Guidewire having a distal fixation member for delivering and positioning sheet-like materials in surgery

Abstract

A guidewire for use with an implant delivery system in delivering a sheet-like implant is disclosed. The guidewire can include a distal tissue fixation member for releasable connection to a first location proximate a treatment site. An implant delivery system can include a distal guidewire port for receiving the proximal end of the guidewire. The implant delivery system is tracked over the guidewire to a selected position defined by the guidewire attachment. The tissue fixation member includes means for temporarily or reversibly fixing the distal end of the guidewire to tissue, such as bone. The means for affixing can include a K-wire, a screw, a pin or other fixation member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kit for attaching a sheet-like implant to a tendon of a patient, the kit comprising:
 an implant delivery system;   a guidewire extending from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a tissue fixation member; and   instructions for using the implant delivery system and the guidewire including:
 attaching the tissue fixation member of the guidewire to a bone of the patient proximate an implant location; 
 tracking the implant delivery system over the guidewire; and 
 deploying an implant at the implant location. 
   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising the implant. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the implant delivery system comprises a guidewire port. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the implant delivery system comprises:
 a sheath defining a lumen and extending from a proximal end to a distal end;   an implant delivery shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and disposed at least partially within the sheath;   an implant retainer assembly configured to retain the implant connected to the distal end of the implant delivery shaft; and   a handle assembly connected to the sheath and the implant delivery shaft.   
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein the implant delivery system further comprises an implant spreader assembly connected to the implant delivery shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein the implant spreader assembly comprises:
 a first arm moveable from a closed position to an open position;   a second arm moveable from a closed position to an open position;   
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 6 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are pivotably rotatable from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the guidewire is a K-wire. 
     
     
         9 . A kit for attaching a sheet-like implant to a tendon of a patient, the kit comprising:
 an implant delivery system for delivering a sheet-like implant into a shoulder of a patient;   a guidewire extending from a proximal end to a distal end for use with the implant delivery system, wherein the distal end includes a tissue fixation member.   
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 9 , further comprising an implant. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein the guidewire is a K-wire. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein the implant delivery system comprises:
 a sheath defining a lumen and extending from a proximal end to a distal end;   an implant delivery shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and disposed at least partially within the sheath;   an implant retainer assembly configured to retain an implant connected to the distal end of the implant delivery shaft; and   a handle assembly connected to the sheath and the implant delivery shaft.   
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the implant delivery system further comprises an implant spreader assembly connected to the implant delivery shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein the implant delivery system comprises a guidewire port. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein the implant delivery system is configured to transition an implant from a compact configuration to an expanded configuration. 
     
     
         16 . A kit for attaching a sheet-like implant to a tendon of a patient, the kit comprising:
 an implant delivery system comprising:
 an implant delivery device; and 
 an implant retained by the implant delivery device, 
 wherein the implant delivery system is configured to transition the implant from a compact configuration to an expanded configuration; 
   a guidewire extending from a proximal end to a distal end for use with the implant delivery; and   instructions for using the implant delivery system and the guidewire including:
 identifying an implant location proximate a tendon in the shoulder of the patient; 
 positioning a distal end of the guidewire proximate the implant location; 
 tracking the implant delivery system over the guidewire; and 
 deploying the implant at the implant location by expanding the implant from the compact configuration to the expanded configuration. 
   
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the guidewire comprises a tissue fixation member at the distal end of the guidewire, and wherein the instructions further include affixing the tissue fixation member of the guidewire to a bone of the patient proximate the implant location. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions further include affixing the tissue fixation member of the guidewire to the bone of the patient at a predetermined lateral and longitudinal distance from the identified implant site. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the predetermined lateral and longitudinal distance comprises the lateral and longitudinal distance between a distal guidewire port of the implant delivery system and the implant retained by the implant delivery system. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the guidewire is a K-wire.