Patent US6464713B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6464713B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Body tissue fastening
Assignee: P Tech LLC
•
Filing: 2000-12-13
•
Granted: 2002-10-15
•
Expires: 2020-12-13
Abstract
Abstract Surgical devices such as implants or suture fastenings are assembled from a plurality of discrete components, one of which components includes a heat bondable plastic material for bonding the components together. At least two components are bonded to each other by the applying heat to the heat bondable plastic material of one component. The heat bondable plastic material is preferably a polymeric or composite material suitable for surgical applications and implantation in humans, and may be a biodegradable material. A laser may be used as the heat source. The present invention is advantageously embodied in heat bonded fastenings for sutures or K-wires, in which a variety of different suture anchors are usable, including expandable distal suture anchors. Other embodiments include a metal bone plate which is held to bone by a metal bone screw and a nut of bondable material bonded to the plate to secure the connection; a piece of bondable material bonded to a metal prosthesis to custom fit the prosthesis; and a surgical implant custom formed by bonding together a plurality of discrete elements one or more of which is bondable.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter M. Bonutti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:18
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/0401; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/80; A61B17/84; A61B17/86; A61B17/866; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/30721; A61F2/30734; A61F2/38; B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/56; B29C65/60; B29C65/601; B29C65/602; B29C66/00; B29C66/80; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8322; A61B2017/00004; A61B2017/0408; A61B2017/0446; A61B2017/0454; A61B2017/0458; A61B2017/0464; A61B17/06; A61B17/06166; A61B2017/0619; A61B17/8665; A61B2017/867; A61F2/32; A61F2/36; A61F2/3662; A61F2/367; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30062; A61F2002/30065; A61F2002/30736; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0004; A61F2210/0071; B29C66/70; B29C66/71; B29C66/72; B29C66/721; B29C66/7212; B29C66/73; B29C66/737; B29C66/7379; B29C66/73791; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S606/00; Y10S606/907; Y10S606/908; Y10S606/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 64
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
A method comprising the steps of moving a first portion of a fastener through first body tissue disposed in a patient's body at a location spaced from an exterior surface of the patient's body, moving the first portion of the fastener into second body tissue disposed in the patient's body at a location spaced from the exterior surface of the patient's body, moving a second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener while the first portion of the fastener is disposed in the patient's body in engagement with the first and second body tissues at a location spaced from the exterior surface of the patient's body and while the second portion of the fastener is disposed in engagement with the first portion of the fastener, and expanding the first portion of the fastener under the influence of force transmitted from the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener while performing said step of moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener while the first portion of the fastener is disposed in the patient's body at a location spaced from the exterior surface of the patient's body and while the second portion of the fastener is disposed in engagement with the first portion of the fastener.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
222 words
A method comprising the steps of moving a first portion of a fastener through first body tissue disposed in a patient's body at a location spaced from an exterior surface of the patient's body, moving the first portion of the fastener into second body tissue disposed in the patient's body at a location spaced from the exterior surface of the patient's body, moving a second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener while the first portion of the fastener is disposed in the patient's body in engagement with the first and second body tissues at a location spaced from the exterior surface of the patient's body and while the second portion of the fastener is disposed in engagement with the first portion of the fastener, and expanding the first portion of the fastener under the influence of force transmitted from the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener while performing said step of moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener while the first portion of the fastener is disposed in the patient's body at a location spaced from the exterior surface of the patient's body and while the second portion of the fastener is disposed in engagement with the first portion of the fastener.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of bonding the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener after performing said step of expanding the first portion of the fastener, said step of bonding the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener is performed at a location disposed in the patient's body and spaced from the exterior surface of the patient's body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 further including pressing the first and second body tissues together under the influence of force applied against the first and second body tissues by the first portion of the fastener.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second portion of the fastener includes an end portion which is disposed in a cavity in the first portion of the fastener, said step of expanding the first portion of the fastener includes changing the cavity from a first size to a second size which is larger than the first size.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of expanding the first portion of the fastener includes pulling on the second portion of the fastener to move the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
107 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of step of moving the first portion of the fastener into second body tissue includes moving the first portion of the fastener through a surface on a first side of the second body tissue and through a surface on a second side of the second body tissue so that the first portion of the fastener extends through the second body tissue, said step of expanding the first portion of the fastener includes expanding an end portion of the portion of the fastener at a location disposed adjacent to the second side of the second body tissue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first body tissue is a portion of a tendon and the second body tissue is a portion as a bone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first body is a rotator cuff and the second body tissue is a bone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of moving the first portion of the fastener through the first body tissue includes moving the first and second portions of the fastener together in a first direction relative to the first body tissue, said step of moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener includes moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener and the first body tissue in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
