SUTURE-RETAINING DEVICE AND ANCHOR
A rotator cuff tendon injury is repaired using a flexible fastener and an anchor. The flexible fastener is attached to the rotator cuff tendon and also secured to the anchor. The anchor is attached to or supported by various locations on the humerus other than the humeral head, to provide a robust means for holding the rotator cuff tendon in the desired position against the humeral head.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/540,628, filed Aug. 13, 2009, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/187,325 filed Aug. 6, 2008, which is abandoned, the entire content of the applications being incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to surgical repair of the rotator cuff tendon and, more particularly, to devices and methods used in repairing the rotator cuff tendon that has been detached from the humeral head.
2. Description of the Related Art
In surgeries involving repair of a rotator cuff tendon that has been detached from the humeral head, the tendon must be artificially pressed against the humeral head in order to allow the tendon to naturally re-attach to the underlying bone over time.
The bone making up humeral head 102 near the footprint of the rotator cuff provides a relatively weak base for the insertion of suture anchors 103, since this portion of humerus 100 is relatively porous and soft. Because of this, adequate fixation of suture anchors 103 is problematic. Namely, anchor displacement from the supporting bone is a common failure mechanism of suture anchors 103, and results from localized fracturing of the surrounding bone material.
Suture anchors 103, when positioned as shown, hold rotator cuff tendon 101 against region 105. However, when the arm containing humerus 100 is raised, “lift-off” of rotator cuff tendon 101 from region 105 may occur, i.e., rotator cuff tendon 101 is temporarily pulled out of contact with region 105. Lift-off is known to inhibit the re-attachment and healing of rotator cuff tendon 101.
The number of suture anchors that can be used is limited. This is due to the limited area of humeral head 102 in which suture anchors 103 are placed. Also, the placement of many suture anchors 103 is time consuming and tedious for the surgeon. As a consequence, a small number of larger sutures are typically used with suture anchors, leading to very large knot volumes. Very large knot volumes result because the knot volume of a suture is roughly proportional to the cube of the suture diameter. Large knots on the surface of the rotator cuff are undesirable as they rub against the overlying acromial bone. Furthermore, fewer sutures provide a less robust connection between rotator cuff tendon 101 and humeral head 102. For a given surgical application, a large number of small diameter sutures are superior to a few large sutures, in terms of holding power in the tissue.
In some situations, bone tunnels may be used to attach sutures to bone and thereby properly position a tendon to be repaired.
The present invention provides devices and methods used in repairing the rotator cuff tendon. A device according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a suture-retaining device to which multiple sutures sewn into a rotator cuff tendon are to be attached and an anchor that is mechanically coupled to the suture-retaining device. The anchor has a threaded end configured for engagement with a cortex of the humerus to provide firm support for the suture-retaining device. The anchor generally approaches the cortex from the endosteal side. The method according an embodiment of the invention includes the steps of providing a flexible fastener and an anchor, attaching the flexible fastener to the rotator cuff tendon and the anchor, and securing the anchor at various locations on the humerus other than the humeral head.
A device for supporting sutures, according to another embodiment, comprises a head portion for engagement with a plurality of sutures and an adjustable length body portion having a threaded end for engagement with a bone. The adjustable length body portion may comprise a cannulated screw having the threaded end and an internal threaded portion, and a secondary screw engaged with the internal threaded portion and attached to the head portion.
A method for repairing a rotator cuff tendon that has detached from a head of a humerus, according to another embodiment of the invention, comprises the steps of anchoring a screw in a cortex of the humerus and attaching a plurality of sutures that have been sewn into the rotator cuff tendon to a suture-retaining device that is mechanically coupled to the screw. The inventive method may further comprise the step of adjusting the position of the suture-retaining device.
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
For clarity, identical reference numbers have been used, where applicable, to designate identical elements that are common between figures. It is contemplated that features of one embodiment may be incorporated in other embodiments without further recitation.
Embodiments of the invention contemplate devices and methods used in repairing the rotator cuff tendon that has been detached from the humeral head. A device according to one embodiment of the invention comprises a suture-retaining device and an anchor that is mechanically coupled to the suture-retaining device. The anchor is affixed to a cortex of the humerus to provide firm support for the suture-retaining device. The suture-retaining device, which is positioned in the intramedullary cavity of the humerus, allows a plurality of sutures to connect the rotator cuff tendon to the anchoring device, and allows suture knots to be located inside the intramedullary cavity.
The anchor and suture-retaining device according to an embodiment of the invention is positioned in the intramedullary cavity of the humerus after removal of bone material from the humeral head. The removal of the bone material from the humeral head provides access to the intramedullary cavity of the humerus.
In the embodiment illustrated in
The placement of anchor 309 in far cortex 310 reduces the potential for anchor displacement since far cortex 310 consists of strong bone material. In addition, the positioning of anchor 309 and suture-retaining device 308 in intramedullary cavity 312 of humerus 300, as shown, provides a securing force on rotator cuff tendon 301 at a favorable angle. Because of this, lift-off of rotator cuff tendon 301 from region 305 is minimized, even when the arm containing humerus 300 is raised. Lastly, suture-retaining device 308 facilitates the use of a large number of sutures to secure rotator cuff tendon 301 to anchor 309. Therefore, smaller sutures, that result in smaller knot volumes, may be used, and a more robust connection may be established between rotator cuff tendon 301 and anchor 309. For example, a plurality of #0 sutures may be used in place of a single #5 suture.
