Patent Application
20180221022
This document pertains generally, but not by way of limitation, to a knotless fastener such as a knotless suture.
Sutures are used in some surgical procedures to mechanically fasten adjoining structures. By way of examples, a suture can be used to bond an implantable device to tissue or a suture can be used to bond a first tissue to a second tissue.
A traditional suture includes a filamentous material and a manually tied knot. The knot is formed by manipulating the ends of the filament in a particular manner to cinch the suture around the structures to be joined.
Knots can be problematic. For example, a traditional suture does not readily allow for tension adjustment. In addition, a suture has a dimensional thickness that is larger than that of the filament and the increased thickness can be a source of abrasion or irritation. Furthermore knot tying can require a rather high level of skill.
An example of the present subject matter includes a retainer device configured as a suture free of a manually formed knot. A device can include a first end having a cylinder configured to receive a second end. The second end is contiguous with the first end and can include a rigid or flexible body. A variety of mechanisms are provided for affixing the device in position. One example includes a friction fit including a male end that is retained circumferentially by a lumen at an opposing end. The inner diameter of the lumen reduces with tension exerted in a longitudinal direction. In one example, barbs or pins between the lumen and the male end engage in a one-way manner to maintain tension.
Each of these non-limiting examples can stand on its own, or can be combined in various permutations or combinations with one or more of the other examples.
This overview is intended to provide an overview of subject matter of the present patent application. It is not intended to provide an exclusive or exhaustive explanation of the invention. The detailed description is included to provide further information about the present patent application.
In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document.
In the figure, device 70A includes first end 100A and second end 200A spaced apart by elongate body 300A.
First end 100A includes cylinder 120A having an entry aperture 130A disposed at terminus 140A of device 70A. Cylinder 120A includes cylinder wall 150A. Cylinder wall 150A defines inner lumen 160A. Cylinder 120A has a longitudinal axis 170 aligned on the center of the lumen diameter.
Elongate body 300A is aligned coaxially with longitudinal axis 170 and is coupled to first end 100A. In one example, elongate body 300A is contiguous with first end 100A.
Second end 200A includes insertion body 208 aligned coaxially with longitudinal axis 170 and is coupled to elongate body 300A. In one example, second end 200A is contiguous with elongate body 300A or is contiguous with first end 100A. Entry aperture 130A and lumen 160A are configured to receive the second end 200A. Second end 200A can be configured or manipulated to penetrate the entry aperture 130A and thereafter enter inner lumen 160A.
Barbs 210A can have a curvature or have an initial alignment that lays substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis. When under tension, barbs 210A can be arranged in a radial spoke manner. Barbs 210A can be fabricated of metal or polymer and can be manufactured, for example, using an extrusion and cutting process or a molding operation.
In one example, barbs 210A are configured to have nap. Nap refers to the alignment of fibers in which movement in one direction encounters more fiber ends and movement in another direction encounters more fiber sides.
Disengagement is associated with movement of second end 200C in a direction denoted by arrow 23 while first end 100C remains substantially stationary, with movement of first end 100C in a direction denoted by arrow 24 while second end 200C remains substantially stationary, or by movement of both first end 100C and second end 200C in the manner denoted by the corresponding arrows. Engagement is associated with corresponding movement in directions opposite to that shown by arrow 23 and arrow 24.
In one example, movement in the direction of disengagement causes reduction in a diameter of lumen 160C, thereby increasing friction between first end 100C and second end 200C. Similarly, movement in the direction of engagement tends to cause an increase in a diameter of lumen 160C, thereby reducing friction.
In one example, a friction fit associated with a bias woven fabric retains suitable tension on device 70D and ensures retention of second end 200F relative to first end 100E.
In one example, features 204 disposed along a length of second end 200F (and in one example, along a portion of a length of elongate body 300B) are configured to engage a corresponding feature of first end 100E in a one-way manner. For example, a corresponding feature can include a tang or spring element to engage a ridge of feature 204.
Method 600 can also include variations. For example, at 610, providing a first end can include forming the cylinder of a flexible woven fabric. As another example, at 620, coupling the elongate body to the first end can include forming the elongate body and the first end using a segment of elongate elastic material. In addition, at 630, providing the second end can include fusing a portion of an elongate elastic material.
In one example, the elongate body is substantially omitted in that the first end and the second end are co-terminus.
According to one example, a user-selectable insertion depth of a second end relative to a first end enables selection of tension on the suture.
One example includes a first end having a cylinder wall of woven fabric. The woven fabric can be configured on a bias in which compression tends to increase a diameter of the cylinder and a tension tends to decrease the diameter of the cylinder.
One example includes a first end having a cylinder wall of non-woven fabric. In one example, the first end is substantially rigid and the corresponding second end includes a male end having solid or hollow structure with anchors or barbs distributed about the periphery. The anchors or barbs are configured to deploy and to engage with the walls of the female end.
Engagement of the first end and the second end of an example device can cause a decrease in the diameter of the inner lumen. The second end is subjected to passive radial tension with reduction in the diameter of the inner lumen. In one example, the anchors or barbs disposed on the second end extend out through the wall of the cylinder of the first end.
In one example, a device is wholly or partially fabricated of a biocompatible material or a bioabsorbable material. For example, a device can include a synthetic material such as polyethylene.
One example can include a plurality of barbs distributed along approximately a third of the overall length and a hollow cylinder over two thirds of the overall length. Other arrangements are also contemplated, such as half and half.
In one example, a device is fabricated of a monofilament absorbable material. An example can include a synthetic material such as polyglyconate, a copolymer of glycolic acid and trimethylene carbonate. In one example, a device includes braided nylon having a diameter of 1.18 mm.
In one example, a plurality of barbs are distributed on an inner wall of a lumen of a first end. In one example, a plurality of barbs are distributed on an outer surface of a second end. The barbs can be configured to pass through a wall of a woven fabric wall or can be configured to engage without passing through the thickness of the wall.
In one example, the second end includes a male end fabricated by fusing multiple filaments.
The above description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.” Such examples can include elements in addition to those shown or described. However, the present inventors also contemplate examples in which only those elements shown or described are provided. Moreover, the present inventors also contemplate examples using any combination or permutation of those elements shown or described (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to a particular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein.
In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and any documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in this document controls.
In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated. In this document, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device, article, composition, formulation, or process that includes elements in addition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.
Geometric terms, such as “parallel”, “perpendicular”, “round”, or “square”, are not intended to require absolute mathematical precision, unless the context indicates otherwise. Instead, such geometric terms allow for variations due to manufacturing or equivalent functions. For example, if an element is described as “round” or “generally round,” a component that is not precisely circular (e.g., one that is slightly oblong or is a many-sided polygon) is still encompassed by this description.
Method examples described herein can be machine or computer-implemented at least in part.
The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b), to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description as examples or embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment, and it is contemplated that such embodiments can be combined with each other in various combinations or permutations. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
This patent application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/455,907, filed on Feb. 7, 2017, and claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/474,936, filed on Mar. 22, 2017, and claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/490,448, filed on Apr. 26, 2017, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62455907 | Feb 2017 | US | |
| 62474936 | Mar 2017 | US | |
| 62490448 | Apr 2017 | US |
