Tissue anchor insertion system

摘要

A tissue anchor insertion system for inserting a tissue anchor into a body tissue such as bone, comprising a cutting device having a sharp leading end to create an aperture in the bone for insertion of the tissue anchor therein. The cutting device is deployed through a sleeve which is a close fit with the cutting device. The distal end of the sleeve is typically configured to penetrate the tissue in which the tissue anchor is to be inserted. A tissue anchor is also deployed through the sleeve, after the sleeve is in position, on a delivery device configured to support the tissue anchor during its insertion into the tissue. Typically the leading end of the sleeve is embedded within the tissue when the tissue anchor emerges from the distal end during the insertion process, so the tissue anchor is not damaged by insertion through the tissue.

主权项

1. A tissue anchor insertion system for inserting a tissue anchor into a body tissue, the system comprising:
a cutting device having a sharp leading end configured to create an aperture in a body tissue for insertion of the tissue anchor therein; a sleeve having proximal and distal ends and having a bore through the sleeve, extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a tissue anchor delivery device configured to support the tissue anchor during insertion of the tissue anchor into the tissue; wherein at least one of the cutting device and the sleeve has a shoulder to engage the other in order to transmit axial forces between the cutting device and the sleeve; wherein during creation of the aperture in the tissue, the cutting device is adapted to be received within bore of the sleeve and is adapted to extend at least partially from a distal end of the bore at the distal end of the sleeve; wherein the shoulder engages when the cutting device is inserted into the bore of the sleeve and the sharp leading end of the cutting device extends from the distal end of the sleeve; wherein engagement of the shoulder limits the extension of the sharp leading end of the cutting device from the distal end of the sleeve, such that when the shoulder is engaged, the cutting device extends from the distal end of the sleeve by a distance determined by a position of the shoulder; wherein the distal end of the sleeve is configured to penetrate the tissue in which the tissue anchor is to be inserted; and wherein during insertion of the tissue anchor the sleeve is configured to accommodate the tissue anchor and the delivery device within the bore of the sleeve and to allow passage of the tissue anchor through the distal end of the bore, wherein the sleeve has a slot along a length of the sleeve from the proximal end to the distal end, extending through the sleeve to permit passage of sutures through the slot between the bore of the sleeve and an external surface of the sleeve, and wherein the slot on the sleeve is at least partially occluded by a spline on the cutting device.