US-12616462-B2 - Soft tissue repair device and method

US12616462B2US 12616462 B2US12616462 B2US 12616462B2US-12616462-B2

Abstract

A soft tissue repair device can include a housing having a handle, a deployment system having an actuation member, and an insertion system having an inserter and a slider. The slider can be coupled to the actuation member and movable relative to the inserter between deployed and retracted positions. First and second anchors can be carried on an external surface of the slider such that the anchors are spaced apart and portions of the anchors are coaxial with the slider and each other. A flexible strand can couple the anchors. The insertion system can cooperate with the deployment system to move the slider to the deployed position to deploy the first anchor upon activating the actuation member a first time, and to move the slider to the deployed position from the retracted position to deploy the second anchor upon actuating the actuation member a second time after the first time.

Inventors

Kevin T. Stone
Nathan M. Sautter
Brian K. Berelsman
Jeffery D. Arnett
Joshua A. Butters
Dylan M. Hushka
Nicholas R. Slater

Assignees

BIOMET SPORTS MEDICINE, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20231206

Claims (20)

1 . A meniscal tissue repair device, comprising: a user-graspable casing that includes a first casing portion attached to a second casing portion; an inserter extending from the user-graspable casing, the inserter including an open distal end and a longitudinal bore that extends through the inserter to the open distal end; a first flexible suture anchor deployable from the inserter at a first location along an outer surface of a meniscus; a second flexible suture anchor deployable from the inserter at a second location along the outer surface of the meniscus, wherein, in a pre-deployment condition of the meniscal tissue repair device, the second flexible suture anchor is located proximal of the first flexible suture anchor along the inserter; a suture coupling the first flexible suture anchor to the second flexible suture anchor; a cam pivotable about a pivot point that is located within the user-graspable casing, the cam including a first plurality of teeth that extend in an arcuate manner along the cam; a cam follower including a second plurality of teeth that extend in a linear manner along the cam follower, the second plurality of teeth meshing with the first plurality of teeth such that pivoting the cam about the pivot point causes the cam follower to move linearly within the user-graspable casing; a user-accessible element protruding from an aperture in the user-graspable casing so as to be accessible and movable by a user from outside the user-graspable casing, said aperture formed by attaching the first casing portion to the second casing portion, the user-accessible element coupled to the cam such that movement of the user-accessible element by the user causes the cam to pivot about the pivot point; and a carrying wire slidably received in the longitudinal bore of the inserter, the carrying wire including a proximal portion coupled to the cam follower such that linear movement of the cam follower within the user-graspable casing causes the carrying wire to move linearly within the longitudinal bore of the inserter, the carrying wire further including an anchor engagement portion distal of the proximal portion, wherein, in the pre-deployment condition of the meniscal tissue repair device, the carrying wire extends distally past the second flexible suture anchor toward the first flexible suture anchor to position the anchor engagement portion between the second flexible suture anchor and the first flexible suture anchor in the longitudinal bore of the inserter, wherein, from the pre-deployment condition of the meniscal tissue repair device, the cam is pivotable about the pivot point in a first rotational direction to advance the carrying wire within the longitudinal bore of the inserter and thereby force the first flexible suture anchor from the inserter via an engagement of the first flexible suture anchor with the anchor engagement portion, wherein the cam is pivotable about the pivot point in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction to retract the carrying wire within the longitudinal bore of the inserter and thereby move the anchor engagement portion proximally past at least part of the second flexible suture anchor, and wherein the cam is pivotable about the pivot point in the first rotational direction to advance the carrying wire within the longitudinal bore of the inserter and thereby force the second flexible suture anchor from the inserter via an engagement of the second flexible suture anchor with the anchor engagement portion.
2 . The meniscal tissue repair device of claim 1 , wherein the user-accessible element includes an end portion adjoining the cam.
3 . The meniscal tissue repair device of claim 2 , wherein the end portion is rotatable about an axis.
4 . The meniscal tissue repair device of claim 1 , wherein the cam follower has a rectangular shape.
5 . The meniscal tissue repair device of claim 1 further comprising an anchor stop, wherein, in the pre-deployment condition of the meniscal tissue repair device, the second flexible suture anchor is located between the first flexible suture anchor and the anchor stop.
6 . A meniscal tissue repair device, comprising: a user-graspable casing; an inserter extending from the user-graspable casing, the inserter including an open distal end and a longitudinal bore that extends through the inserter to the open distal end; a first flexible suture anchor deployable from the inserter at a first location along an outer surface of a meniscus; a second flexible suture anchor deployable from the inserter at a second location along the outer surface of the meniscus, wherein, in a pre-deployment condition of the meniscal tissue repair device, the second flexible suture anchor is located proximal of the first flexible suture anchor along the inserter; a suture coupling the first flexible suture anchor to the second flexible suture anchor; a cam pivotable about a pivot point that is located within the user-graspable casing, the cam including a first plurality of teeth that extend in an arcuate manner along the cam; a cam follower including a second plurality of teeth that extend in a linear manner along the cam follower, the second plurality of teeth meshing with the first plurality of teeth such that pivoting the cam about the pivot point causes the cam follower to move linearly within the user-graspable casing; and a carrying wire slidably received in the longitudinal bore of the inserter, the carrying wire including a proximal portion coupled