Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a suture anchor inserter. The suture anchor inserter includes a handle having a proximal component, a central component coupled to the proximal component, and a distal component coupled to the proximal component and the central component, the central component capable of rotating relative to the proximal component; and a shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end coupled to the handle. A method of inserting a suture anchor into bone is also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of Technology 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to the surgical repair of tissue and, more specifically, devices and methods for the insertion of a suture anchor used in such repair. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    Suture anchors are commonly used to attach soft and hard tissue to bone. Typically, a suture anchor is implanted into a drilled bore in bone mass. One or more sutures with attached needles are connected to the suture anchor. The suture is passed through the tissue and subsequently tied to secure the tissue to the bone. A device for placement of the suture anchor is needed that both stores the suture and needles and allows for them to be deployed easily by the user. In addition, the device must provide tension on the suture so that the anchor remains engaged with the device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a suture anchor inserter. The suture anchor inserter includes a handle having a proximal component, a central component coupled to the proximal component, and a distal component coupled to the proximal component and the central component, the central component capable of rotating relative to the proximal component; and a shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end coupled to the handle. In an embodiment, the suture anchor inserter further includes the suture anchor coupled to the distal end of the shaft. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, the proximal component further includes at least two holes. In yet another embodiment, the central component further includes a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface and the bottom surface both having a groove. In a further embodiment, the distal component further includes a front portion and a back portion, the front portion having at least two suture retainers. In yet a further embodiment, the shaft further includes at least two channels, each channel housing one of the at least two suture retainers. In an embodiment, the suture includes at least two ends, the ends including a needle coupled to each end, the needles housed within the holes, in another embodiment, the suture comprises at least two ends, the ends housed within the grooves of the central component. In yet another embodiment, the suture comprises at least two ends, the ends housed within the channels and retained therein by the suture retainers. In a further embodiment, the proximal portion further includes at least two slots with each slot having a first crevice and a second crevice. In an even further embodiment, the central component further comprises at least two tabs, the two tabs disposed within the first crevice of each slot. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of inserting a suture anchor into bone. The method includes providing a suture anchor inserter having a handle including a component capable of rotation, a shaft coupled to the handle, and the suture anchor coupled to the shaft; inserting the suture anchor into bone; rotating the component; and removing the inserter. In an embodiment, the suture comprises at least two ends, the ends comprising a needle coupled to each end, the needles housed within the handle, in another embodiment, rotation of the component allows for release of the suture and the needles from the handle. In yet another embodiment, the handle further includes a component located proximal to the rotatable component, the component including at least two slots with each slot having a first crevice and a second crevice. In a further embodiment, the rotatable component further includes at least two tabs, the two tabs disposed within the first crevice of each slot prior to rotation of the rotatable component and disposed within the second crevice of each slot after rotation of the rotatable component. 
         [0008]    In yet another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a suture anchor inserter. The suture anchor inserter includes a handle having a component capable of rotation and a shaft coupled to the handle. In an embodiment, the suture anchor inserter further includes a suture anchor coupled to the ends. 
         [0009]    Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the disclosure, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure and together with the written description serve to explain the principles, characteristics, and features of the disclosure. In the drawings: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the suture anchor inserter of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows an expanded view of the suture anchor inserter of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a front view of the suture anchor inserter of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a front view of the proximal component of the suture anchor inserter of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional side view of the suture anchor inserter of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows another cross-sectional side view of the suture anchor inserter of FIG. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional top view of the suture anchor inserter of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the suture anchor inserter of  FIG. 1  with the central component rotated relative to the proximal component. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  shows a front view of the suture anchor inserter of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  shows the suture anchor inserter of  FIG. 1  during insertion of an anchor into bone. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  shows a cross sectional view of the suture anchor inserter of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  shows the suture anchor inserter of  FIG. 10  after insertion of the anchor into bone and rotation of the central component relative to the proximal component. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  shows a cross-sectional view after insertion of the anchor into bone and the suture and needles through soft tissue. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 1-3  show the suture anchor inserter  10  of the present disclosure. The inserter  10  includes a handle  11  and a shaft  20  coupled to the handle  11 . The handle  11  includes a proximal component  12 , a central component  13 , and a distal component  14 . The proximal component  12  includes two holes  12   a  having openings  12   a ′, two depressions  12   b  located between the holes  12   a,  an opening  12   e  located between the depressions  12   b,  and two slots  12   d  located above and below the opening  12   c,  O-rings  12   e  may be housed within the depressions  12   b  to substantially reduce the possibility of damage to suture that extends between the proximal component  12  and the central component  13 , especially when the central component  13  is rotated, as will be farther described below. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the slots  12   d  include a first crevice  12   d ′ and a second crevice  12   d ″ at both ends of the slots  12   d  for housing of tabs on the central component  13 , as will be further described below. 
         [0026]    The central component  13  includes a top surface  13   a  having a groove  13   c,  a bottom surface  13   b  having a groove  13   d , a front portion  13   e,  a back portion  13   f  including two tabs ( 13   f ′,  13   f ″  FIG. 5 ), and a through hole  13   g.  The tabs  13   f′,    13   f ″ are diagonally spaced from one another and, as shown in  FIG. 5 , are housed within one of the crevices  12   d ′,  12   d ″ of the slots  12   d  both before and after rotation of the central component  13 , as will be further described below. 
         [0027]    The distal component  14  includes a front portion  14   a,  a back portion  14   b,  and a through hole  14   c,  The front portion  14   a  includes suture retainers  14   d  and the back portion  14   b  includes prongs  14   e  with slots  14   f  located between the prongs  14   e  that extend a partial length of the back portion  14   b.  For the purposes of  FIG. 2 , only two suture retainers are shown. However, more than two suture retainers may be used. In addition, for the purposes of  FIG. 2 , only two prongs and one slot are shown. In practice, four prongs and four slots are used. However, any number of prongs and slots may be used. Each prong  14   e  includes a depression  15  that facilitates coupling of the distal component  14  to the proximal component  12 , as will be further described below. A coil  17  is disposed on the back portion  14   b  to provide compression between the central component  13  and the O-rings  12   e  and provide pressure on suture extending between the proximal component  12  and the central component  13 , as will be further described below. 
         [0028]    The shaft  20  includes a distal end  20   a  configured for engagement with a suture anchor, a proximal end  20   b  coupled to the handle  11 , and channels  20   e  extending a partial length of the shaft  20 . For the purposes of  FIG. 2  only one channel  20   c  is shown. In practice, two channels  20   e  are used. However, more than two channels  20   c  may be used. The suture retainers  14   d  are housed within the channels  20   e  and retain suture within the channels  20   c  prior to advancement of the suture anchor into bone, as will be further described below. The proximal end  20   b  is substantially round with a portion  20   b ′ that is fiat. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the opening  12   c  of the proximal component  12  also includes a flat portion  12   e ′ for mating with the flat portion  20   b ′ of the proximal end  20   b.  In addition, the proximal end  20   b  includes a knurled surface. The flat portion  20   b ′ and the knurled surface provide for increased coupling of the shaft  20  to the proximal component  12 , as will he further described below. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  the proximal component  12  includes an aperture  18 , in addition to the opening  12   c,  and the through hole  13   e  of the central component  13  includes a first section  13   e ′ and a second section  13   e ″ having a smaller diameter than the first section  13   e ′. The distal component  14  is disposed within the opening  12   c  of the proximal component  12  and the through hole  13   e  of the central component  13  such that walls  12   c ″ of the opening  12   c  are housed within the depression  15  and areas of the first and second sections  13   e ′,  13   e ″ engage the central component  13 , respectively, so as to couple the distal component  14  to the proximal component  12  and the central component  13 . 
         [0030]    The coil  17  is disposed on the distal component  14  and is located within the first section  13   e ′ of the through hole  13   e  between the distal component  14  and the central component  13 . For the purposes of  FIG. 6 , the coil  17  is shown in a non-compressed state. However, in practice, the coil  17  will be in a compressed state such that the coil will be disposed only on the back portion  14   b.  The shaft  20  extends through the through hole  14   c  of the distal component  14  and the proximal end  20   b  is housed within the aperture  18  of the proximal component  12 . As mentioned above, the knurled surface of the proximal end  20   b  provides for increased coupling between the proximal end  20   b  and the aperture  18  and, therefore, between the shaft  20  and the proximal component  12 . 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the central component  13  has been rotated relative to the proximal component  12 . For the purposes of this disclosure, the central component  13  is rotated at about a 90° angle relative to the proximal component  12 , but other angles between about 0° and about 90° are also within the scope of this disclosure. As can be seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , rotation of the central component  13  allows for removal of the suture retainers  14   d  from the channels  20   c  and uncovering of the openings  12   a ′ to the holes  12   a,  which, as will be further described below, will allow for removal of suture and needles from the channels  20   c,  the grooves  13   c , 13   d  and the holes  12   a.    
         [0032]    In  FIG. 10 , the inserter  10  is shown prior to advancement of an anchor  30  into bone  40 . The anchor  30 , which is coupled to the distal end  20   a  of the shaft  20 , includes a body  31  having a distal portion  32 , a proximal portion  33 , and an outer surface  34  including threads  35 . The threads  35  allow for rotary advancement of the anchor  30  into bone  40 . However, surface features other than threads  35  may be located on the outer surface  34 . For example, circumferentially extending ribs or barbs may located on the outer surface  34  to allow for axial advancement of the anchor  30  into bone  40 . In addition, the outer surface  34  may include both threads and barbs for both rotary and axial advancement of the anchor  30  into the bone  40 . 
         [0033]    The anchor  30  also includes a suture  36  coupled to the anchor  30 . The suture  36  includes two ends  36   a , 36   b  that extend from the proximal portion  33  of the anchor  30 . As shown in  FIGS. 11-13 , needles  37 , 38  are coupled to the ends  36   a , 36   b  of the suture  36 . The ends  36   a , 36   b  are housed within the channels  20   c  and extend through the grooves  13   c , 13   d  and into the holes  12   a.  As shown in  FIG. 11 , the needles  37 , 38  are housed within the holes  12   a.  The ends  36   a , 36   b  are retained within the channels  20   c  by the suture retainers  14   d,  as stated above. Similarly, as stated above, the ends  36   a,    36   b  extend between the central component  13  and the proximal component  12 . This interaction between the central component  13 , the proximal component  12 , and the ends  36   a , 36   b  allows for the ends  36   a , 36   b  to be retained in the grooves  13   c , 13   d.  Finally, the needles  37 , 38  are retained in the holes  12   a  due to the central component  13  covering the openings  12   a ′ to the holes  12   a.  The tabs  13   f ′,  13   f ″ of the central component  13  are housed within the crevices  12   d ′ prior to advancement of the anchor  30 , thereby substantially reducing the possibility of rotation of the central component  13  during advancement of the anchor  30 . 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , after the anchor  30  is inserted into bone  40 , the central component  13  is rotated relative to the proximal component  12  such that the tabs  13   f ′,  13   f ″ are removed from crevices  12   d ′ and placed within crevices  12   d ″. Upon rotation of the central component  13 , the suture retainers  14   d  are removed from the channels  20   c,  the ends  36   a , 36   b  no longer extend between the central component  13  and the proximal component  12 , and the central component  13  no longer covers the openings  12   a ′ to the holes  12   a.  This allows the ends  36   a , 36   b  and the needles  37 , 38  to he disengaged from the inserter  10 . After removal of the inserter  10 , a soft tissue  50  is placed over the anchor  30  and the ends  36   a , 36   b  and needles  37 , 38  are passed through the soft tissue  50 , as shown in  FIG. 13 . The ends  36   a , 36   b  and needles  37 , 38  are subsequently used to secure the tissue  50  to the bone  40  and close the surgical area. 
         [0035]    The shaft  20  includes a stainless steel material, but may be made from any other metal or non-metal material that is bio-compatible and strong enough to withstand the forces that are placed on the shall  20  during surgery. The shaft  20  may be machined, die drawn and subsequently machined, or made by any other method known to one of skill in the art. The shaft  20  is coupled to the handle  11  via a press-fit procedure. However, other methods of coupling the handle  11  to the shaft  16  are also within the scope of this disclosure. The components of the handle  11 , except for the coil  16  and the o-rings  12   e,  are of a non-metal material, but may be made from a metal material, and are made via an injection molding process. However, other methods of making are also within the scope of this disclosure. The coil  16  is of a metal material and the o-rings  12   e  are made from silicon. However, the o-rings  12   e  may be made from another non-metal material, including, but not limited to, rubber. 
         [0036]    The needles  37 , 38  are made from stainless steel and are coupled to the ends  36   a , 36   b  of the suture  36  via any method known to one of skill in the art. In addition, more than one suture/needle combination may be coupled to the anchor  30  and any suture known to one of skill in the art may be used. For the purposes of this disclosure, the anchor  30  is made from a non-metal, non-absorbable material. However, non-metal, absorbable materials or metal materials may be used. In addition, prior to advancement of the anchor  30  into bone  40 , a hole may be made in the bone  40  for housing of the anchor  30 . 
         [0037]    As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to the corresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.