130 words
A method comprising the steps of moving first and second portions of a fastener into body tissue disposed in a patient's body at a location spaced from an exterior surface of the patient's body, pulling on the second portion of the fastener to move the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener while the first portion of the fastener is disposed in the patient's body in engagement with the body tissue at a location spaced from the exterior surface of the patient's body, and expanding the first portion of the fastener under the influence of force transmitted from the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener while performing said step of pulling on the second portion of the fastener.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
130 words
A method comprising the steps of moving first and second portions of a fastener into body tissue disposed in a patient's body at a location spaced from an exterior surface of the patient's body, pulling on the second portion of the fastener to move the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener while the first portion of the fastener is disposed in the patient's body in engagement with the body tissue at a location spaced from the exterior surface of the patient's body, and expanding the first portion of the fastener under the influence of force transmitted from the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener while performing said step of pulling on the second portion of the fastener.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method as set forth in claim 10 further including the step of bonding the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener after performing said step of expanding the first portion of the fastener, said step of bonding the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener is performed at a location disposed in the patient's body and spaced from the exterior surface of the patient's body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said step of expanding the first portion of the fastener includes gripping the body tissue between surfaces on the first portion of the fastener.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the second portion of the fastener includes an end portion which is disposed in a cavity in the first portion of the fastener, said step of pulling on the second portion of the fastener includes expanding the cavity from a first size to a second size which is larger than the first size.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said step of expanding the first portion of fastener includes deforming the first portion of the fastener under the influence of force transmitted from the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
102 words
A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said step of moving first and second portions of the fastener into body tissue includes moving the first portion of the fastener through a surface on a first side of the body tissue and through a surface on a second side of the body tissue so that the first portion of the fastener extends through the body tissue, said step of expanding the first portion of the fastener includes expanding an end portion of the first portion of the fastener at a location disposed adjacent to the second side of the body tissue.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the body tissue includes a portion of a tendon and a portion of a bone, said step of moving the first and second portions of the fastener into body tissue includes moving the first portion of the fastener through the portion of the tendon into the portion of the bone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the body tissue includes a rotator cuff and a bone, said step of moving the first and second portions of the fastener into the body tissue includes moving the first portion of the fastener through the rotator cuff into the bone.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
86 words
A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said step of moving the first and second portions of the fastener into the body tissue includes moving the first and second portions of the fastener together in a first direction relative to the body tissue, said step of pulling the second portion of the fastener includes moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener and the body tissue in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as set forth in claim 10 further including the step of bonding the first and second portion so the fastener together after performing said step of pulling on the second portion of the fastener.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
82 words
A method comprising the steps of moving a fastener into body tissue disposed in a patient's body at a location spaced from an exterior surface of the patient's body, gripping body tissue disposed in the patient's body with the fastener at the location spaced from the exterior surface of the patient's body, and bonding first and second portions of the fastener together at the location spaced from the exterior surface of the patient's body while gripping the body tissue with the fastener.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
82 words
A method comprising the steps of moving a fastener into body tissue disposed in a patient's body at a location spaced from an exterior surface of the patient's body, gripping body tissue disposed in the patient's body with the fastener at the location spaced from the exterior surface of the patient's body, and bonding first and second portions of the fastener together at the location spaced from the exterior surface of the patient's body while gripping the body tissue with the fastener.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 20 further including the steps of expanding the first portion of the fastener prior to performance of said step of bonding the first and second portions of the fastener together.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said step of gripping body tissue with the fastener includes applying force against the body tissue with the first portion of the fastener by expanding the first portion of the fastener under the influence of force transmitted from the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said step of gripping body tissue with the fastener includes moving a first surface area on the first portion of the fastener toward a second surface area on the first portion of the fastener with body tissue disposed between the first and second surface areas.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
86 words
