This description relates to tissue repair.
One area in the body where soft tissue is surgically reattached to bone is the attachment of a rotator cuff tendon to the humerus. The rotator cuff tendons have areas of low blood supply. With an increased blood supply, a tissue, such as a tendon, can repair and maintain itself better and faster. Thus, areas of poor blood supply in the rotator cuff make these tendons difficult and slow to heal following an injury, such as a tear to the supraspinatus muscle or the subscapularis muscle. In such a tear, part of the tendon is pulled away from the bone. Because of the poor blood supply, rather than attempting to allow an injured rotator cuff to heal on its own, a physician often recommends that the tendon be surgically repaired to better fix the position of the cuff to the bone to prevent further damage and improve the environment for healing. For example, the physician may attempt to fix the tendon to the bone using a fixation member such as a retainer or an anchor. One example of a fixation member is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,330 (the Hayhurst patent), which is incorporated herein by reference.
Other areas in the body also have tissue that can be surgically reattached to bone when torn from the bone or can be surgically repaired when a tear forms in the tissue. These areas include, for example, the biceps tendon, the lateral collateral ligament in the knee, the medial collateral ligament in the knee, the meniscus in the knee, the popliteal ligament in the leg, and the labrum tendon in the knee.
Fibrous tissue wounds, such as muscle, ligament, and cartilage tears, can be repaired arthroscopically using flexible members such as sutures. Traditionally, to close a fibrous tissue wound, a surgeon would insert two suture needles into the tissue with sutures attached, thread the sutures across the wound, and then tie knots to fix the free ends of the sutures within the tissue.
To simplify the wound closure procedure and to improve fixation, various types of fixation members have been developed. One example of a fixation member in the form of a retainer is disclosed in the Hayhurst patent. In the Hayhurst patent, one end of a flexible member is fixed to a resiliently-deformable, bar-shaped retainer. The retainer is loaded into the bore of a hollow needle and deployed into or against the fibrous tissue. The surgeon then threads the flexible member across the wound and tensions a free end of the suture to pull the wound closed. When the surgeon tensions the suture, the bar in the retainer becomes oriented transversely to the suture hole, holding the suture in place.
In one general aspect, a tissue repair device includes a closed loop of multifilament flexible material. The loop is knotless and includes a contact portion in which ends of the multifilament flexible material are interwoven and melted-formed.
Implementations can include one or more of the following features. For example, the tissue repair device can include a fixation member having a structure that defines a cavity that receives at least a part of the closed loop.
The tissue repair device can include a flexible member traversing the loop. The flexible member can traverse the loop by being passed through an interior defined by the loop. The flexible member can traverse the loop by being passed through the multifilament flexible material.
The ends of the multifilament flexible material can be thermally fused together within the contact portion. The flexible member can traverse the loop by being passed through the thermally fused portion of the multifilament flexible material.
The multifilament flexible material can be made of polymer-based compound.
The flexible member can traverse the loop by being passed through the interwoven portion of the multifilament flexible material. The multifilament flexible material can be braided or twisted.
In another general aspect, a tissue repair device is made by forming a closed loop from the multifilament flexible material. The forming includes interweaving ends of the multifilament flexible material together to form a contact portion without tying the ends together in a knot, and causing the ends of the multifilament flexible material to melt in the contact portion.
Implementations can include one or more of the following features. For example, the method can also include passing at least a part of the multifilament flexible material through a cavity defined by a fixation member.
The method can include traversing a flexible member through the loop. The traversing can include passing the flexible member through an interior defined by the loop. The traversing can include passing the flexible member through the multifilament flexible material. The traversing can include passing the flexible member through the contact portion of the multifilament flexible material.
Forming the closed loop can include thermally fusing the ends of the multifilament flexible material in the contact portion. Forming the closed loop from the multifilament flexible material can include forming without applying a filler material to the ends of the flexible element.
In another general aspect, a tissue repair device includes a closed loop of multifilament flexible material, and a fixation member. The loop is knotless and includes a contact portion in which ends of the multifilament flexible material are interwoven. The fixation member has a structure that defines a cavity that receives at least a part of the closed loop.
In another general aspect, a tissue repair device includes a fixation member having a structure that defines a cavity, a multifilament flexible element, and a flexible member. The multifilament flexible element includes a part that is within the cavity, and a thermally fused end. The flexible member passes at least partially through the thermally fused end of the multifilament flexible element.
