Installation tool for suture anchor

{
  "publication_number": "US6183479B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Installation tool for suture anchor",
  "abstract": "A tool for installing a suture anchor which supports first and second suture segments having free ends, the tool including an installation end adapted to accommodate the suture anchor and to transmit mechanical power for driving the suture anchor, and a guiding arrangement adapted to guide and support the first and second suture segments in a non-parallel configuration at the installation end. The guiding arrangement may include at least one suture guide adapted to support the first and second suture segments, respectively, at least at a first and a second support points, which are spaced laterally with respect to a direction of installation of the suture anchor.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A tool for installing a suture anchor which supports first and second suture segments having free ends, the tool comprising: an installation end adapted to accommodate the suture anchor and to transmit mechanical power for driving the suture anchor; and a guiding arrangement adapted to guide and support the first and second suture segments in a non-parallel configuration at the installation end.",
    "2. The tool according to claim 1 wherein said guiding arrangement comprises at least one suture guide adapted to support the first and second suture segments, respectively, at least at a first and a second support points, which are spaced laterally with respect to a direction of installation of said suture anchor.",
    "3. The tool according to claim 2 wherein said guiding arrangement comprises first and second suture guides which are spaced along an axis of said installation end, wherein the first suture guide is adapted to support the first and second suture segments, respectively, at least at said first and second support points, and wherein the second suture guide is adapted to support the first and second suture segments, respectively, at least at a third and fourth support points, which are spaced laterally with respect to said direction of installation.",
    "4. The tool according to claim 3 wherein the first and second suture segments are crossed at a crossing region between said first and second suture guides.",
    "5. The tool according to claim 4 wherein said first and second suture guides are separated by a gap through which the first and second suture segments are introduced to said crossing region.",
    "6. The tool according to claim 5 wherein the width of said gap is equal to or larger than the thickness of said suture segments.",
    "7. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the distance between the guiding arrangement and the suture anchor is less than or equal to the length of the suture anchor.",
    "8. The tool according to claim 2 wherein the distance between the guiding arrangement and the suture anchor is less than or equal to the length of the suture anchor.",
    "9. The tool according to claim 3 wherein the distance between the guiding arrangement and the suture anchor is less than or equal to the length of the suture anchor.",
    "10. The tool according to claim 4 wherein the distance between the suture anchor and said crossing region is less than or equal to the length of the suture anchor.",
    "11. The tool according to claim 5 wherein the distance between the suture anchor and said crossing region is less than or equal to the length of the suture anchor.",
    "12. The tool according to claim 6 wherein the distance between the suture anchor and said crossing region is less than or equal to the length of the suture anchor.",
    "13. The tool according to claim 1 comprising a tensioning arrangement which supports the free ends of the first and second suture segments, wherein a substantially constant tension is maintained in each of the suture segments between the tensioning arrangement and said guiding arrangement.",
    "14. The tool according to claim 2 comprising a tensioning arrangement which supports the free ends of the first and second suture segments, wherein a substantially constant tension is maintained in each of the suture segments between the tensioning arrangement and said at least one suture guide.",
    "15. The tool according to claim 3 comprising a tensioning arrangement which supports the free ends of the first and second suture segments, wherein a substantially constant tension is maintained in each of the suture segments between the tensioning arrangement and said first suture guide.",
    "16. The tool according to claim 4 comprising a tensioning arrangement which supports the free ends of the first and second suture segments, wherein a substantially constant tension is maintained in each of the suture segments between the tensioning arrangement and said first suture guide.",
    "17. The tool according to claim 5 comprising a tensioning arrangement which supports the free ends of the first and second suture segments, wherein a substantially constant tension is maintained in each of the suture segments between the tensioning arrangement and said first suture guide.",
    "18. The tool according to claim 6 comprising a tensioning arrangement which supports the free ends of the first and second suture segments, wherein a substantially constant tension is maintained in each of the suture segments between the tensioning arrangement and said first suture guide.",
    "19. The tool according to claim 7 comprising a tensioning arrangement which supports the free ends of the first and second suture segments, wherein a substantially constant tension is maintained in each of the suture segments between the tensioning arrangement and said guiding arrangement.",
    "20. The tool according to claim 8 comprising a tensioning arrangement which supports the free ends of the first and second suture segments, wherein a substantially constant tension is maintained in each of the suture segments between the tensioning arrangement and said at least one suture guide."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 08/861,930, filed on May 22, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,924.\n\nThe present invention relates generally to installation of suture anchors and, more particularly, to a tool for installing suture anchors.\n\nSuture anchors are widely used in surgery, particularly for attaching sutures to bones in orthopedic surgical procedures. The suture anchor connects a portion of a suture to a bone, while the remainder of the suture (typically, two segments extending from the suture anchor) is used for various applications, e.g., for securing loosened connective tissue, such as ligament, to the bone. The suture anchor is typically driven into a hole made in the bone, e.g., into a pre-drilled hole. Suture anchors are particularly useful for firmly attaching sutures to bones during and after orthopedic surgery.\n\nSuture anchors and tools for installing suture anchors are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,207,679, 5,411,523 and 5,217,486, and in PCT publication WO 96/28100.\n\nU.S. Pat. No. 5,411,523 describes a suture anchor and installation tool combination. The suture is threaded through a ring attached to a removable link member which is connected to an installation end of the installation tool. The threaded suture is folded into two free-ended segments which are guided together through a single bore formed in the installation tool. By applying a driving force to the installation tool, the suture anchor is driven into a pre-drilled hole in the bone together with a portion of the suture.",
  "cpc": [
    "A61B 17/0401",
    "A61B 2017/0409",
    "A61B 2017/0412",
    "A61B 2017/0427",
    "A61B 2017/044",
    "A61B 2017/0474",
    "A61B 2017/0496",
    "Y10S 606/916"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A61B 17/04"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Bionx Implants Oy"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Pertti Törmälä",
    "Eija Pirhonen"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1999-07-09",
  "publication_date": "2001-02-06",
  "grant_date": "2001-02-06",
  "priority_date": "1997-05-22",
  "application_number": "US-34614699-A",
  "family_id": "25337136",
  "cited_by_count": 101,
  "citations": [
    "US5100417A",
    "US5354298A",
    "US5207679A",
    "US5217486A",
    "US5431670A",
    "US5411523A",
    "US5782865A",
    "US5957924A"
  ]
}