Suture screw
A two part suture screw for anchoring tissue and bone is disclosed. The suture screw includes a threaded outer sleeve having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough. A pin having a conical insertion tip is provided and includes a proximally extending shaft configured for insertion in the longitudinal bore of the outer sleeve. The shaft includes a transverse bore through the pin for slidingly receiving a length of suture. A pair of channels extend from the transverse bore proximally along the outer surfaces of the shaft. The sleeve is provided with corresponding channels which extend proximally from a point adjacent the throughbore to form a complete bore for free sliding receipt of the suture within the suture screw. The suture contemplated for use with the disclosed suture screw has a diameter smaller than that of the transverse bore and the bores formed by the channels of the pin and sleeve to allow the suture to freely slide therein. A method of using the suture anchor to anchor tissue to bone is also disclosed.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/257,813, filed Dec. 22, 2000, and entitled SUTURE SCREW.
BACKGROUND1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to suture anchors and, more particularly, to self-tapping screw type suture anchors and methods of use.
2. Background of Related Art
During surgery it is often necessary to attach prosthetic implants or soft tissue such as muscle tissue, ligaments, or tendons to hard tissue such as bone. Various types of surgical fasteners are employed for accomplishing this function, including staples, screw and washer systems, suture anchoring devices, and tissue anchors.
The first of these types is illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,454,875 and 4,570,623, which show metal staples with spikes on the underside of the crosspiece to secure ligaments.
Fasteners included in the second of these types are available as screw-washer combinations wherein the screw is fabricated from a surgically suitable metal, such as titanium or stainless steel alloy, and is usually of self-tapping design. Suture anchors are adapted to be inserted into predrilled holes in bone and can be made of bioabsorbable material. When securing a ligament or suture within a bore drilled in bone, the self tapping screws may abrade the ligament or suture if the ligament or suture is positioned adjacent the screw within the bore as the screw is threaded into the bone.
Suture anchors are also used to draw tissue adjacent bone. The anchor, having a first end and a suture fixedly attached thereto, is anchored in bone and a second end of the suture is threaded through tissue and a knot is tied to secure the tissue to bone.
What is needed is a suture screw capable of freely receiving lengths of suture material therein so as to draw tissue adjacent bone and/or provide the ability to add or substitute suture material after the suture screw has been positioned within the bone.
SUMMARYA two part suture screw for anchoring tissue and bone is disclosed. The suture screw includes a threaded outer sleeve having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough. Preferably a distal end of the sleeve threads are interrupted to form cutting edges making the suture screw self-tapping. The longitudinal bore has a hexagonal shape and includes a countersunk portion at its proximal end to receive an insertion tool.
A pin having a conical insertion tip is provided and includes a proximally extending shaft configured for insertion in the longitudinal bore of the outer sleeve. An insertion tip of the pin preferably has a smooth conical surface to ease insertion in a pilot hole in bone. Proximal interrupted cutting threads may be formed on the insertion tip and mate with the interrupted threads on the sleeve. The shaft includes at least one transverse bore though the pin for slidingly receiving a length of suture.
A pair of channels extend from the transverse bore proximally along the outer surfaces of the shaft forming half a suture receiving channel. The sleeve is provided with corresponding channels which extend proximally from a point adjacent the throughbore in the pin to form a complete bore for free sliding receipt of the suture within the suture screw. The suture contemplated for use with the disclosed suture screw has a diameter smaller than that of the transverse bore and the bores formed by the channels of the pin and sleeve to allow the suture to freely slide therein.
A method of using the suture anchor to anchor tissue to bone is also disclosed and includes providing the disclosed suture screw with a length of suture slidably positioned within the throughbore and channels. The self-tapping suture screw is threaded into bone, preferably with the assistance of a pilot hole drilled in the bone. A free end of the suture is affixed to tissue and the opposite end of the suture tensioned to draw the tissue against the bone. The suture can then be tied off or passed back through the tissue and tied off to secure the tissue to bone.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSVarious embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings wherein:
The preferred embodiments of the device and methods disclosed herein are applicable to a wide variety of procedures including, but not limited to, tissue to bone fastening, ligament repair, joint repair or replacement, non-union fractures, facial reconstruction, etc. In addition, it is believed that the present device finds application in both open and minimally invasive procedures wherein access to the surgical site is achieved through a cannula or small incision.
In the description which follows, the term “proximal”, as is traditional, will refer to the portion of the device or structure which is closest to the operator or user, while the term “distal” refers to the portion which is further from the user.