Implementations can include one or more of the following features. In particular, the multifilament flexible element includes another thermally fused end and the flexible member passes through the other thermally fused end of the multifilament flexible element.
Aspects of the device and method may include one or more of the following advantages. The ends of the multifilament flexible material are thermally fused together without the use of a filler material. The loop acts as a pulley that reduces pinching of the flexible member between the tissue and the fixation member during deployment. Additionally, the pulley design enables the flexible member to slide relative to the fixation member without being impeded by the edges of the fixation member or by the tissue when the fixation member is deployed in tissue.
Other features will be apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings may indicate like elements.
Referring to
The tissue repair device 100 also includes a fixation member 115 defining a cavity 120 that receives a part 125 of the loop 105. As shown, the fixation member 115 can also include a second cavity 130 that receives another part 135 of the loop 105. The fixation member 115 can be made of any rigid material suitable for implantation into hard or soft human tissue. For example, the fixation member 115 can be made of a biocompatible plastic, a biocompatible metal, or a bioabsorbable polymer.
The fixation member 115 can be formed as a retainer that is transferred through a tear 160 in tissue 165 and held at an outer surface 170 of the tissue 165 after deployment, as shown in
The fixation member 115 can be formed as an anchor or a screw that is drilled or driven into the tissue during deployment, as shown in FIG. 15 of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/704,926. In an anchor or screw form, the fixation member 115 can include one or more threads on its outer surface to facilitate holding of the fixation member 115 to the tissue. Such anchor or screw forms are particularly adapted for use in hard tissue such as bone. The fixation member 115 can be formed with a generally cylindrical shape for receipt within a delivery device, such as a needle. The fixation member 115 can have a fin extending from its generally cylindrical shape.
The tissue repair device 100 also includes a flexible member 140, for example, a suture, that traverses the loop 105. As shown in
Referring also to
Examples of the fixation members 115, 150, the retaining element 300, and the flexible member 140 can be found in U.S. application Ser. No. 10/918,445, filed Aug. 16, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5A-5E, a procedure 400 is performed to form the loop 105. Initially, a first end 510 of the multifilament flexible material 500 is inserted or passed through the cavity 120 of the fixation member 115 (step 405). If desired, the multifilament flexible material 500 can be inserted through the second cavity 130 of the fixation member fixation member 115. After insertion, the first end 510 of the material 500 is brought into contact with a second end 505 (step 410). To facilitate thermal fusion, the ends 505, 510 can be interwoven into each other to make contact, as shown in
Next, energy is supplied to the ends 505, 510 until the temperature of the ends 505, 510 raises to the point that the material in the ends 505, 510 melts or liquefies (step 415). At this point, the ends 505, 510 blend together to form a blended region, that is, a uniform or homogenous composition. Energy is supplied to the ends 505, 510 using, for example, thermal energy, ultrasonic energy, laser light, or electrical arc discharge. The ends 505, 510 can be inserted in a suitable energy supplying apparatus, depending on the way in which energy is provided to the ends 505, 510. For example, if the energy supplied is thermal energy, the ends 505, 510 can be locally heated using a heater element such as an electrical resistance heater element in the form of a thin film of an alloy. The heater element can create heat by other means, such as by induction, irradiation, or a chemical reaction. The blended region is allowed to cool to form a solid blended composition in the contact portion 110 (step 420).
The multifilament flexible material can be any material that is able to melt or liquefy upon application of an energy that raises its temperature and to solidify upon cooling such that the multifilament flexible material forms a blended region. Examples of materials having these properties include nylon, metals (such as titanium or steel), and polymer-based compounds, such as polyester fiber, polypropylene, polybutester, polyglactin, poliglecaprone, and polydioxanone. Another material that may have these properties is natural silk protein produced by spiders. The multifilament flexible material 500 can be any length and diameter that enables passage through the fixation member 615 and subsequent thermal fusion. For example, in one implementation in which the flexible material 500 is a type 0 size, the material 500 is about 4-12 mm long and has a diameter of about 0.4 mm.
The procedure 400 produces a contact portion 110 that has a yielding strength that is equivalent to or near to the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) Standards value for a particular size of suture. For example, for a USP type 0 size suture, the yielding strength of the contact portion is about 12-13 pounds.