to the cam follower such that linear movement of the cam follower within the user-graspable casing causes the carrying wire to move linearly within the longitudinal bore of the inserter, the carrying wire further including an anchor engagement portion distal of the proximal portion, wherein, in the pre-deployment condition of the meniscal tissue repair device, the carrying wire extends distally past the second flexible suture anchor toward the first flexible suture anchor to position the anchor engagement portion between the second flexible suture anchor and the first flexible suture anchor in the longitudinal bore of the inserter, wherein, from the pre-deployment condition of the meniscal tissue repair device, the cam is pivotable about the pivot point in a first rotational direction to advance the carrying wire within the longitudinal bore of the inserter and thereby force the first flexible suture anchor from the inserter via an engagement of the first flexible suture anchor with the anchor engagement portion, wherein the cam is pivotable about the pivot point in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction to retract the carrying wire within the longitudinal bore of the inserter and thereby move the anchor engagement portion proximally past at least part of the second flexible suture anchor, and wherein the cam is pivotable about the pivot point in the first rotational direction to advance the carrying wire within the longitudinal bore of the inserter and thereby force the second flexible suture anchor from the inserter via an engagement of the second flexible suture anchor with the anchor engagement portion, wherein the carrying wire includes a non-flattened section that is located proximal of the anchor engagement portion, the non-flattened section having a non-flattened diameter and a non-flattened cross-sectional area, wherein the carrying wire also includes a flattened section that is part of the anchor engagement portion, the flattened section including at least a first flattened portion, wherein the first flattened portion has: (i) a first width that is greater than the non-flattened diameter of the non-flattened section of the carrying wire; (ii) a first thickness that is less than the non-flattened diameter of the non-flattened section of the carrying wire; and (iii) a first cross-sectional area that is equal to the cross-sectional area of the non-flattened section of the carrying wire.
7 . The meniscal tissue repair device of claim 6 , wherein the flattened section of the carrying wire also includes a second flattened portion having a second width that is greater than the first width.
8 . The meniscal tissue repair device of claim 6 , wherein the flattened section includes at least a first curved transition area distal of the non-flattened section of the carrying wire.
9 . The meniscal tissue repair device of claim 6 , wherein, in the pre-deployment condition of the meniscal tissue repair device, the carrying wire extends through the second flexible suture anchor.
10 . The meniscal tissue repair device of claim 6 , wherein the engagement of the first flexible suture anchor with the anchor engagement portion includes the anchor engagement portion contacting an intermediate portion of the first flexible suture anchor, the intermediate portion located between a first end and a second end of the first flexible suture anchor.
11 . A meniscal tissue repair device, comprising: a user-graspable casing that includes a first casing portion attached to a second casing portion; an inserter extending from the user-graspable casing, the inserter including an open distal end and a longitudinal bore that extends through the inserter to the open distal end; a first flexible suture anchor deployable from the inserter at a first location along an outer surface of a meniscus; a second flexible suture anchor deployable from the inserter at a second location along the outer surface of the meniscus, wherein, in a pre-deployment condition of the meniscal tissue repair device, the second flexible suture anchor is located proximal of the first flexible suture anchor along the inserter; a suture coupling the first flexible suture anchor to the second flexible suture anchor; a cam pivotable about a pivot point that is located within the user-graspable casing, the cam including a first plurality of teeth that extend in an arcuate manner along the cam; a cam follower including a second plurality of teeth that extend in a linear manner along the cam follower, the second plurality of teeth meshing with the first plurality of teeth such that pivoting the cam about the pivot point causes the cam follower to move linearly within the user-graspable casing; a user-accessible element protruding from an aperture in the user-graspable casing so as to be accessible and movable by a user from outside the casing, the user-accessible element coupled to the cam such that movement of the user-accessible element by the user causes the cam to pivot about the pivot point; and a carrying wire slidably received in the longitudinal bore of the inserter, the carrying wire including a proximal portion coupled to the cam follower such that linear movement of the cam follower within the user-graspable casing causes the carrying wire to move linearly within the longitudinal bore of the inserter, the carrying wire further including an anchor engagement portion distal of the proximal portion, wherein, in the pre-deployment condition of the meniscal tissue repair device, the carrying wire extends distally past the second flexible suture anchor toward the first flexible suture anchor to position the anchor engagement portion between the second flexible suture anchor and the first flexible suture anchor in the longitudinal bore of the inserter, wherein the cam is pivotable about the pivot point: (i) a first time and in a first rotational direction to advance the carrying wire distally within the longitudinal bore of the inserter and thereby force the first flexible suture anchor from the inserter via an engagement of the first flexible suture anchor with the anchor engagement portion for deploying the first flexible suture anchor from the inserter at the first location along the outer surface of the meniscus; (ii) a second time and in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction to retract the carrying wire proximally within the longitudinal bore of the inserter and thereby move the anchor engagement portion proximally past at least part of the second flexible suture anchor; and (iii) a third time and back in the first rotational direction to advance the carrying wire distally within the longitudinal bore of the inserter and thereby force the second flexible suture anchor from the inserter via an engagement of the second flexible suture anchor with the anchor engagement portion for deploying the second flexible suture anchor from the inserter at the second location along the outer surface of the meniscus, wherein the carrying wire includes a non-flattened section that is located proximal of the anchor engagement portion, wherein the carrying wire also includes a flattened section that is part of the anchor engagement portion.
