Surgical Suture System

Abstract

A surgical suture system, suture, and tissue engaging member for tissue repair and reattachment of torn tissue to a tissue substrate, medical prosthesis or medical implant. The system includes the elongated flexible suture member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced protuberances along a length thereof and one or a plurality of the tissue engaging members each of which include two closely spaced apart locking apertures sized and configured to receive one of the suture members passed therethrough or a unique single locking aperture to allow longitudinal tensioning and/or restraining movement of the suture member in only one direction through the locking apertures for suture member tightening.

1 . In a surgical suture system for tissue repair and reattachment of torn tissue to a tissue substrate or medical implant to tissue including an elongated flexible suture having a plurality of longitudinally spaced protuberances along a length thereof, the improvement comprising:
 a tissue engaging member including a body having two closely spaced apart locking apertures sized to receive said suture member passed therethrough for longitudinal movement of said suture member in only one direction through said locking apertures.   
     
     
         2 . The improvement set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said tissue engaging member is formed as a tapering conical-shaped threaded tissue anchor having said locking apertures formed through a head thereof.   
     
     
         3 . The improvement set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said tissue engaging member is shaped similar to a grapnel-type anchor having said locking apertures formed through an elongated shank thereof.   
     
     
         4 . The improvement set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said tissue engaging member is formed having a mushroom button shape having said locking apertures formed transversely therethrough.   
     
     
         5 . The improvement set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said tissue engaging member has a domed button shape having one said locking aperture positioned centrally thereof and one said suture member permanently secured in another of said locking apertures.   
     
     
         6 . The improvement set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said tissue engaging member is formed having an annular ring with a suture engaging bar extending centrally between an inner surface of said annular ring;   said locking apertures being formed through said suture engaging bar.   
     
     
         7 . The improvement as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said tissue anchor is hollow and is formed having a spiral-shaped coil.   
     
     
         8 . A surgical tissue engaging member for tissue repair and reattachment of torn tissue to a tissue substrate, medical prosthesis, or medical implant in conjunction with an elongated slender flexible suture member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced protuberances along a length thereof, said tissue engaging member comprising:
 a body including two closely spaced apart locking apertures each sized to receive said suture member passed therethrough to cooperatively restrict longitudinal movement of said suture member to only one direction through said locking apertures.   
     
     
         9 . The tissue engaging member as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein:
 said tissue engaging member is formed as a tapering conical-shaped threaded tissue anchor having said locking apertures formed through a head thereof.   
     
     
         10 . The tissue engaging member as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein:
 said tissue engaging member is formed as a grapnel-type anchor having said locking apertures formed through an elongated shank thereof.   
     
     
         11 . The tissue engaging member as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein:
 said tissue engaging member is formed having a domed button shape having one said locking aperture positioned centrally thereof and one said suture member permanently secured in another of said locking apertures.   
     
     
         12 . The tissue engaging member as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein:
 said tissue engaging member is formed having an annular ring with a suture engaging bar extending centrally between an inner surface of said annular ring;   said locking apertures being formed through said suture engaging bar.   
     
     
         13 . The improvement as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein:
 said tissue anchor is formed having a hollow spiral-shaped coil.   
     
     
         14 . A medically implantable device for tissue repair and reattachment of torn tissue to a tissue substrate or to a medical implant in conjunction with an elongated flexible suture having a plurality of longitudinally spaced protuberances along a length thereof, said device comprising:
 a body including at least one locking aperture formed therethrough and being sized and configured to receive a suture being inserted into said aperture for continued longitudinal movement of the suture in only one direction through said aperture.   
     
     
         15 . A medically implantable device as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein:
 said body includes two said locking apertures closely spaced apart and cooperatively acting to prevent reverse movement of the suture from that of the one direction.   
     
     
         16 . A medically implantable device as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein:
 said body is formed as a tapering conical-shaped threaded tissue anchor having said locking apertures formed through a head thereof.   
     
     
         17 . A medically implantable device as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein:
 said body is formed having a mushroom button shape having said locking apertures formed transversely therethrough.   
     
     
         18 . A medically implantable device as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein:
 said body is formed having an annular ring with a suture engaging bar extending centrally between an inner surface of said annular ring;   said locking apertures being formed through said suture engaging bar.   
     
     
         19 . A medically implantable device as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein:
 said body is formed having a hollow spiral-shaped coil.   
     
     
         20 . A medically implantable device as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein:
 said body includes a plurality of spaced apart said locking apertures, each said aperture lockingly positioning one protuberance at a different distance from a tissue contact surface of said body.   
     
     
         21 . A medically implantable device as set forth in Class 14, wherein:
 said body includes spaced resilient, elastic layers connected between rigid, solid segments wherein said suture locking aperture is expandable responsive to forced movement of each protuberance therethrough.