The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 29, 1996
Filed:
Sep. 27, 1994
Daniel F Justin, Orlando, FL (US);
Thomas F Winters, Jr, Winter Park, FL (US);
Other;
Abstract
A fastener, driving device, and method are provided for repairing a tear in soft tissue of a patient, a particular exemplary embodiment comprising a meniscal tear in a knee. The fastener has a variable-pitch helical protrusion along a central portion that decreases from the distal end to the proximal end, which can serve to bring two sides of the tear into apposition as the fastener is advanced across the two sides of the tear in a screwing motion. The fastener material preferably is a biodegradable, biocompatible, nontoxic plastic that is specifically designed to be biodegradable generally within the time span of the healing process. A delivery device for introducing the fastener is also provided that includes an elongated needle rotationally coupled with the fastener, the turning of which turns the fastener, advancing the fastener into the tissue. The method of repairing the tear entails manipulating the fastener/delivery device system adjacent and normal to the tear axis and driving the fastener across the tear.