US 12,324,574 B2
Surgical methods for the treatment of plantar plate injury
Urs Graf, Zürich (CH)
Assigned to SPORTWELDING GMBH, Schlieren (CH)
Filed by Sportwelding GmbH, Schlieren (CH)
Filed on Nov. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/526,173.
Application 17/526,173 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/139,267, filed on Sep. 24, 2018, granted, now 11,172,920.
Prior Publication US 2022/0071617 A1, Mar. 10, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/04 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61F 2/08 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0401 (2013.01) [A61F 2/0811 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00955 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0414 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0458 (2013.01); A61F 2002/0817 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for the treatment of ligament injury comprising the following steps:
i) exposing a joint comprising the injured ligament,
ii) after step i), distracting the joint to expose the injured ligament,
iii) after step ii), inserting at least one suture anchor into a bone opening, which is a blind hole, and anchoring the at least one suture anchor in the bone opening,
iv) after step iii), threading two ends of a suture of the at least one anchored suture anchor through the injured ligament,
v) after step iv) or at least partially in parallel with step iv), pulling the injured ligament to the bone with the bone opening, and fixing the ligament to the bone by tying a knot in the suture of the at least one suture anchor between the bone and a dorsal side of the injured ligament;
wherein the at least one suture anchor comprises a material having thermoplastic properties and is anchored in the bone opening with the aid of vibratory energy used for in situ liquefaction of the material having thermoplastic properties.