Methods for Anchoring Suture and Approximating Tissue

Abstract

An elastically curved suture anchor is resiliently straightened and delivered into tissue by a needle. When the needle is withdrawn, resumption of the curvature provides leverage for anchor rotation as the attached suture is pulled to fasten the anchor within the tissue. A fin at the proximal end of the anchor further increases the rotational leverage and expedites anchor fastening. When two or more anchors with connecting suture are delivered in series on a needle, the tension of the suture helps to draw the anchors together and approximates the pierced tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for delivering a suture anchor within tissue of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) puncturing the tissue with a needle, carrying a suture anchor;   (b) removing the needle from the suture anchor;   (c) and pulling a suture connected to the suture anchor causing a fin on the suture anchor to snag the surrounding tissue, thereby causing said suture anchor to rotate within tissue.   
     
     
         2 . A method for delivering a suture anchor within tissue of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) puncturing the tissue with a needle carrying a suture anchor;   (b) removing the needle from the suture anchor, thereby allowing the suture anchor to resume its curved configuration;   (c) and pulling a suture connected to the suture anchor causing a fin on the suture anchor to snag the surrounding tissue, thereby causing said suture anchor to rotate within tissue.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 (d) holding the suture anchor in the tissue with a sleeve located around the needle during step (b). 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  used to treat urinary incontinence, the method further comprising the steps of:
 (d) identifying the location of the urethra; 
 (e) inserting the needle into the anterior wall of a vagina of the patient lateral to the urethra during step (a); 
 (f) repeating steps (a) thru (e) until a wall of the vagina is repositioned; 
 (g) and tying the sutures, thereby supporting the urethra with the repositioned wall of the vagina. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  used to treat uterine prolapse, the method further comprising the steps of:
 (d) repositioning the uterus; 
 (e) fastening the repositioned uterus with steps (a) thru (c); 
 (f) and repeating steps (a) thru (c) until the uterus is secure. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  used to reattach ligament onto bone, the method further comprising the steps of:
 (d) repositioning a torn ligament over bone; 
 (e) repeating steps (a) thru (c) until the ligament is secure; 
 (f) tying the suture; 
 (g) and allowing the ligament to heal over the bone. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the bone is cancellous. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  used to treat a bulging intervertebral disc, the method further comprising the steps of:
 (d) inserting the needle into the bulging disc in step (a); 
 (e) pushing the suture anchor into the disc toward the opposite side of the bulging disc; 
 (f) threading a disc compressing device onto the suture; 
 (g) pulling and tying the suture, thereby compressing the bulging disc between the suture anchor and the disc compressing device. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein step (e) is performed by using a sleeve located around the needle to push the suture anchor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (b) is performed by the fin on the suture anchor snagging on the tissue, thereby holding the suture anchor in the tissue while the needle is withdrawn from the suture anchor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a second suture anchor is located on the needle and the suture passes through the second suture anchor and further comprising the steps of:
 (d) removing the needle from the second suture anchor;   (e) allowing the second suture anchor to resume a curved configuration;   (f) pulling on the suture to cause the second suture anchor to rotate within the surrounding tissue;   (g) and pulling the suture further to draw together the tissue proximate the first suture anchor and the tissue proximate the second suture anchor.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first suture anchor is located distal to said second suture anchor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  used to repair a loose anal sphincter, wherein in step (a), the tissue is both sides of the loose anal sphincter and step (g) narrows the sphincter. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  used to shorten a ligament, wherein in step (a), the tissue is the ligament and step (g) shortens the ligament. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of repeating steps (a) thru (g) until the ligament is sufficiently shortened. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  used for treating urinary incontinence, wherein in step (a), the needle passes through the vagina and into the abdominal fascia or ligament and step (g) moves a wall of the vagina to support a urethral wall. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of repeating steps (a) thru (g) until the urethral wall is supported sufficiently to alleviate the urinary incontinence. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a second pair of suture anchors with a second suture is located on the needle and is deployed. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (b) is performed by a sleeve located around the needle holding the suture anchor in the tissue while the needle is withdrawn from the suture anchor. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a second suture anchor is located on the needle and the suture passes through the second suture anchor and further comprising the steps of:
 (d) removing the needle from the second suture anchor;   (e) allowing the second suture anchor to resume a curved configuration;   (f) pulling on the suture to cause the second suture anchor to rotate within the surrounding tissue;   (g) and pulling the suture further to draw together the tissue proximate the first suture anchor and the tissue proximate the second suture anchor.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein step (d) is performed by the fin on the second suture anchor snagging on the tissue, thereby holding the second suture anchor in the tissue while the needle is withdrawn from the second suture anchor. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein step (d) is performed by the sleeve located around the needle holding the second suture anchor in the tissue while the needle is withdrawn from the second suture anchor. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first suture anchor is located distal to said second suture anchor. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20  used to repair a loose anal sphincter, wherein in step (a), the tissue is both sides of the loose anal sphincter and step (g) narrows the sphincter. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20  used to shorten a ligament, wherein in step (a), the tissue is the ligament and step (g) shortens the ligament. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of repeating steps (a) thru (g) until the ligament is sufficiently shortened. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20  used for treating urinary incontinence, wherein in step (a), the needle passes through the vagina and into the abdominal fascia or ligament and step (g) moves a wall of the vagina to support a urethral wall. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of repeating steps (a) thru (g) until the urethral wall is supported sufficiently to alleviate the urinary incontinence. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a second pair of suture anchors with a second suture is located on the needle and is deployed.