A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said step of moving the fastener into body tissue includes moving the fastener through first body tissue disposed in the patient's body at the location spaced from the exterior surface of the patient's body into second body tissue disposed in the patient's body at the location spaced from the exterior surface of the patient's body, said step of gripping body tissue includes pressing surfaces on the first and second body tissue against each other with the fastener.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as set forth in claim 20 further including the step of moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener by pulling on the second portion of the fastener, said step of moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener is performed prior to performance of said step of bonding first and second portions of the fastener together.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as set forth in claim 20 further including the step of deforming the first portion of the fastener under the influence of force transmitted from the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the body tissue includes a ligament, said step of moving the fastener into the body tissue includes moving the fastener through a portion of the ligament.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the body tissue includes a rotator cuff and a bone, said step of moving the fastener into body tissue includes moving the first portion of the fastener through the rotator cuff into the bone.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said step of moving the fastener into body tissue includes moving the fastener in a first direction relative to the body tissue, said method further includes moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener by pulling the second portion of the fastener in a second direction which is opposite the first direction prior to performing said step of bonding the first and second portions of the fastener together.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
68 words
A method comprising the steps of moving a fastener through a rotator cuff in a patient's body into a bone in the patient's body, pressing the rotator cuff against the bone with the fastener, and bonding first and second portions of the fastener together at a location disposed in the patient's body adjacent to the rotator cuff while pressing the rotator cuff against the bone with the fastener.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
68 words
A method comprising the steps of moving a fastener through a rotator cuff in a patient's body into a bone in the patient's body, pressing the rotator cuff against the bone with the fastener, and bonding first and second portions of the fastener together at a location disposed in the patient's body adjacent to the rotator cuff while pressing the rotator cuff against the bone with the fastener.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 30 further including the steps of expanding the first portion of the fastener prior to performance of said step of bonding the first and second portions of the fastener together.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method as set forth in claim 30 wherein said step of pressing the rotator cuff against the bone with the fastener includes applying force against the rotator cuff with the first portion of the fastener by expanding the first portion of the fastener under the influence of force transmitted from the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as set forth in claim 30 wherein said step of pressing the rotator cuff against the bone with the fastener includes moving a first surface area on the first portion of the fastener toward a second surface area on the first portion of the fastener with a portion of the bone and a portion of the rotator cuff disposed between the first and second surface areas.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as set forth in claim 30 further including the step of moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener by pulling on the second portion of the fastener, said step of moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener is performed prior to performance of said step of bonding first and second portions of the fastener together.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as set forth in claim 30 further including the step of deforming the first portion of the fastener under the influence of force transmitted form the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
86 words
A method as set forth in claim 30 wherein said step of moving the fastener through the rotator cuff includes moving the fastener in a first direction relative to the rotator cuff, said method further includes moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener by pulling the second portion of the fastener in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction prior to performing said step of bonding the first and second portions of the fastener together.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
77 words
A method comprising the steps of moving a fastener through a ligament in a patient's body into body tissue disposed adjacent to the ligament, pressing the ligament against the body tissue disposed adjacent to the ligament with the fastener, and bonding first and second portions of the fastener together at a location disposed in the patient's body adjacent to the ligament while pressing the ligament against the body tissue disposed adjacent to the ligament with the fastener.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
77 words
A method comprising the steps of moving a fastener through a ligament in a patient's body into body tissue disposed adjacent to the ligament, pressing the ligament against the body tissue disposed adjacent to the ligament with the fastener, and bonding first and second portions of the fastener together at a location disposed in the patient's body adjacent to the ligament while pressing the ligament against the body tissue disposed adjacent to the ligament with the fastener.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 37 further including the steps of expanding the first portion of the fastener prior to performance of said step of bonding the first and second portions of the fastener together.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as set forth in claim 37 wherein said step of pressing the ligament against body tissue with the fastener includes applying force against the ligament with the first portion of the fastener by expanding the first portion of the fastener under the influence of force transmitted from the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method as set forth in claim 37 wherein said step of pressing the ligament against the body tissue adjacent to the ligament with the fastener includes moving a first surface area on the first portion of the fastener toward a second surface area on the first portion of the fastener with a portion of the ligament and a portion of the body tissue disposed adjacent to the ligament disposed between the first and second surface areas.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as set forth in claim 37 further including the step of moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener by pulling on the second portion of the fastener, said step of moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener is performed prior to performance of said step of bonding first and second portions of the fastener together.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as set forth in claim 37 further including the step of deforming the first portion of the fastener under the influence of force transmitted form the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method as set forth in claim 37 wherein said step of moving the fastener through the ligament includes moving the fastener in a first direction relative to the ligament, said method further includes moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener by pulling the second portion of the fastener in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction prior to performing said step of bonding the first and second portions of the fastener together.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
