce the potential for cracking.
The drive head is formed on the proximal end of the anchor while a sharpened tri-point tip is formed on its distal end to facilitate penetration into a bony mass. The larger size suture anchors may also incorporate a cutting flute in the edge of the larger diameter threads in order to minimize the risk of cracking the bone. The entire device is formed of biocompatible material.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5364400 (1994-11-01), Rego, Jr. et al.
patent: 5456685 (1995-10-01), Huebner
patent: 5871486 (1999-02-01), Huebner et al.

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