Patent ID: 12201294

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention and certain features, advantages, and details thereof, are explained more fully below with reference to the non-limiting examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Descriptions of well-known structures are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the invention in detail. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific non-limiting examples, while indicating aspects of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, and are not by way of limitation. Various substitutions, modifications, additions, and/or arrangements, within the spirit and/or scope of the underlying inventive concepts will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout,FIG.1is a top view of a suture construct10in a pre-deployment configuration, according to an embodiment. The suture construct10is comprised of a length of suture12. The length of suture12includes a standing limb14connected to a closing limb16. The standing limb14has a standing terminal end18and the closing limb16has a closing terminal end20. The length of suture12has a primary loop22and a secondary loop24formed therein between the standing terminal end18and the closing terminal end20.

The primary loop22is the distalmost portion of the suture construct10. Primary loop22is formed by the closing limb16. The standing limb14extends from the primary loop22(and the closing limb16). From the primary loop22, the standing limb14is wrapped around itself and the closing limb16, forming the secondary loop24. As shown inFIG.1, the secondary loop24encircles the standing limb14and the closing limb16.

From the secondary loop24, the standing limb14is passed around the primary loop22, forming a locking loop26. The locking loop26is between the primary loop22and the secondary loop24, as shown inFIG.1. The secondary loop24is the proximal most loop in the suture construct10. From the locking loop26, the standing limb14is passed through the secondary loop24twice. The resulting suture construct10, in the pre-deployment configuration, has the standing limb14and closing limb16extending proximally from the secondary loop24with the locking loop26between the secondary loop24and the distal primary loop22. The suture construct10functions like a modified slip knot, as described in detail below.

FIG.2is a top view of a suture construct10in a loading configuration, according to an embodiment. In the loading configuration, one or more limbs of suture100are loaded onto the suture construct10. The one or more limbs of suture100are passed through the primary loop22, as shown inFIG.2. To hold and secure the one or more limbs of suture100, the closing limb16is pulled in the proximal direction, which collapses the primary loop22around the one or more limbs of suture100.

FIG.3is a top view of a suture construct10in the post-deployment configuration, according to an embodiment. If additional tension is added to the closing limb16, i.e., if the closing limb16is pulled farther in the proximal direction, the primary loop22(holding the one or more limbs of suture100) is pulled through the locking loop26and into the secondary loop24, as shown inFIG.3. In the post-deployment configuration of the suture construct10, the suture construct10is inverted. This inversion introduces a bend102in the one or more limbs of suture100.

As shown inFIG.3, the tight bend102in the one or more limbs of suture100essentially folds the one or more limbs of suture100such that first tails104and second tails106of the one or more limbs of suture100extend distally from the locking loop26. The depicted embodiment shows two limbs of suture100, each bent or folded to have a first tail104and a second tail106. However, the suture construct10can accommodate any number of limbs of suture100. The limb(s) of suture100may originate from a suture strand that is separate and distinct from the suture construct10or the limb of suture100can be the standing limb14of the suture construct10itself.

To secure the limbs of suture100within the suture construct10, the closing limb16is pulled again in the proximal direction. By tensioning or pulling the closing limb16again, the locking loop26closes (i.e., decreases or collapses) around the limbs of suture100, holding them in place. However, the locking loop26can be reopened by adding slack to the closing limb16. Therefore, the locking loop26allows the suture construct10to function as a two-way, adjustable knot.

It should be understood that the values used above are only representative values, and other values may be in keeping with the spirit and intention of this disclosure.

While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein with reference to certain exemplary embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein (and it will be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by claims that can be supported by the written description and drawings). More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto; inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Further, where exemplary embodiments are described with reference to a certain number of elements it will be understood that the exemplary embodiments can be practiced utilizing either less than or more than the certain number of elements.

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if not directly attached to where there is something intervening.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.

Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “about” and “substantially”, are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined and/or interchanged; such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise.

The recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not impose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed.

No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. There is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.