The anchor and suture-retaining device according to embodiments of the invention may be positioned in the intramedullary cavity of the humerus after additional removal of bone material from the humeral head. The additional removal of bone material from the humeral head facilitates repair of a rotator cuff tendon that has been substantially shortened and is unable to reach the footprint of humeral head 302.
The present invention further contemplates a suture-retaining device and an anchor that is configured to have an adjustable length. With a fixed-length anchor, the final position of the suture anchor point relative to the rotator cuff tendon is determined by how far the anchor is inserted into a cortex of the humerus. In some cases, it may be necessary to penetrate the cortex of the humerus with the anchor to the extent that a substantial portion of the anchor protrudes through the cortex. This could be problematic and may result in complications. In contrast, an adjustable length anchor may be placed at an optimal depth in the cortex of the humerus, and the final position of the suture-retaining device may be set by adjusting the length of the anchor. Hence, this embodiment facilitates fine adjustment of the suture-retaining device position relative to a rotator cuff tendon without screwing the anchor too deeply through a cortex of the humerus.
A suture-retaining device may also have alternative configurations according to the present invention. For example, a suture-retaining device may be configured with a clamp mechanism that allows a plurality of sutures to be secured quickly and simultaneously. One time-consuming aspect of tendon repair is the large number of knots that must be tied when securing a tendon to a suture-retaining device. The knots are a limiting factor in the efficiency of the procedure, and with a clamp mechanism, no suture knots are necessary at all. Further, all sutures may be secured at one time.
To prevent premature separation of suture 604 from suture-retaining device 600, hex-head screw 603 may be configured to minimize cutting of suture 604. In one embodiment, surface 603A of hex-head screw 603 is made up of relatively compliant material, such as a polymer. Alternatively, most or all of hex-head screw 603 may consist of the compliant material. In this embodiment, it is contemplated that the ratio of the modulus of elasticity of the material making up surface 603A to the modulus of elasticity of compression surface 605 is substantially less than about 0.2. In this way, compression of suture 604 between surface 603A and compression surface 605 is less likely to result in cutting of suture 604.
In another embodiment, the cross-section of surface 603A is configured to minimize the pressure gradient experienced by suture 604 when compressed between surface 603A and compression surface 605. A high pressure gradient present on any portion of suture 604, when secured by suture-retaining device 600, might result in cutting of suture 604. Hence, the cross-section of surface 603A is modified to minimize such pressure gradients in suture 604.
The suture retaining device in
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
Claims
1. A device used for reattaching a tendon that has detached from a bone, comprising:
- a suture-retaining device having a through-hole suitable for passing multiple sutures therethrough and a clamp that is configured to hold the sutures passed through the through-hole in place; and
- an anchor having a shaft that is mechanically coupled to the suture-retaining device and a threaded end configured for engagement with a cortex of the bone.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the anchor has a shaft that is passed through an opening in the suture-retaining device.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the clamp is movable and has a surface that clamps the sutures.
4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the clamp has a first surface that presses the sutures against a second surface on the suture-retaining device.
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the first surface moves with the clamp and the second surface is stationary.
6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the clamp is a wedge.
7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the clamp is a screw.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the bone is a humerus bone.
9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the anchor has a length that is adjustable after insertion of the suture-retaining device and the anchor into an intramedullary cavity of the humerus bone.
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the anchor comprises a cannulated screw with internal threads and a secondary screw that is engaged with the internal threads of the cannulated screw, and wherein the suture-retaining device is mechanically coupled to the secondary screw.
11. A device for supporting sutures, comprising:
- a head portion for engagement with a plurality of sutures, the head portion having a through-hole suitable for passing multiple sutures therethrough and a clamp that is configured to hold the sutures passed through the through-hole in place; and
- a body portion having a threaded end that is configured for engagement with a cortex of a bone while the suture-retaining device is positioned in an intramedullary cavity of the bone,
- wherein the body portion is mechanically coupled to the head portion.
12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the body portion has a shaft that is passed through an opening in the head portion.
13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the clamp is movable and has a surface that clamps the sutures.
14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the clamp has a first surface that presses the sutures against a second surface on the head portion.
15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the first surface moves with the clamp and the second surface is stationary.
16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the clamp is a wedge.
17. The device according to claim 15, wherein the clamp is a screw.
18. The device according to claim 11, wherein the body portion has a length that is adjustable after insertion of the head portion and the body portion into the intramedullary cavity of the humerus bone.
19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the body portion comprises a cannulated screw with internal threads and a secondary screw that is engaged with the internal threads of the cannulated screw, and wherein the head portion is mechanically coupled to the secondary screw.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 21, 2016
Publication Date: Jul 14, 2016
Inventor: Daniel L. MARTIN (Palo Alto, CA)
Application Number: 15/076,502