12 . The meniscal tissue repair device of claim 11 , wherein the non-flattened section of the carrying wire has a non-flattened diameter and a non-flattened cross-sectional area.
13 . The meniscal tissue repair device of claim 12 , wherein the flattened section of the carrying wire includes at least a first flattened portion.
14 . The meniscal tissue repair device of claim 13 , wherein the first flattened portion has a first width that is greater than the non-flattened diameter of the non-flattened section of the carrying wire.
15 . The meniscal tissue repair device of claim 14 , wherein the flattened section includes at least a first curved transition area distal of the non-flattened section of the carrying wire.
16 . The meniscal tissue repair device of claim 13 , wherein the first flattened portion has a first thickness that is less than the non-flattened diameter of the non-flattened section of the carrying wire.
17 . The meniscal tissue repair device of claim 16 , wherein the flattened section includes at least a first curved transition area distal of the non-flattened section of the carrying wire.
18 . The meniscal tissue repair device of claim 13 , wherein the first flattened portion has a first cross-sectional area that is equal to the cross-sectional area of the non-flattened section of the carrying wire.
19 . The meniscal tissue repair device of claim 18 , wherein the flattened section includes at least a first curved transition area distal of the non-flattened section of the carrying wire.
20 . The meniscal tissue repair device of claim 18 , wherein the first flattened portion has a first width that is greater than the non-flattened diameter of the non-flattened section of the carrying wire.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/392,971 filed Aug. 3, 2021, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 16/255,300 filed Jan. 23, 2019, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,109,857, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/332,590 filed Oct. 24, 2016, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,265,064, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/645,964 filed Oct. 5, 2012, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,504,460, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/570,854 filed Sep. 30, 2009, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,303,604. The disclosures of all of the above applications are hereby incorporated by reference. FIELD The present teachings relate generally to soft tissue repair and, more particularly, to a device and associated method for repairing a tear in soft tissue. INTRODUCTION Tears caused by trauma or disease in soft tissue, such as cartilage, ligament, or muscle, can be repaired by suturing. Various repair devices have been developed for facilitating suturing and are effective for their intended purposes. Nevertheless, tissue repair devices for facilitating suturing are still desirable. SUMMARY This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. According to one aspect, the present teachings provide a soft tissue repair device. The device can include a housing having a handle, a deployment system having an actuation member, and an insertion system having an inserter and a slider. The slider can be coupled to the actuation member and movable relative to the inserter between deployed and retracted positions. At least a portion of a first anchor can be carried on an external surface of the slider in a first position, and at least a portion of a second anchor can be carried on the external surface of the slider in a second position that is longitudinally spaced apart from the first anchor position such that the portions of the first and second anchors are co-axial with the slider and each other. A flexible strand can couple the first and second anchors. The insertion system can be operable to cooperate with the deployment system to move the slider from the retracted position to the deployed position to deploy the first anchor upon actuating the actuation member at a first time, and to move the slider from the retracted position to the deployed position to deploy the second anchor upon actuating the actuation member a second time after the first time. According to another aspect, the present teachings provide a method for repairing a tear in soft tissue. The method can include coupling first and second flexible anchors with a flexible strand, providing an insertion device having a housing with a pistol grip handle, an inserter and a slider carried in the inserter such that the inserter and the slider each have a distal end extending from the housing. The first and second coupled anchors can be loaded on an external surface of the slider, and the inserter can be inserted though the soft tissue from a first side of the tear to a second side of the tear. An actuation member protruding from the pistol grip handle can be actuated at a first time to translate a distal end of the slider beyond a distal end of the inserter so as to deploy the first anchor. The actuation member can be released after deploying the first anchor, the inserter can be inserted through the soft tissue for a second time in a second position, and the actuation member can be actuated at a second time after the first time to extend the distal end of the slider beyond the distal end of the inserter and deploy the second anchor. The method can further include removing the inserter from the soft tissue, tensioning the flexible strand and reducing the tear. Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present teachings will become more fully understood from the detailed description, the appended claims and the following drawings. The drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary tissue repair device according to the present teachings; FIG. 2 is a top view of the exemplary tissue repair device according to the present teachings; FIG. 3 is a partial side view of an exemplary configuration of the tissue repair device shown with a portion of the casing removed according to the present teachings; FIG. 4 is a side view of a portion of the casing of the device of FIG. 1 according to the present teachings; FIG. 5 is a side view of another portion of the casing of the device of FIG. 1 according to the present tea