US6623492B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tissue fastener
Assignee: Smith and Nephew Inc
•
Filing: 2000-01-25
•
Granted: 2003-09-23
•
Expires: 2020-01-25
Abstract
Abstract A tissue fastener comprises a shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within the tissue, the shaft having a region that is relatively flexible to render a tissue engaging head disposed at a proximal end of the shaft movable with respect to the shaft. In one embodiment, the region comprises substantially an entire length of the shaft and is made from flexible material, such as a mesh, onto which the member and the head are molded. In another embodiment, the shaft comprises generally rigid material, and the region comprises a flexible joint between the shaft and the head. The flexible joint comprises a breakable (e.g., frangible) section of the shaft, and a flexible member (e.g., a plurality of filaments or a flexible tube) extends between the shaft and the head past the breakable section.
Inventors
- 👤 Rod Berube
- 👤 Paul A. Torrie
- 👤 Steve Ek
- 👤 John Lipchitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/08; A61F2/0811; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/064; A61B17/0642; A61B17/068; A61B2017/00004; A61B2017/0646; A61B2017/0647; A61F2002/0817; A61F2002/0841; A61F2002/0847; A61F2002/0858; A61F2002/0876; A61F2002/0888; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S606/00; Y10S606/907; Y10S606/908; Y10S606/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A tissue fastener comprising a generally rigid shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within the tissue, a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, and a frangible section at least partially between the member and the head to render the head movable with respect to the shaft while maintaining the disposition of the head at the end of the shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
A tissue fastener comprising a generally rigid shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within the tissue, a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, and a frangible section at least partially between the member and the head to render the head movable with respect to the shaft while maintaining the disposition of the head at the end of the shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the member comprises at least one barb.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the fastener is made from polymeric material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the fastener is made from bioabsorbable material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the shaft is hollow and defines an interior passage, the head including an opening in communication with the passage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tissue fastener of claim 5 wherein the passage is open at a distal end of the shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tissue fastener of claim 5 wherein the passage is closed at a distal end of the shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the head has a flat distal surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The tissue fastener of claim 1 wherein the head has a toothed distal surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tissue fastener of claim 1 further comprising a flexible member extending between the shaft and the head past the frangible section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tissue fastener of claim 10 wherein the frangible section is defined by at least one opening disposed through a wall of the shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tissue fastener of claim 10 wherein the flexible member comprises a plurality of filaments.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The tissue fastener of claim 10 wherein the flexible member comprises a flexible tube.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for tissue attachment comprising providing a tissue fastener including a hollow shaft defining a substantially void interior passage and having an outer wall at least partially defining an exterior surface of the tissue fastener, the shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within soft tissue, and a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, a region of the shaft being relatively flexible to render the head movable with respect to the shaft, and inserting the tissue fastener through a first tissue and into a second tissue so that the member lodges within the second tissue and the head urges the first tissue against the second tissue.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for tissue attachment comprising providing a tissue fastener including a hollow shaft defining a substantially void interior passage and having an outer wall at least partially defining an exterior surface of the tissue fastener, the shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within soft tissue, and a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, a region of the shaft being relatively flexible to render the head movable with respect to the shaft, and inserting the tissue fastener through a first tissue and into a second tissue so that the member lodges within the second tissue and the head urges the first tissue against the second tissue.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the first tissue and the second tissue are regions of a common tissue structure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the tissue structure is cartilage and, prior to the inserting, the first region is separated from the second region by a tear in the cartilage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the first tissue is soft tissue and the second tissue is bone.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising removably receiving an element in the interior passage during emplacement of the tissue fastener within soft tissue.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for making a tissue fastener comprising providing a generally rigid shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within the tissue, and a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, and breaking the shaft to form a flexible region of the shaft to render the head movable with respect to the shaft.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for making a tissue fastener comprising providing a generally rigid shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within the tissue, and a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, and breaking the shaft to form a flexible region of the shaft to render the head movable with respect to the shaft.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising providing a breakable section of the shaft, and extending a flexible member between the shaft and the head past the breakable section.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising defining the breakable section by at least one opening disposed through a wall of the shaft.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the flexible member comprises a plurality of filaments.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the flexible member comprises a flexible tube.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising extending the flexible member along substantially an entire length of the shaft.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising molding the shaft and the head as an integral unit, and molding the flexible member therewithin.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising making the tissue fastener from polymeric material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising making the tissue fastener from bioabsorbable material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising providing the shaft with an interior passage, and forming an opening in the head in communication with the passage.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising opening the passage at a distal end of the shaft.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising closing the passage at a distal end of the shaft.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising providing the head with a flat distal surface.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising providing the head with a toothed distal surface.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
111 words
A tissue fastener comprising a generally rigid, hollow shaft defining a substantially void interior passage and having an outer wall at least partially defining an exterior surface of the tissue fastener, and a member disposed on the shaft for lodging the shaft within soft tissue, and a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, the head including an opening in communication with the passage and having a maximum transverse cross-sectional length longer than the maximum transverse cross-sectional length of the hollow shaft, a region of the shaft being frangible to render the head movably connected to the rest of the shaft wherein the frangible region comprises a mesh.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
111 words
A tissue fastener comprising a generally rigid, hollow shaft defining a substantially void interior passage and having an outer wall at least partially defining an exterior surface of the tissue fastener, and a member disposed on the shaft for lodging the shaft within soft tissue, and a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, the head including an opening in communication with the passage and having a maximum transverse cross-sectional length longer than the maximum transverse cross-sectional length of the hollow shaft, a region of the shaft being frangible to render the head movably connected to the rest of the shaft wherein the frangible region comprises a mesh.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
112 words
A tissue fastener comprising a hollow shaft defining a substantially void interior passage and having an outer wall at least partially defining an exterior surface of the tissue fastener, and a member disposed on the shaft for lodging the shaft within soft tissue, and a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, the head including an opening in communication with the passage and having a maximum transverse cross-sectional length longer than the maximum transverse cross-sectional length of the hollow shaft, a region of the shaft being relatively flexible to render the head movable with respect to the rest of the shaft, wherein the member comprises a plurality of ribs.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
112 words
A tissue fastener comprising a hollow shaft defining a substantially void interior passage and having an outer wall at least partially defining an exterior surface of the tissue fastener, and a member disposed on the shaft for lodging the shaft within soft tissue, and a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, the head including an opening in communication with the passage and having a maximum transverse cross-sectional length longer than the maximum transverse cross-sectional length of the hollow shaft, a region of the shaft being relatively flexible to render the head movable with respect to the rest of the shaft, wherein the member comprises a plurality of ribs.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
113 words
A tissue fastener comprising a generally rigid, hollow shaft defining a substantially void interior passage and having an outer wall at least partially defining an exterior surface of the tissue fastener, and a member disposed on the shaft for lodging the shaft within soft tissue, and a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, the head including an opening in communication with the passage and having a maximum transverse cross-sectional length longer than the maximum transverse cross-sectional length of the hollow shaft, a region of the shaft being frangible to render the head movably connected to the rest of the shaft, wherein the tissue fastener is made from bioabsorbable material.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
113 words
A tissue fastener comprising a generally rigid, hollow shaft defining a substantially void interior passage and having an outer wall at least partially defining an exterior surface of the tissue fastener, and a member disposed on the shaft for lodging the shaft within soft tissue, and a tissue engaging head disposed at an end of the shaft, the head including an opening in communication with the passage and having a maximum transverse cross-sectional length longer than the maximum transverse cross-sectional length of the hollow shaft, a region of the shaft being frangible to render the head movably connected to the rest of the shaft, wherein the tissue fastener is made from bioabsorbable material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-09-22 | 2007-03-24 | 2007-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-09-22 | 2011-03-24 | 2011-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-09-22 | 2015-03-24 | 2015-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |