Methods and collagen products for tissue repair

Abstract

Methods and devices for the repair of articular tissue using collagen material are provided. Compositions of collagen material and related kits are also provided.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A surgical method for repairing an anterior cruciate ligament comprising;
 a. connecting a suture to a femur using a first anchor, the suture slidably passing through a first hole in the first anchor,   b. connecting the suture to a tibia using a second anchor, the suture passing through a second hole in the second anchor, and   c. fastening the suture to establish a maximum distance between the first and second anchors.   
     
     
         21 . The surgical method of  claim 20  wherein the fastening step is achieved by tying the suture to itself. 
     
     
         22 . The surgical method of  claim 20 , further comprising the steps of drilling a hole in the tibia and passing the suture through the hole in the tibia prior to the step of connecting the suture to the tibia using the second anchor. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of connecting the suture to the tibia further comprises the step of placing the anchor into the tibia. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of connecting the suture to the tibia further comprises the step of locating the second anchor on an outside surface of the tibia. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical method of  claim 20 , wherein the first or the second anchor is bioabsorbable. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical method of  claim 20  wherein the suture is bioabsorbable. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical method of  claim 20  wherein the maximum distance between the first and second anchors is established by no more than an equivalent strength of four Durabraid sutures. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical method of  claim 20  wherein the first or second anchor is selected from the group consisting of a screw, a barb, a helical anchor, a staple, a clip, a snap, a rivet, and an endobutton. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of inserting a scaffold between the tibia and femur. 
     
     
         30 . The surgical method of  claim 29 , the scaffold comprising collagen. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical method of  claim 29 , the scaffold comprising a platelet. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical method of  claim 29 , further comprising the step of threading the scaffold onto the suture. 
     
     
         33 . The surgical method of  claim 29 , further comprising placement of the scaffold between the torn ends of the anterior cruciate ligament. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical method of  claim 20  wherein the surgical method is performed arthroscopically. 
     
     
         35 . A surgical method for repairing tissue located at a synovial joint, the method comprising,
 a. connecting a suture to a first bone using a first anchor, the suture slidably passing through a first hole in the first anchor,   b. connecting the suture to a second bone using a second anchor, the suture passing through a second hole in the second anchor and the suture passing through the synovial joint, and   c. fastening the suture to establish a maximum distance between the first and second anchors.   
     
     
         36 . The surgical method of  claim 35  further comprising the steps of drilling a hole in the tibia and passing the suture through the hole in the tibia prior to the step of connecting the suture to the tibia using the second anchor. 
     
     
         37 . The surgical method of  claim 36  wherein the step of connecting the suture to the tibia further comprises the step of placing the anchor into the tibia. 
     
     
         38 . The surgical method of  claim 35 , wherein repaired tissue is selected from the group consisting of, a ligament, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), lateral collateral ligament (LCL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), volar radiocarpal ligament, dorsal radiocarpal ligament, ulnar collateral ligament, radial collateral ligament. 
     
     
         39 . The surgical method of  claim 35 , wherein the first or the second anchor is bioabsorbable. 
     
     
         40 . The surgical method of  claim 35  wherein the suture is bioabsorbable. 
     
     
         41 . The surgical method of  claim 35  wherein the maximum distance between the first and second anchors is established by no more than an equivalent strength of four Durabraid sutures. 
     
     
         42 . The surgical method of  claim 35  wherein the first or second anchor is selected from the group consisting of a screw, a barb, a helical anchor, a staple, a clip, a snap, a rivet, and an endobutton. 
     
     
         43 . The surgical method of  claim 35 , further comprising the step of inserting a scaffold between the first bone and second bone. 
     
     
         44 . The surgical method of  claim 43 , the scaffold comprising collagen. 
     
     
         45 . The surgical method of  claim 43  the scaffold comprising a platelet. 
     
     
         46 . The surgical method of  claim 43 , further comprising the step of threading the scaffold onto the suture. 
     
     
         47 . The surgical method of  claim 43 , further comprising placing the scaffold between the torn ends of the ligament. 
     
     
         48 . The surgical method of  claim 35  wherein the surgical method is performed arthroscopically. 
     
     
         49 . A surgical method for repairing an anterior cruciate ligament comprising the steps of;
 a. coupling a first anchor to a femur,   b. coupling a second anchor to a tibia,   c. adjustably coupling the first anchor to the second anchor, and   d. fixing a maximum distance between the first and second anchors.   
     
     
         50 . The surgical method of  claim 49 , wherein the step of adjustably coupling the first anchor to the second anchor comprises a suture. 
     
     
         51 . The surgical method of  claim 50 , wherein the suture is selected from the group consisting of VICRYL™ polyglactin 910 sutures, PANACRYL™ absorbable sutures, ETHIBOND® EXCEL polyester sutures, PDS® polydioxanone sutures and PROLENE® polypropylene sutures. 
     
     
         52 . The surgical method of  claim 49 , further comprising the step of drilling a hole in the tibia and passing the suture through the hole in the tibia prior to the step of coupling the second anchor to the tibia. 
     
     
         53 . The surgical method of  claim 52  further comprising the step of placing the anchor in the tibia. 
     
     
         54 . The surgical method of  claim 49 , wherein the step of coupling the first anchor to the second anchor comprises a bioabsorbable material. 
     
     
         55 . The surgical method of  claim 49 , wherein the first or the second anchor is bioabsorbable. 
     
     
         56 . The surgical method of  claim 49  wherein the maximum distance between the first and second anchors is established by no more than an equivalent strength of four Durabraid sutures. 
     
     
         57 . The surgical method of  claim 49  wherein the first or second anchor is selected from the group consisting of a screw, a barb, a helical anchor, a staple, a clip, a snap, a rivet, and an endobutton. 
     
     
         58 . The surgical method of  claim 49 , further comprising inserting a scaffold between the first bone and second bone. 
     
     
         59 . The surgical method of  claim 58 , the scaffold comprising collagen. 
     
     
         60 . The surgical method of  claim 58 , the scaffold comprising a platelet. 
     
     
         61 . The surgical method of  claim 58 , further comprising the step of threading the scaffold onto the suture. 
     
     
         62 . The surgical method of  claim 58 , further comprising placing the scaffold between the torn ends of the ligament. 
     
     
         63 . The surgical method of  claim 49  wherein the surgical method is performed arthroscopically.