Independent suture tensioning and snaring apparatus

US8617186B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ArthroCare Corporation · US

Inventors

• George W. White · Corona, US
• David Gregoire · Laguna Beach, US
• David Trottingwolf Aldridge · Laguna Hills, US
• Edward E. Dolendo · Mission Viejo, US
• Emil Karapetian · Brooks Road, US
• Norman S. Gordon · Irvine, US
• Tri Nguyen · Garden Grove, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 22, 2011
• Grant date: Dec 31, 2013
• Expiry date: Jan 22, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2017/0496
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In repairing soft tissue with a bone anchoring instrument (such as reattaching a tendon of a torn rotator cuff), the bone anchoring instrument may be used to anchor the soft tissue to a region of bone. The anchors inserted into the underlying bone may have one or more lengths of suture or wire attached thereto which may be tensioned independently of one another to affix the soft tissue to the bone by having a selector mechanism selectively engage and disengage ratcheted tensioning wheels from one another. Suture loading mechanisms may be employed for passing suture lengths into and/or through the anchors prior to deployment into the bone where such mechanisms may employ suture snares which are configured to reconfigure from an expanded shape through which suture lengths may be easily passed to a low-profile shape which secures the suture lengths within the snare.