Apparatus and methods for tendon or ligament repair

US7611521B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Tendon Technology, Ltd. · US
• Ortheon Medical L.L.C. · US

Inventors

• Lawrence M. Lubbers · Worthington, US
• Kenneth E. Hughes · Gahanna, US
• Carl R. Coleman · Powell, US
• Warren P. Williamson, IV · Loveland, US
• Craig B. Berky · Milford, US
• Thomas J. Ward · Hilliard, US
• Matthew J. Huddleston · Galena, US
• Mark Goldin · Orlando, US
• William J. Christy · Orlando, US
• Perry DeFazio · Chicopee, US
• Brian Schumacher · Cordova, US
• Terence Lee Murphy · Orlando, US
• Nickola Lewis · Orlando, US
• Jeremy David Jarrett · Cincinnati, US
• Joseph E. Young · Loveland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 2, 2004
• Grant date: Nov 3, 2009
• Expiry date: Mar 10, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2002/0888
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for repairing damaged tendons or ligaments. Various repair apparatus include an elongate tensile member and a pair of anchor assemblies connected for movement along the tensile member on either side of a repair site, such as a tear or laceration. The anchor assemblies or structures may take many forms, and may include barbed, helical, and crimp-type anchors. In the preferred embodiments, at least one anchor structure is movable along the elongate tensile member to assist with adjusting a tendon segment to an appropriate repair position and the anchor structure or structures are then lockable onto the elongate tensile member to assist with affixing the tendon at the repair position. Tendon and/or ligament-to-bone repair apparatus and methods employ similar concepts.