Arthrex, Gmbh

Allen E Holowecky

Thomas Dooney, Jr

Derek C Sullivan

Paul C Brady

James J Guerra

William C Benavitz

Eugene M Wolf

Augustus D Mazzocca

Benjamin G Domb

Peter J Millett

Donald K Shuler

Loren D Crook

Andrew R Curran

Thomas Dooney Jr

This disclosure details a surgical system and method, which is useful for treating an acromioclavicular (AC) joint. In an example, the disclosed system includes a cerclage which is provided relative to a coracoid process and which includes a loop. In that example, a clavicle is held relative to the coracoid process using a clavicle fixation assembly, which includes suture passed through the loop of the cerclage.

Surgical system and method including cerclage with loop

Surgical constructs and methods of soft tissue repairs. A tendon is approximated to bone with a surgical construct in the form of a soft anchor that includes a soft anchor sheath and shuttling sutures passed through the soft anchor sheath. The soft anchor sheath loaded with the shuttling sutures is inserted either unicortically or bicortically. Suture limbs extending from sutured tendon are passed/shuttled through the sheath by employing the shuttling sutures. The tendon is secured into or onto the bone. The suture limbs may be passed through the soft anchor sheath in various directions and/or orientations and/or locations.

Methods of tissue repairs

Surgical methods for stabilizing a joint are disclosed. The methods aid in surgical repairs by allowing for quick and reproducible repairs to be made. A bone tunnel is formed anteriorly/posteriorly in clavicle, and a bone tunnel is formed superiorly in acromion. At least one cannulated insert is provided into one or both of bone tunnels to protect the bone from abrasions caused by a flexible construct. A flexible construct is passed through the acromion tunnel and the clavicle tunnel. An attachment device may then be positioned on at least one side of the clavicle and/or acromion tunnel, and the flexible construct is attached to the attachment device.

Systems and methods for acromioclavicular stabilization

Systems and methods for soft tissue to bone repairs employing tensionable knotless anchors, without knot tying. The tensionable knotless anchors may be used by themselves or in combination with additional constructs (which may have a similar or different configuration, i.e., modified according to the specific repair) and with the flexible strands provided through tissue, around tissue, or through and around tissue to be repaired or fixated. The tensionable knotless anchors may be used to achieve simple stitch repairs, mattress stitch repairs or interlocked looped mattress repairs, among others. The tensionable knotless anchors may be also provided in a daisy chain configuration, i.e., with the suture from one anchor passed through the eyelet/loop of the shuttle/pull device of another anchor and repeated in a pattern.

Knotless suture anchors and methods of tissue repair

A flexible obturator configured to dilate soft tissue without abrading the adjacent bone surface area. The flexible obturator consists of at least one flexible strand (for example, flexible wire, suture or similar malleable flexible material) that is overmolded with a material that allows the device to bend/flex in multiple planes. The overmolded material has an increasing taper to provide graduated dilation through soft tissue.

Flexible obturator

Methods and systems for AC joint repair using a fixation device having a specific 'dog bone' configuration in a minimally invasive approach. One AC fixation system is formed of dog bone shaped buttons and at least one suture tape used to secure the buttons during an AC joint repair. The buttons are provided with openings that allow the passage of suture/tape limbs. Another AC joint fixation system is formed of a metal button inserted over a fused/joined construct having multiple flexible strands. The fused/joined construct is formed of multiple independent and separate suture strands and/or suture tapes that are joined (fused together) at about the midpoint of the tapes and/or sutures, resulting in multiple independent limbs of suture/tape. A suture tape loop construct having an integrally formed eyelet at one end of the loop may also be used in the fixation systems.

Acromioclavicular joint fixation using suture button contstruct with dog bone-shaped button

Systems and methods for AC joint dislocation surgical repairs, without knot tying. The surgical systems include two fixation devices (for example, a button and an anchor) joined by strand of flexible material having a knotless, self-cinching, adjustable loop with two splices that attach to the two fixation devices. The knotless, adjustable loop/fixation devices allow for tensioning of the AC repair after the anchor implantation.

Growing community of inventors

Naples, FL, United States of America

Allen E Holowecky