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Next, the surgeon slides 610 the tissue graft through the opening 112 in a first direction 116 such that one or more teeth 220 within the opening 214 engage the tissue graft and the one-way tissue fixation device (e.g., fixation device 400) contacts bone (e.g., the cortex) at the proximal end of the bone tunnel 416. |
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Figure 6 illustrates one example of a method 600 for securing tissue within, or to, a body part of a patient, according to one embodiment. Referring to Figures 4 and 6, the method 600 starts with a user, such as a surgeon, forming 602 a bone tunnel 416 within a bone of a patient. Conventional tools and techniques may be used to form the bone tunnel 416. Next, the surgeon deploys 604 a tissue graft within the bone tunnel 416. A tissue graft is one example of a tissue that can be used with embodiments of the disclosed solution. Conventional tools and techniques may be used to deploy tissue graft within the bone tunnel 416. |
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Figure 5E is an end view of a one-way tissue engagement feature, according to one embodiment. Figure 5E illustrates a different type of one-way tissue engagement feature. The one-way tissue engagement feature may include four teeth 508 that extend from a wall of an opening in the fixation device 500e. The teeth 508 may be align longitudinally within the opening or may be offset with respect to each other. The teeth 508 have be shaped as a polygon with a broad base and a flat top that does not come to a point. |
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Figure 5C is a side perspective view, end perspective view, opposite end perspective view, and a side perspective view of a fixation device 500c having a circular longitudinal cross-section in four different orientations, according to one embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the teeth 502 are shaped to come to a point. From left to right, the first orientation is with the fixation device 500c on its side. The next orientation shows the fixation device 500c from the proximal end 212. The next orientation shows the fixation device 500c from the distal end 210. The next orientation shows the fixation device 500c standing on end. |
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Figure 5B is a side perspective view, end perspective view, opposite end perspective view, and a side perspective view of a fixation device 500b having an elliptical longitudinal cross-section in four different orientations, according to one embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the teeth 502 are shaped to come to a point. From left to right, the first orientation is with the fixation device 500b on its side. The next orientation shows the fixation device 500b from the proximal end 212. The next orientation shows the fixation device 500b from the distal end 210. The next orientation shows the fixation device 500b standing on end. |
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Figure 5A is a side perspective view, end perspective view, opposite end perspective view, and a side perspective view of a fixation device 500a having a circular longitudinal cross-section in four different orientations, according to one embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the teeth 502 are shaped to come to a point. From left to right, the first orientation is with the fixation device 500a on its side. The next orientation shows the fixation device 500a from the proximal end 212. The next orientation shows the fixation device 500a from the distal end 210. The next orientation shows the fixation device 500a standing on end. |
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Figure 4 also illustrates that an angle 422 between the bone engagement feature 406 and the body 402 may be designed or fabricated such that the bone engagement feature 406 maintains a low profile when installed. In certain embodiments, the angle is between 90 degrees and 15 degrees. |
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In certain embodiments, the body 402 and/or bone engagement feature 406 may be contoured and/or shaped to have a minimal profile once deployed in the bone tunnel 416. For example, based on an angle of entry for the bone tunnel 416 the parts of the fixation device 400 outside the bone tunnel 416 may be shaped and/or contoured to match a contour of a patient’s body where the fixation device 400 is deployed. |
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The embodiment of Figure 5C includes an engagement feature 506 integrated into the body of the fixation device 500c. In certain embodiments, the engagement feature 506 is a shoulder formed in a wall of the body and circumscribing the opening. The shoulder may be sized to engage the cortex of a bone to fix a tissue and the fixation device 500c to the bone. |
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Next, the surgeon threads 608 the tissue graft through an opening in the fixation device. For example, in one embodiment, a surgeon may pass a free end of the tissue through the opening 414 starting from the distal end 410 and threading 608 the tissue 408 through until the free end exits the fixation device 400 at the proximal end 412. |
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Next, the surgeon fixes 606 the tissue graft at a first end of the bone tunnel 416 (e.g., at a distal end of the bone tunnel 416). Conventional tools and techniques may be used to deploy tissue graft within the bone tunnel 416. Alternatively, or in addition, a fixation device according to the embodiments disclosed herein may be used to fix 606 the tissue graft at the first end of the bone tunnel 416 (e.g., the distal end). |
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Next, the surgeon tensions 612 the tissue graft by pulling the tissue graft (e.g., tissue 408) through the opening 112 in the first direction 116 (e.g., toward the proximal end 412 of the fixation device 400) such that one or more teeth 220 retain the tissue graft from moving in the second direction 118. Tension placed in the tissue graft by the surgeon and/or movement, such as flexion of a knee joint, may pull the tissue graft towards a distal end 410 of the fixation device 400. However, the one or more teeth 220 bite and engage with the tissue graft to prevent movement of the tissue graft in the second direction 118. Then, the method 600 ends. |