Referring to
The tissue repair device 600 also includes a fixation member 615 defining a cavity 620 that receives a part 625 of the loop 605, as discussed above with respect to
Referring again to
Referring to
The multifilament flexible element 705 can be any length and diameter that facilitates passage through the fixation member 715 and subsequent thermal fusion of the end 710. For example, in one implementation in which the flexible material 705 is a type 0 size, the material 500 is about 4-12 mm long and has a diameter of about 0.4 mm.
The tissue repair device 700 includes a flexible member 740 that is passed at least partially through the thermally fused end 710 by, for example, threading the flexible member 740 through the end 710 using a needle. After the flexible member 740 is passed through the end 710, it is free to move relative to the end 710. Thus, the multifilament flexible element 705 acts like a pulley through which the flexible member 740 can freely slide to facilitate deployment of the fixation member 715 into tissue.
To improve pullout strength between the flexible member 740 and the flexible element 705, the second end 712 of the element 705 can also be thermally fused (as discussed above with respect to the end 710) and the flexible member 740 can be passed through the thermally fused end 712, as shown.
Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.
For example, the multifilament flexible material or the contact portion may include a growth factor, such as, for example, an angiogenic factor. The multifilament flexible material or the contact portion may be loaded with a bioactive material, a stimulant, or any substance that promotes healing of the tissue.
As another example, the contact portion can be formed by stitching the ends of the multifilament flexible material together without raising the temperature at the ends by using an additional element of similar ligature as the thread. For example, if the multifilament flexible material is a type 0 size, then the thread can be a high strength polyethylene suture of 2-0, 4-0, or 8-0 size using the USP standards.
This application is a continuation of, and claims priority from, U.S. Pat. No. 8,623,051, filed Aug. 2, 2011, titled “TISSUE REPAIR DEVICE,” which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/165,551, filed Jun. 24, 2005, titled “TISSUE REPAIR DEVICE,” now abandoned, which is incorporated herein by reference in its their entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
233475 | Cook et al. | Oct 1880 | A |
261501 | Vandermark | Jul 1882 | A |
1260264 | Huszar | Mar 1918 | A |
1635066 | Wells | Jul 1927 | A |
2269963 | Charles | Jan 1942 | A |
2479464 | Bliss | Aug 1949 | A |
2610631 | Calicchio | Sep 1952 | A |
2880728 | Rights | Apr 1959 | A |
2881762 | Lowrie | Apr 1959 | A |
3011185 | John | Dec 1961 | A |
3409014 | Grant | Nov 1968 | A |
3470875 | Johnson | Oct 1969 | A |
3618447 | Goins | Nov 1971 | A |
3664345 | Dabbs et al. | May 1972 | A |
3716058 | Tanner | Feb 1973 | A |
3752516 | Mumma | Aug 1973 | A |
3752519 | Nordell et al. | Aug 1973 | A |
3757629 | Schneider | Sep 1973 | A |
3825010 | McDonald | Jul 1974 | A |
3840017 | Violante | Oct 1974 | A |
3842824 | Neufeld | Oct 1974 | A |
3842840 | Schweizer | Oct 1974 | A |
3867944 | Samuels | Feb 1975 | A |
3871379 | Clarke | Mar 1975 | A |
3910281 | Kletschka et al. | Oct 1975 | A |
3946740 | Bassett | Mar 1976 | A |
3976079 | Samuels et al. | Aug 1976 | A |
3977050 | Perez | Aug 1976 | A |
3985138 | Jarvik | Oct 1976 | A |
4006747 | Kronenthal et al. | Feb 1977 | A |
4039753 | Balogh et al. | Aug 1977 | A |
4141087 | Shalaby et al. | Feb 1979 | A |
4144876 | DeLeo | Mar 1979 | A |
4160453 | Miller | Jul 1979 | A |
4185514 | Edwards | Jan 1980 | A |
4235238 | Ogiu et al. | Nov 1980 | A |
4316469 | Kapitanov | Feb 1982 | A |
4326531 | Shimonaka | Apr 1982 | A |
4493323 | Albright et al. | Jan 1985 | A |
4505274 | Speelman | Mar 1985 | A |
4531522 | Bedi et al. | Jul 1985 | A |
4534350 | Golden et al. | Aug 1985 | A |
4570623 | Ellison et al. | Feb 1986 | A |
4595007 | Mericle | Jun 1986 | A |
4596249 | Freda et al. | Jun 1986 | A |
4602635 | Mullhollan et al. | Jul 1986 | A |
4616650 | Green et al. | Oct 1986 | A |
4624254 | McGarry et al. | Nov 1986 | A |
4635637 | Schreiber | Jan 1987 | A |
4636121 | Miller | Jan 1987 | A |
4641652 | Hutterer et al. | Feb 1987 | A |
4662068 | Polonsky | May 1987 | A |
4705040 | Mueller et al. | Nov 1987 | A |
4719917 | Barrows et al. | Jan 1988 | A |
4723540 | Gilmer | Feb 1988 | A |
4741330 | Hayhurst | May 1988 | A |
4741336 | Failla et al. | May 1988 | A |
4750492 | Jacobs | Jun 1988 | A |
4760848 | Hasson | Aug 1988 | A |
4781190 | Lee | Nov 1988 | A |
4809695 | Gwathmey et al. | Mar 1989 | A |
4824839 | Bondinell et al. | Apr 1989 | A |
4826794 | Coosemans et al. | May 1989 | A |
4841960 | Garner | Jun 1989 | A |
4846793 | Leonard et al. | Jul 1989 | A |
4858608 | McQuilkin | Aug 1989 | A |
4873976 | Schreiber | Oct 1989 | A |
4884572 | Bays et al. | Dec 1989 | A |
4887601 | Richards | Dec 1989 | A |
4890615 | Caspari et al. | Jan 1990 | A |
4895148 | Bays et al. | Jan 1990 | A |
4899743 | Nicholson et al. | Feb 1990 | A |
4917699 | Chervitz | Apr 1990 | A |
4923461 | Caspari et al. | May 1990 | A |
4950285 | Wilk | Aug 1990 | A |
4961741 | Hayhurst | Oct 1990 | A |
4983176 | Cushman et al. | Jan 1991 | A |
4988243 | Proffitt | Jan 1991 | A |
4994028 | Leonard et al. | Feb 1991 | A |
5037422 | Hayhurst et al. | Aug 1991 | A |
5041129 | Hayhurst et al. | Aug 1991 | A |
5046513 | Gatturna et al. | Sep 1991 | A |
5053047 | Yoon | Oct 1991 | A |
5059201 | Asnis | Oct 1991 | A |
5078731 | Hayhurst | Jan 1992 | A |
5084050 | Draenert | Jan 1992 | A |
5084058 | Li | Jan 1992 | A |
5087263 | Li | Feb 1992 | A |
5100415 | Hayhurst | Mar 1992 | A |
5102421 | Anspach | Apr 1992 | A |
5123913 | Wilk et al. | Jun 1992 | A |
5141520 | Goble et al. | Aug 1992 | A |
5149329 | Richardson | Sep 1992 | A |
5154189 | Oberlander | Oct 1992 | A |
5178629 | Kammerer | Jan 1993 | A |
5203787 | Noblitt et al. | Apr 1993 | A |
5207753 | Badrinath | May 1993 | A |
5211650 | Noda | May 1993 | A |
5217470 | Weston | Jun 1993 | A |
5219359 | McQuilkin et al. | Jun 1993 | A |
5224946 | Hayhurst et al. | Jul 1993 | A |
5234426 | Rank et al. | Aug 1993 | A |
5236445 | Hayhurst et al. | Aug 1993 | A |
5246441 | Ross et al. | Sep 1993 | A |
5258015 | Li et al. | Nov 1993 | A |
5258016 | DiPoto et al. | Nov 1993 | A |
5261914 | Warren | Nov 1993 | A |
5268001 | Nicholson et al. | Dec 1993 | A |
5269809 | Hayhurst et al. | Dec 1993 | A |
5279539 | Bohan et al. | Jan 1994 | A |
5282809 | Kammerer et al. | Feb 1994 | A |
5318577 | Li | Jun 1994 | A |
5320633 | Allen et al. | Jun 1994 | A |
5336229 | Noda | Aug 1994 | A |
5336231 | Adair | Aug 1994 | A |
5342369 | Harryman | Aug 1994 | A |
5354299 | Coleman | Oct 1994 | A |
5364408 | Gordon | Nov 1994 | A |
5405354 | Sarrett | Apr 1995 | A |
5417691 | Hayhurst | May 1995 | A |
5417692 | Goble et al. | May 1995 | A |
5437680 | Yoon | Aug 1995 | A |
5439467 | Benderev et al. | Aug 1995 | A |
5439684 | Prewett et al. | Aug 1995 | A |
5441502 | Bartlett | Aug 1995 | A |
5447512 | Wilson et al. | Sep 1995 | A |
5458081 | Reichert | Oct 1995 | A |
5458608 | Wortrich | Oct 1995 | A |
5467786 | Allen et al. | Nov 1995 | A |
5474572 | Hayhurst | Dec 1995 | A |
5490750 | Gundy | Feb 1996 | A |
5496331 | Xu et al. | Mar 1996 | A |
5500000 | Feagin et al. | Mar 1996 | A |
5501692 | Riza | Mar 1996 | A |
5520696 | Wenstrom | May 1996 | A |
5520700 | Beyar et al. | May 1996 | A |
5520921 | Chalifoux | May 1996 | A |
5522820 | Caspari et al. | Jun 1996 | A |
5522844 | Johnson | Jun 1996 | A |
5527342 | Pietrzak et al. | Jun 1996 | A |
5545178 | Kensey et al. | Aug 1996 | A |
5554171 | Gatturna et al. | Sep 1996 | A |
5562684 | Kammerer | Oct 1996 | A |
5573286 | Rogozinski | Nov 1996 | A |
5593424 | Northrup | Jan 1997 | A |
5601557 | Hayhurst | Feb 1997 | A |
5607432 | Fucci | Mar 1997 | A |
5609597 | Lehrer | Mar 1997 | A |
5641256 | Gundy | Jun 1997 | A |
5643319 | Green et al. | Jul 1997 | A |
5643321 | McDevitt | Jul 1997 | A |
5647874 | Hayhurst | Jul 1997 | A |
5658299 | Hart | Aug 1997 | A |
5665112 | Thal | Sep 1997 | A |
5690676 | DiPoto et al. | Nov 1997 | A |
5702422 | Stone | Dec 1997 | A |
5702462 | Oberlander | Dec 1997 | A |
5713904 | Errico et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
5720753 | Sander et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
5720765 | Thal | Feb 1998 | A |
5725529 | Nicholson et al. | Mar 1998 | A |
5725581 | Branemark | Mar 1998 | A |
5728109 | Schulze et al. | Mar 1998 | A |
5728136 | Thal | Mar 1998 | A |
5730744 | Justin et al. | Mar 1998 | A |
5746754 | Chan | May 1998 | A |
5749898 | Schulze et al. | May 1998 | A |
5782862 | Bonutti | Jul 1998 | A |
5782864 | Lizardi | Jul 1998 | A |
5796127 | Hayafuji et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
5797928 | Kogasaka | Aug 1998 | A |
5810848 | Hayhurst | Sep 1998 | A |
5814069 | Schulze et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
RE36020 | Moore et al. | Dec 1998 | E |
5843087 | Jensen et al. | Dec 1998 | A |
5846254 | Schulze et al. | Dec 1998 | A |
5860983 | Wenstrom | Jan 1999 | A |
5871490 | Schulze et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
5891168 | Thal | Apr 1999 | A |
5893592 | Schulze et al. | Apr 1999 | A |
5893856 | Jacob et al. | Apr 1999 | A |
5893880 | Egan et al. | Apr 1999 | A |
5895395 | Yeung | Apr 1999 | A |
5897564 | Schulze et al. | Apr 1999 | A |
5902321 | Caspari et al. | May 1999 | A |
5921986 | Bonutti | Jul 1999 | A |
5928244 | Tovey et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
5941439 | Kammerer et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
5948002 | Bonutti | Sep 1999 | A |
5954747 | Clark | Sep 1999 | A |
5964765 | Fenton et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
5964783 | Grafton et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
5976127 | Lax | Nov 1999 | A |
5980524 | Justin et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
5989252 | Fumex | Nov 1999 | A |
5993458 | Vaitekunas et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
6024758 | Thal | Feb 2000 | A |
6027523 | Schmieding | Feb 2000 | A |
6039753 | Meislin | Mar 2000 | A |
6045574 | Thal | Apr 2000 | A |
6056320 | Khalifa et al. | May 2000 | A |
6063106 | Gibson | May 2000 | A |
6066146 | Carroll et al. | May 2000 | A |
6074395 | Trott et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
6096038 | Michelson | Aug 2000 | A |
6096060 | Fitts et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6117160 | Bonutti | Sep 2000 | A |
6143017 | Thal | Nov 2000 | A |
6143387 | Kubler et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6152934 | Harper et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6152936 | Christy et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6156039 | Thal | Dec 2000 | A |
6165203 | Krebs | Dec 2000 | A |
6174324 | Egan et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6193754 | Seedhom | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6217591 | Egan et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6283996 | Chervitz et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6286746 | Egan et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6306158 | Bartlett | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6306159 | Schwartz et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6319263 | Levinson | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6319271 | Schwartz et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6358271 | Egan et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6409743 | Fenton | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6432123 | Schwartz et al. | Aug 2002 | B2 |
6491707 | Makower et al. | Dec 2002 | B2 |
6500184 | Chan et al. | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6520980 | Foerster | Feb 2003 | B1 |
6524317 | Ritchart et al. | Feb 2003 | B1 |
6527795 | Lizardi | Mar 2003 | B1 |
6533802 | Bojarski et al. | Mar 2003 | B2 |
6554852 | Oberlander | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6585730 | Foerster | Jul 2003 | B1 |
6635073 | Bonutti | Oct 2003 | B2 |
6641596 | Lizardi | Nov 2003 | B1 |
6652563 | Dreyfuss | Nov 2003 | B2 |
6656182 | Hayhurst | Dec 2003 | B1 |
6669705 | Westhaver et al. | Dec 2003 | B2 |
6692499 | Tormala et al. | Feb 2004 | B2 |
6692516 | West et al. | Feb 2004 | B2 |
6770076 | Foerster | Aug 2004 | B2 |
6855157 | Foerster et al. | Feb 2005 | B2 |
6923824 | Morgan et al. | Aug 2005 | B2 |
6972019 | Michelson | Dec 2005 | B2 |
6972027 | Fallin et al. | Dec 2005 | B2 |
7153312 | Torrie et al. | Dec 2006 | B1 |
7163563 | Schwartz et al. | Jan 2007 | B2 |
7500983 | Kaiser et al. | Mar 2009 | B1 |
20010010005 | Kammerer et al. | Jul 2001 | A1 |
20020019649 | Sikora et al. | Feb 2002 | A1 |
20020052629 | Morgan et al. | May 2002 | A1 |
20020091959 | Klein et al. | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20020095181 | Beyar | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20020133159 | Jackson | Sep 2002 | A1 |
20020147463 | Martinek | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20020156500 | Storz et al. | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20020165548 | Jutley | Nov 2002 | A1 |
20020173821 | Fenton et al. | Nov 2002 | A1 |
20030070004 | Mukundan et al. | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20030109900 | Martinek | Jun 2003 | A1 |
20030120277 | Berger | Jun 2003 | A1 |
20030130694 | Bojarski et al. | Jul 2003 | A1 |
20030236555 | Thornes | Dec 2003 | A1 |
20040002734 | Fallin et al. | Jan 2004 | A1 |
20040037094 | Muegge et al. | Feb 2004 | A1 |
20040092937 | Criscuolo et al. | May 2004 | A1 |
20040133238 | Cerier | Jul 2004 | A1 |
20040133239 | Singhatat | Jul 2004 | A1 |
20040138683 | Shelton et al. | Jul 2004 | A1 |
20040243131 | Dirks et al. | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20040267317 | Higgins et al. | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20050033363 | Bojarski et al. | Feb 2005 | A1 |
20050037150 | Lijima et al. | Feb 2005 | A1 |
20050143761 | Modesitt et al. | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20050187577 | Selvitelli et al. | Aug 2005 | A1 |
20050277961 | Stone et al. | Dec 2005 | A1 |
20050277986 | Foerster et al. | Dec 2005 | A1 |
20060190042 | Stone et al. | Aug 2006 | A1 |
20070083236 | Sikora et al. | Apr 2007 | A1 |
20080065114 | Stone et al. | Mar 2008 | A1 |
20080082128 | Stone | Apr 2008 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2005200304 | Dec 2006 | AU |
260970 | Mar 1988 | EP |
108912 | Nov 1988 | EP |
315371 | May 1989 | EP |
598219 | May 1994 | EP |
632999 | Jan 1995 | EP |
847727 | Jun 1998 | EP |
913123 | May 1999 | EP |
1013229 | Jun 2000 | EP |
1444959 | Aug 2004 | EP |
1568326 | Aug 2005 | EP |
2422386 | Nov 1979 | FR |
2731610 | Jun 1997 | FR |
54166092 | Nov 1979 | JP |
54166093 | Nov 1979 | JP |
54176284 | Dec 1979 | JP |
54178988 | Dec 1979 | JP |
950770 | Aug 1997 | JP |
9851241 | Nov 1998 | WO |
9912480 | Mar 1999 | WO |
0040159 | Jul 2000 | WO |
02036020 | May 2002 | WO |
02091959 | Nov 2002 | WO |
03001893 | Jul 2003 | WO |
2004037094 | Nov 2004 | WO |
2005037150 | Apr 2005 | WO |
Entry |
---|
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Appl. No. PCT/US2006/024752, mailed Nov. 7, 2006. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/278,474, mailed Jun. 9, 2009. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/358,252, mailed May 28, 2009. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 11/353,868, mailed May 22, 2009. |
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for International Appl. No. PCT/US2006/076348, mailed Jun. 20, 2008. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/918,445, mailed Mar. 31, 2009. |
Annex to Form PCT/ISA/206 Communication Relating to the Results of the Partial International Search for International Appl. No. PCT/US2004/003258, mailed Jul. 30, 2004, 6 pages. |
Office Action for European Appl. No. 01981796.4, mailed Apr. 21, 2005. |
Sotereanos, D.G., “Rotator Cuff Repair using Panalok RC Absorbable Anchor”, Jan. 1998. |
Thal R., “A Knotless Suture Anchor & Method for Arthroscopic Bankart Repair Introduction”, Poster Board.: 296 at the 1999 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. |
Thal, R., “A Knotless Suture Anchor: Technique for Use in Arthroscopic Bankart Repair”, Feb. 2001. |
Unicom Surgical Sutures & Suture Needles, “Suture Needles Information”, 2005. |
U.S. Appl. No. 60/114,170, filed Dec. 30, 1988, Schwart et al. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/278,474, mailed Aug. 14, 2008, 14 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/278,474, mailed Jan. 22, 2008, 9 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/278,474, mailed Dec. 29, 2008, 9 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/918,445, mailed Mar. 6, 2007, 11 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/918,445, mailed Jul. 24, 2008, 16 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 11/535,868, mailed May 23, 2008, 14 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 11/535,868, mailed Nov. 12, 2008, 18 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 11/535,868, mailed Mar. 24, 2010, 14 pages. |
Office Action for Australian Appl. No. 200261843, mailed Jan. 19, 2011, 2 pages. |
International Search Report for International Appl. No. PCT/US2004/003528, mailed Oct. 21, 2004, 10 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/358,252, mailed Oct. 5, 2005, 7 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/358,252, mailed Feb. 8, 2006, 6 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/918,445, mailed May 25, 2006, 42 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/918,445, mailed Oct. 12, 2006, 25 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/358,252, mailed Oct. 13, 2006, 7 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/278,474, mailed Mar. 30, 2007, 21 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/358,252, mailed Apr. 4, 2007, 6 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/358,252, mailed Jun. 4, 2007, 6 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/918,445, mailed Jun. 27, 2007, 13 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/278,474, mailed Aug. 30, 2007, 10 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/358,252, mailed Nov. 20, 2007, 7 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/918,445, mailed Dec. 28, 2007, 12 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/358,252, mailed May 14, 2008, 8 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/358,252, mailed Dec. 2, 2008, 7 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/358,242, mailed Dec. 24, 2009. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/358,242, mailed Feb. 15, 2011. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/358,242, mailed Oct. 18, 2011. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 11/535,868, mailed Mar. 24, 2010. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 12/684,722, mailed Oct. 20, 2011, 8 pages. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 12/684,272, mailed Feb. 7, 2012. |
Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 12/684,752, mailed Jan. 25, 2012. |
Communication Pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC for European Appl. No. 04708599.8, mailed Feb. 18, 2008. |
Communication Pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC for European Appl. No. 04708599.8, mailed Apr. 30, 2009. |
Communication Pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC for European Appl. No. 04708599.8, mailed Feb. 28, 2011. |
Office Action in corresponding Japanese Appl. No. 2009-530498, mailed Mar. 26, 2013. |
Notification of Reason for Rejection for Japanese Appl. No. 2011-039140, mailed Sep. 26, 2012. |
Examiner's First Report on Australian Appl. No. 2007345245, mailed May 22, 2012. |
Notice of Reasons of Rejection for Japanese Appl. No. 2008-518488, mailed Jul. 10, 2012. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20140114353 A1 | Apr 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 11165551 | Jun 2005 | US |
Child | 13196118 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 13196118 | Aug 2011 | US |
Child | 14138223 | US |