US 12,127,751 B2
Methods and devices for attaching or reattaching soft tissue to bone
Robert LaPrade, Avon, CO (US); Coen Wijdicks, Vail, CO (US); and Stephen Anthony Santangelo, Sturbridge, MA (US)
Assigned to Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US)
Filed by Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US)
Filed on Dec. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/552,740.
Application 17/552,740 is a continuation of application No. 16/460,150, filed on Jul. 2, 2019, granted, now 11,229,444.
Application 16/460,150 is a continuation of application No. 15/303,880, granted, now 10,383,643, issued on Aug. 20, 2019, previously published as PCT/US2015/029465, filed on May 6, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/990,329, filed on May 8, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2022/0104836 A1, Apr. 7, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/16 (2006.01); A61B 17/04 (2006.01); A61B 17/17 (2006.01); A61F 2/08 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/1714 (2013.01) [A61B 17/0401 (2013.01); A61B 17/16 (2013.01); A61F 2/0805 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0404 (2013.01); A61F 2002/0852 (2013.01); A61F 2002/0882 (2013.01); A61F 2240/005 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0097 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of reattaching a first and a second portion of soft tissue to a bone comprising:
creating a first tunnel through the bone such that an exit of the first tunnel is near the first portion of soft tissue to be reattached;
placing a first instrument through the first tunnel, wherein the first instrument includes a distal mark near its distal end to designate a radial position of the first instrument and a proximal mark near its proximal end that correlates with the distal mark;
observing a radial position of the distal mark on the first instrument and orienting the first instrument such that the distal mark indicates a desired radial position to a second tunnel to be created through the bone such that an exit of the second tunnel is near the second portion of soft tissue to be reattached;
and while the distal mark is oriented to indicate the desired radial position to the second tunnel, observing a radial position of the proximal mark that correlates with the distal mark and creating the second tunnel relative to the first tunnel at a radial direction from the first tunnel indicated by the proximal mark;
coupling a first suture to the first portion of soft tissue to be reattached and passing the first suture through one of the first or second tunnels;
coupling a second suture to the second portion of soft tissue to be reattached and passing the second suture through the other of the first or second tunnels;
tensioning the first suture to bring the first portion of soft tissue into contact with the bone;
securing the first suture relative to the bone;
tensioning the second suture to bring the second portion of soft tissue into contact with the bone; and
securing the second suture relative to the bone.