The device and method described herein is specifically configured for self-tapping into hard structure, such as bone, and slidably receiving lengths of suture material so as to draw tissue, affixed to one end of the suture material, adjacent the suture screw. Additionally, the ability to slidably receive suture material allows the addition or exchange of one type of suture material for another.
Referring now to
Sleeve component 14 also has interrupted threads 24 at a distal end thereof which are separated by opposing faces 26 and 28 which allow the distal end of sleeve component 14 to be self-tapping. Sleeve component 14 also includes a continuous thread 30 on the outer surface thereof. Thread 30 extends from a proximal end of interrupted thread 24 to a proximal end of sleeve component 14. As shown, when assembled, interrupted threads 18 of pin component 12 match with the interrupted threads 24 of sleeve component 14.
Referring to
Tip 16 of pin component 12 has a flat face 42 at a proximal end thereof which mates flush with a similar flat face on a distal end of sleeve component 14. Pin component 12 also has a chamfered or rounded proximal end 44 to prevent fraying of sutures.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The use of suture screw 10 to secure a tissue section adjacent a portion of bone will now be described. The desired location on the bone to which the tissue section is to be secured is located and appropriately prepared by scraping, etc. It may be helpful to form a small diameter pilot hole into which screw 10 can be threaded. Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Alternatively, a modified pin component having an elongated proximally extending shaft, having suture channels, could be assembled with a corresponding sleeve component such that the proximal end of the shaft extends proximally out of the proximal end of the sleeve component.
It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, the threads of the pin and/or sleeve component may be partially or completely threaded or continuous. Additionally, there may be provided only a single pair of channels and accompanying through bore or many complimentary pairs greater than the two disclosed. As discussed, the connecting and driving hexagonal bores may be substituted by bores of other cross sections as well as providing corresponding substitute driving tools. The above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments and methods. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications and uses within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. A suture screw comprising:
- a sleeve having a threaded outer surface and a longitudinal bore; and
- a pin having a tip and a shaft extending proximally from the tip, the shaft having at least one transverse bore extending from a first side of the shaft to the second side of the shaft, wherein the shaft is positioned within the longitudinal bore of the sleeve.
2. The suture screws recited in claim 1 wherein the pin has channels in the first and second sides extending from the transverse bore along the first and second sides to a proximal end of the shaft.
3. The suture screw as recited in claim 2 wherein the sleeve has channels formed on an inner surface of the longitudinal bore and extend in complimentary fashion with the channels in the shaft of the pin.
4. The suture screw as recited in claim 3 wherein the shaft has a hexagonal cross-section and the longitudinal bore of the sleeve has a hexagonal cross-section to receive the shaft such that the shaft cannot rotate within the sleeve.
5. The suture screw as recited in claim 1, wherein the threads of the sleeve are interrupted at the distal end of the sleeve.
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. The suture screw as recited in claim 1, wherein the tip of the pin has a smooth conical surface.
9. The suture screw as recited in claim 3 further comprising a length of suture having a diameter less than that of the transverse bore and positioned through to the transverse bore and within channels of the shaft and the channels of the sleeve such that the suture is freely slidable therethrough.
10. A suture screw for receipt of a length of suture to secure tissue to bone comprising:
- an outer sleeve having a longitudinal bore there through, the longitudinal bore having a predetermined cross-sectional shape; and
- a pin having a distal tip and a shaft extending proximally from the tip and has a cross-sectional shape similar to the cross-sectional shape of the throughbore such that when the shaft is inserted into the throughbore, there is minimal rotation between the pin and the sleeve.
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. The suture screw as recited in claim 10 wherein an outer surface of the sleeve is threaded.
14. (canceled)
15. The suture screw as recited in claim 10, wherein a portion of the outer surface of the tip is smooth and conical.
16. A method of anchoring tissue to bone comprising:
- providing a two part suture screw having a threaded outer sleeve and a longitudinal bore and a pin, having a distal insertion tip and a proximal shaft having a transverse bore, attached to the sleeve such that the shaft is positionable within the longitudinal bore and at least one length of suture extending through the transverse bore and freely slidable therein;
- threading the suture screw into bore;
- attaching one end of the suture to tissue;
- tensioning the suture to draw the tissue adjacent the bone; and tying the suture to secure the tissue to bone.
17. The method as recited in claim 16 further including the step of drilling a pilot hole in the bone.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 6, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 2, 2005
Inventor: Jonathan Martinek (Hamden, CT)
Application Number: 11/030,633