77 words
A method comprising the steps of moving a fastener through a tendon in a patient's body into body tissue disposed adjacent to the tendon, pressing the tendon against the body tissue disposed adjacent to the tendon with the fastener, and bonding first and second portions of the fastener together at a location disposed in the patient's body adjacent to the tendon while pressing the tendon against the body tissue disposed adjacent to the tendon with the fastener.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
77 words
A method comprising the steps of moving a fastener through a tendon in a patient's body into body tissue disposed adjacent to the tendon, pressing the tendon against the body tissue disposed adjacent to the tendon with the fastener, and bonding first and second portions of the fastener together at a location disposed in the patient's body adjacent to the tendon while pressing the tendon against the body tissue disposed adjacent to the tendon with the fastener.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 44 further including the steps of expanding the first portion of the fastener prior to performance of said step of bonding the first and second portions of the fastener together.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as set forth in claim 40 further including step of deforming the first portion of the fastener under the influence of force transmitted from the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method as set forth in claim 44 wherein said step of pressing the tendon against the body tissue adjacent to the ligament with the fastener includes moving a first surface area on the fist portion of the fastener toward a second surface area on the first portion of the fastener with a portion of the tendon and a portion of the body tissue disposed adjacent to the tendon disposed between the first and second surface areas.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as set forth in claim 44 further including the step of moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener by pulling on the second portion of the fastener, said step of moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener is performed prior to performance of said step of bonding first and second portions of the fastener together.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as set forth in claim 44 further including the step of deforming the first portion of the fastener under the influence of force transmitted form the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method as set forth in claim 44 wherein said step of moving the fastener through the tendon includes moving the fastener in a first direction relative to the tendon, said method further includes moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener by pulling the second portion of the fastener in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction prior to performing said step of bonding the first and second portions of the fastener together.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
77 words
A method comprising the steps of moving a fastener through a meniscus in a patient's body into body tissue disposed adjacent to the meniscus, pressing the meniscus against the body tissue disposed adjacent to the meniscus with the fastener, and bonding first and second portions of the fastener together at a location disposed in the patient's body adjacent to the meniscus while pressing the meniscus against the body tissue disposed adjacent to the meniscus with the fastener.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
77 words
A method comprising the steps of moving a fastener through a meniscus in a patient's body into body tissue disposed adjacent to the meniscus, pressing the meniscus against the body tissue disposed adjacent to the meniscus with the fastener, and bonding first and second portions of the fastener together at a location disposed in the patient's body adjacent to the meniscus while pressing the meniscus against the body tissue disposed adjacent to the meniscus with the fastener.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 51 further including the steps of expanding the first portion of the fastener prior to performance of said step of bonding the first and second portions of the fastener together.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as set forth in claim 51 wherein said step of pressing the meniscus against body tissue with the fastener includes applying force against the meniscus with the first portion of the fastener by expanding the first portion of the fastener under the influence of force transmitted from the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method as set forth in claim 51 wherein said step of pressing the meniscus against the body tissue adjacent to the meniscus with the fastener includes moving a first surface area on the first portion of the fastener toward a second surface area on the first portion of the fastener with a portion of the meniscus and a portion of the body tissue disposed adjacent to the meniscus disposed between the first and second surface areas.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as set forth in claim 51 further including the step of moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener by pulling on the second portion of the fastener, said step of moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener is performed prior to performance of said step of bonding first and second portions of the fastener together.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as set forth in claim 51 further including the step of deforming the first portion of the fastener under the influence of force transmitted form the second portion of the fastener to the first portion of the fastener.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method as set forth in claim 51 wherein said step of moving the fastener through the meniscus includes moving the fastener in a first direction relative to the meniscus, said method further includes moving the second portion of the fastener relative to the first portion of the fastener by pulling the second portion of the fastener in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction prior to performing said step of bonding the first and second portions of the fastener together.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-10-14 | 2006-04-15 | 2006-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-14 | 2010-04-15 | 2010-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-14 | 2014-04-15 | 2014-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |