초록 ▼

A suture attachment clip and method for assisting in the attachment or re-attachment of soft tissue to bone. The clip generally comprises a head having a shape suitable for allowing the passage of a suture during attachment of soft tissue to bone. One or more clips can be secured to a bone plate thr

A suture attachment clip and method for assisting in the attachment or re-attachment of soft tissue to bone. The clip generally comprises a head having a shape suitable for allowing the passage of a suture during attachment of soft tissue to bone. One or more clips can be secured to a bone plate through a variety of means, including a snap configuration, a screw configuration, and a bendable prong configuration. The clip can also be continuous with an adjacent clip, thus forming a multi-clip assembly that can either be secured to a bone plate or secured directly to a bone without a bone plate.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for attaching soft tissue to bone, said system comprising: a bone plate having a perimeter, a lower surface for placement against the bone, an upper surface opposite said lower surface, at least two holes extending through said bone plate from said upper surface to said lower surface, a

1. A system for attaching soft tissue to bone, said system comprising: a bone plate having a perimeter, a lower surface for placement against the bone, an upper surface opposite said lower surface, at least two holes extending through said bone plate from said upper surface to said lower surface, a first orifice and a second orifice formed in said bone plate on a perimeter of said bone plate, and a third orifice and a fourth orifice formed in said bone plate, each of said first, second, third, and forth orifices being adapted to receive a portion of a suture attachment clip;at least one suture attachment clip including a first shaft, a second shaft, a head portion, and a mid-longitudinal axis extending between said first and second shafts and through said head portion, said head portion including a first lobe portion and a second lobe portion, said first shaft adapted to be inserted into said first orifice and protrude outwardly from said third orifice, and said second shaft adapted to be inserted into said second orifice and protrude outwardly from said fourth orifice, said first shaft being wrapped around a first portion of said bone plate between said first and third orifices to attach said first shaft to said bone plate, and said second shaft being wrapped around a second portion of said bone plate between said second and fourth orifices to attach said second shaft to said bone plate;an opening formed in said head portion for receiving a suture therethrough, said opening including a first concave arcuate side corresponding to said first lobe portion and a second concave arcuate side corresponding to said second lobe portion; anda perimeter of said head portion in a first plane extending through the mid-longitudinal axis, said first lobe portion, said second lobe portion, and said first connecting portion, said perimeter having a first convex arcuate side corresponding to said first lobe portion and a second convex arcuate side corresponding to said second lobe portion. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one suture attachment clip further comprises a first connecting portion extending between said first and second lobe portions, a convex side of said opening, and a concave side of said perimeter, said convex side of said opening and said concave side of said perimeter corresponding to said first connecting portion. 3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a second connecting portion and a third connecting portion, said second connecting portion being connected to said first lobe portion and terminating in said first shaft, said third connecting portion being connected to said second lobe portion and terminating in said second shaft. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first lobe portion and said second lobe portion are symmetrical to one another about a second plane perpendicular to said first plane, said second plane extending through the mid-longitudinal axis. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein said at least one suture attachment clip includes a maximum length parallel to the mid-longitudinal axis, and a maximum width perpendicular to said maximum length, said maximum width of said at least one suture attachment clip being the maximum dimension of said head portion. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the maximum distance between said first and second shafts in a third plane perpendicular to said first and second planes is less than the maximum dimension of said head portion. 7. A system for attaching soft tissue to bone, said system comprising: a bone plate having a perimeter, a lower surface for placement against the bone, an upper surface opposite said lower surface, at least two holes extending through said bone plate from said upper surface to said lower surface, a first orifice and a second orifice formed in said bone plate on a perimeter of said bone plate, and a third orifice and a fourth orifice formed in said bone plate, each of said first, second, third, and fourth orifices being adapted to receive at least a portion of a suture attachment clip;at least one suture attachment clip including a first shaft, a second shaft, a head portion, and a mid-longitudinal axis extending between said first and second shafts, said head portion including a first arcuate portion extending around a first axis, a second arcuate portion extending around a second axis, and a first connecting portion extending between said first and second arcuate portions, said first and second axes being offset from one another on opposite sides of the mid-longitudinal axis, said first shaft adapted to be inserted into said first orifice and protrude outwardly from said third orifice, and said second shaft adapted to be inserted into said second orifice and protrude outwardly from said fourth orifice, said first shaft being wrapped around a first portion of said bone plate between said first and third orifices to attach said first shaft to said bone plate, and said second shaft being wrapped around a second portion of said bone plate between said second and fourth orifices to attach said second shaft to said bone plate;an opening formed in said head portion for receiving a suture therethrough, said opening extending through a first plane, said first plane extending through said first arcuate portion, said second arcuate portion, and the mid-longitudinal axis, said opening including a first concave side in said first plane corresponding to said first arcuate portion, and a second concave side in said first plane corresponding to said second arcuate portion; anda perimeter of said head portion, said perimeter being in said first plane, said perimeter having a first convex side in said first plane corresponding to said first arcuate portion, and a second convex side in said first plane corresponding to said second arcuate portion. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least one suture attachment clip further comprises a convex side of said opening in said first plane, and a concave side of said perimeter in said first plane, said convex side of said opening and said concave side of said perimeter corresponding to said first connecting portion. 9. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least one suture attachment clip includes a leading end, and an opposite trailing end, said first and second shafts extending from proximate said first and second arcuate portions toward said leading end. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein said at least one suture attachment clip includes a maximum length parallel the mid-longitudinal axis, and a maximum width perpendicular to said maximum length, said maximum width of said at least one suture attachment clip being the maximum dimension of said head portion. 11. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least one suture attachment clip includes a maximum length parallel the mid-longitudinal axis, and a maximum width perpendicular to the maximum length, the maximum width of said at least one suture attachment clip being the maximum dimension of said head portion. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein said first arcuate portion and said second arcuate portion are symmetrical to one another about a second plane perpendicular to said first plane, said second plane extending through the mid-longitudinal axis. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the maximum distance between said first and second shafts in a third plane perpendicular to said first and second planes is less than the maximum dimension of said head portion. 14. A system for attaching soft tissue to bone, said system comprising: a bone plate having a perimeter, a lower surface for placement against the bone, an upper surface opposite said lower surface, at least two holes extending through said bone plate from said upper surface to said lower surface, a first orifice and a second orifice formed in said bone plate on a perimeter of said bone plate, and a third orifice and a fourth orifice formed in said bone plate, each of said first, second, third, and fourth orifices being adapted to receive at least a portion of a suture attachment clip;at least one suture attachment clip including a first shaft, a second shaft, a head portion, and a mid-longitudinal axis extending between said first and second shafts, said head portion including a first C-shaped portion, a second C-shaped portion, and a first connecting portion extending between said first and second C-shaped portions, said first shaft adapted to be inserted into said first orifice and protrude outwardly from said third orifice, and said second shaft adapted to be inserted into said second orifice and protrude outwardly from said fourth orifice, said first shaft being wrapped around a first portion of said bone plate between said first and third orifices to attach said first shaft to said bone plate, and said second shaft being wrapped around a second portion of said bone plate between said second and fourth orifices to attach said second shaft to said bone plate;an opening formed in said head portion for receiving a suture therethrough, said opening extending through a first plane, said first plane extending through said first C-shaped portion, said second C-shaped portion, and the mid-longitudinal axis, said opening including a first portion defined in part by said first C-shaped portion and a second portion defined in part by said second C-shaped portion, sides of said first and second portions in said first plane each being arcuate; anda perimeter of said head portion, said perimeter being in said first plane, said perimeter having a first arcuate side in said first plane corresponding to said first arcuate portion, and a second arcuate side in said second plane corresponding to said second arcuate portion. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein said at least one suture attachment clip further comprises a convex side of said opening in said first plane, and a concave side of said perimeter in said first plane, said convex side of said opening and said concave side of said perimeter corresponding to said first connecting portion. 16. The system of claim 14, wherein said at least one suture attachment clip includes a leading end, and an opposite trailing end, said first and second shafts extending from proximate said first and second C-shaped portions toward said leading end. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein said at least one suture attachment clip includes a maximum length parallel the mid-longitudinal axis, and a maximum width perpendicular to said maximum length, said maximum width of said at least one suture attachment clip being the maximum dimension of said head portion. 18. The system of claim 14, wherein said at least one, suture attachment clip includes a maximum length parallel the mid-longitudinal axis, and a maximum width perpendicular to the maximum length, the maximum width of said at least one suture attachment clip being the maximum dimension of said head portion. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein said first C-shaped portion and said second C-shaped portion are symmetrical to one another about a second plane perpendicular to said first plane, said second plane extending through the mid-longitudinal axis. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the maximum distance between said first and second shafts in a third plane perpendicular to said first and second planes is less than the maximum dimension of said head portion.