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As used herein, a "fixation" refers to an apparatus, instrument, structure, device, component, member, system, assembly, step, process, or module structured, organized, configured, designed, arranged, or engineered to connect two structures. The structures may one or the other or both manmade and/or biological tissues, hard tissues such as bones, teeth or the like, soft tissues such as ligament, cartilage, tendon, or the like. Typically, fixation is used as an adjective to describe a device or component or step in securing two structures such that the structures remain connected to each other in a desired position and/or orientation. Fixation devices can also serve to maintain a desired level of tension or redistribute load and stresses experienced by the two structures and can serve to reduce relative motion of one part relative to others. Examples of fixation devices are many and include both those for external fixation as well as those for internal fixation and include, but are not limited to pins, wires, Kirschner wires, screws, anchors, bone anchors, plates, bone plates, intramedullary nails or rods or pins, implants, interbody cages, fusion cages, and the like. |
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As used herein, an “opening” refers to a gap, a hole, an aperture, a space or recess in a structure, a void in a structure, or the like. In certain embodiments, an opening can refer to a structure configured specifically for receiving something and/or for allowing access. In certain embodiments, an opening can pass through a structure. In other embodiments, an opening can exist within a structure but not pass through the structure. An opening can be two-dimensional or three-dimensional and can have a variety of geometric shapes and/or cross-sectional shapes, including, but not limited to a rectangle, a square, or other polygon, as well as a circle, an ellipse, an ovoid, or other circular or semi-circular shape. |
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As used herein, "tissue" refers to a flexible line or flexible member of natural material, natural biological material, biomaterial, biomimetic materials, manmade material, or a combination of these either in a single structure, a composite structure, or a plurality of tissue structures that extend in parallel and/or may be woven or bonded together. In certain embodiments, a tissue may be long and thin. In certain embodiments, a tissue may be planar. In certain embodiments, a tissue may be elastic or inelastic. In a medical context, due to the flexible nature of a tissue, tissue may be referred to herein as "soft tissue." Examples of a tissue include, but are not limited to, a thread, a suture, suture tape, a woven structure, a fibrous material, a cord, a ligament, cartilage, muscle, a ligament graft, and/or any of these in combination with each other, and the like. |
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As used herein, "implant" refers to a medical device manufactured to replace a missing biological structure, support a damaged biological structure, or enhance an existing biological structure. Medical implants are man-made devices. The surface of implants that contact the body may be made of, or include a biomedical material such as titanium, silicone, or apatite depending on what is the most functional. In some cases implants contain electronics, e.g. artificial pacemaker and cochlear implants. Some implants are bioactive, such as subcutaneous drug delivery devices in the form of implantable pills or drug-eluting stents. Orthopedic implants may be used to alleviate issues with bones and/or joints of a patient's body. Orthopedic implants are used to treat bone fractures, osteoarthritis, scoliosis, spinal stenosis, and chronic pain. Examples of orthopedic implants include, but are not limited to, a wide variety of pins, rods, screws, anchors, and plates used to anchor fractured bones while the bones heal or fuse together. (Search "implant (medicine)" on Wikipedia.com May 26, 2021. CC-BY-SA 3.0 Modified. Accessed June 30, 2021.) |
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As used herein, "flange" refers to a protrusion such as a protruded ridge, lip or rim, either external or internal, designed, configured, engineered, or positioned for engagement with another object and/or for attachment, or transfer of a contact force with another object (e.g., such as a flange on the end of a pipe, steam cylinder, etc., or on the lens mount of a camera); or that serves to increase strength (e.g., the flange of an iron beam such as an I-beam or a T-beam); or for stabilizing and guiding the movements of a machine or its parts (e.g., the inside flange of a rail car or tram wheel, which keep the wheels from running off the rails). (Search "flange" on Wikipedia.com May 24, 2021. CC-BY-SA 3.0 Modified. Accessed July 14, 2021.) |
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As used herein, "feature" refers to a distinctive attribute or aspect of something. (Search "feature" on google.com. Oxford Languages, 2021. Web. 20 Apr. 2021.) A feature may include one or more modifiers that identify one or more particular functions, attributes, advantages, or operations and/or particular structures relating to the feature. Examples of such modifiers applied to a feature, include, but are not limited to, "attachment feature," "securing feature," "alignment feature," "adjustment feature," "guide feature," "protruding feature," "engagement feature," "disengagement feature," and the like. |
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1.A fixation device for tissue within a body of a patient, the device comprising: |
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a one-way tissue engagement feature having an opening that receives a length of tissue passing through the opening in a first direction; and |
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