Method and system for meniscal repair using suture implant cinch construct

摘要

Systems and methods for repairing tears in soft tissue, e.g., meniscal tissue, by employing cinch stitching. More specifically, the present invention provides apparatus and methods for meniscal repair using a suture implant construct. The suture implant construct includes a first and second implant which are connected to each other via a length of suture. The implants are designed to be loaded on external surfaces of the first and second trocars.

主权项

1. A method of repairing a tear of a meniscus in a joint, comprising:
providing a single instrument having a single handle and a push rod assembly having a pair of substantially parallel first trocar and second trocar; and a suture implant construct fully seated onto the push rod assembly, the suture implant construct comprising a first implant and a second implant, the first trocar having mounted on its external surface the first implant and the second trocar having mounted on its external surface the second implant, the first implant being connected to the second implant by a single strand of flexible material, the single strand of flexible material including a sliding knot, and wherein each of the first and second implants has a cannulation in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of each of the first and second implants and through which the single strand of flexible material connecting the first and second implants is inserted; subsequently, deploying the first implant attached to the second implant across the meniscal tear, and inserting the first implant in a first location distal to the meniscal tear; subsequently, deploying the second implant across the meniscal tear and inserting the second implant in a second location distal to the meniscal tear, the second location being adjacent the first location; and tensioning and removing slack in the single strand of flexible material after the first and second implants are inserted in the first and second locations of the tear by pulling on the single strand of flexible material to advance the knot in the meniscus.