Knotless suture lock apparatus and method for securing tissue

Abstract

A suture-locking apparatus comprising a body member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axial lumen in between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end adapted for passing a portion of a suture into the lumen; and a plug member movable from a first position to a second position in the lumen, the plug member comprising a radial protrusion adapted for compressing the suture against the body member on moving to the second position. In a further embodiment the invention is a method of anchoring soft tissue in a body cavity with a suture using the present apparatus and without tying a knot.

1 . A suture-locking apparatus for anchoring a suture within a body cavity, comprising: 
 a body member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axial lumen in between said proximal and distal ends, said proximal end adapted for passing a portion of a suture into said lumen; and    a plug member movable from a first position to a second position in said lumen, said plug member comprising a radial protrusion adapted for compressing said suture against said body member on moving to said second position.    
     
     
         2 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said radial protrusion is also adapted for stopping said plug member at said second position.  
     
     
         3 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said radial protrusion is adapted for compressing said suture and stopping proximal axial movement of said plug member in said lumen.  
     
     
         4 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said body member further comprises an aperture defined in said body member for inserting said plug member into said lumen.  
     
     
         5 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said body member further comprises a suture pulley member fixed with respect to said lumen for turning around and exiting said suture through said lumen at said proximal end.  
     
     
         6 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said body member comprises a tubular body, and said suture pulley member comprises a portion of said tubular body defined between said aperture and said distal end.  
     
     
         7 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said suture is movable in said lumen while said plug member is located at said first position.  
     
     
         8 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plug member is movable from said first position to said second position while said suture is attached to a body tissue.  
     
     
         9 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lumen is characterized by a larger internal wall cross-section within said first position, and a smaller internal wall cross-section at said second position, said larger cross-section transitioning to said smaller cross-section at a zigzag wall section therein.  
     
     
         10 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said zigzag wall section is adapted for limiting said movement of said plug member at said second position.  
     
     
         11 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said suture pulley member is deployed transversely across said lumen.  
     
     
         12 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said suture pulley member comprises a rod member.  
     
     
         13 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said suture pulley member comprises a bridge member defined between two apertures in said body member.  
     
     
         14 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said body member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a polyaryletheketone and a stainless steel.  
     
     
         15 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said body member is dimensioned for anchoring a body tissue in a body cavity.  
     
     
         16 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said radial protrusion comprises a step portion formed thereon between a larger tail-section and a smaller nose-section of said plug member.  
     
     
         17 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said radial protrusion comprises a radial ridge formed thereon between a larger tail-section and a smaller nose-section of said plug member.  
     
     
         18 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said radial protrusion comprises a circumferential stop formed thereon between a larger tail-section and a smaller nose-section of said plug member.  
     
     
         19 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plug member further comprises an actuator member attached thereto for moving said plug member within said lumen.  
     
     
         20 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said actuator includes a built-in failure-point for detaching said actuator from said plug member upon application of a threshold tensile force on said plug member.  
     
     
         21 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said plug member comprises a lumen for attaching said actuator to said plug member.  
     
     
         22 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plug member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a polyaryletheketone and a stainless steel.  
     
     
         23 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a toggle member disposed proximally and axially with said body member, and    a strut member connecting said toggle member to said body member, wherein said toggle member when disposed at an undeployed position projects a smaller profile transverse to said body member, and at a deployed position projects a larger profile transverse to said body member, said strut member adapted for collapsing to translate said toggle member from said undeployed position to said deployed position.    
     
     
         24 . A knotless suture-locking apparatus for anchoring a suture within a body cavity, comprising: 
 a body member for fixing said suture-locking apparatus within a body cavity, said body member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen opened at said proximal end to receive a length of suture therein; and    a suture-locking plug member comprising a radial protrusion for positively interfering with proximal movement of said suture-locking plug with respect to said body member, wherein    said suture-locking plug member is movable within said lumen from a first position that does not interfere with axial movement of said length of suture, to a second position that interferes with axial movement of said length of suture.    
     
     
         25 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said suture-locking plug further includes a detachable actuation rod member removably attached thereto and projecting out of said proximal end of said anchor body, said actuation rod for moving said suture-locking plug axially within said lumen.  
     
     
         26 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said actuation rod comprises a built-in point of tensile weakness along said actuation rod for permitting said rod to be detached from said suture-locking plug upon application of a threshold tensile force on said actuation rod in said proximal direction while said radial protrusion is compressing said suture in said lumen.  
     
     
         27 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said body member further includes a suture pulley member fixed with respect to said lumen such that said length of suture may be passed into said lumen from said proximal end, looped around said pulley, and passed out of said lumen through said proximal end.  
     
     
         28 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said body member comprises a tubular body, and said suture pulley member comprises a portion of said tubular body between an aperture and said distal end.  
     
     
         29 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein a portion of said suture is attached to a body tissue.  
     
     
         30 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said lumen is characterized by a larger wall cross-section at said first position, and a smaller wall cross-section at said second section, said larger cross-section transitioning to said smaller cross-section at a zigzag wall section therein.  
     
     
         31 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said zigzag wall section is adapted for limiting the movement of said plug member at said second position in said lumen.  
     
     
         32 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said suture pulley member is deployed transversely across said lumen.  
     
     
         33 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said suture pulley member comprises a rod member.  
     
     
         34 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said suture pulley member comprises a bridge member defined between two apertures in said body member.  
     
     
         35 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said body member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a polyaryletheketone and a stainless steel.  
     
     
         36 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said body member is dimensioned for anchoring a body tissue in a body cavity.  
     
     
         37 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said radial protrusion comprises a zigzag shoulder portion formed at a transition between a larger tail-section and a smaller nose-section on said plug member.  
     
     
         38 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said radial protrusion comprises a radial ridge formed between a larger tail-section and a smaller nose-section on said plug member.  
     
     
         39 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said plug member comprises a lumen for attaching said actuation rod to said plug member.  
     
     
         40 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said plug member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a polyaryletheketone and a stainless steel.  
     
     
         41 . The suture-locking apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 a toggle member disposed proximally to and axially with said body member; and    a collapsible strut member connecting said toggle member to said body member, wherein said toggle member while located at an undeployed position projects a smaller profile transverse to said body member, and at a deployed position projects a larger profile transverse to said body member, said strut member adapted for collapsing and translating said toggle member from said undeployed position to said deployed position.    
     
     
         42 . A method for repairing a torn rotator cuff comprising: 
 manipulating a rotator cuff tendon over a surface of a humerus;    suturing the rotator cuff tendon to obtain at least one length of suture extending therefrom;    passing said length of suture into a bone anchor;    forming a bone tunnel in the humerus;    deploying said bone anchor in said bone tunnel; and    actuating a suture-locking component of said bone anchor to lock said suture such that said rotator cuff tendon is secured to said humerus.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein said step of actuating is performed without tensioning or slackening said suture length.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  wherein said suture-locking component is a plug and said step of locking comprises compressing said suture between said plug and a body of said anchor.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42  further comprising tensioning said length of suture prior to actuating step.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42  wherein said suturing step comprises forming a loop in said tendon and two free ends of suture extending therefrom.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45  wherein said actuating step is performed while said suture is under tension.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 42  wherein said actuating step is performed with an instrument.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48  wherein said instrument is adapted to deploy said bone anchor.