Orthopedic fixation fasteners

Abstract

The present invention provides an orthopedic fastening fastener that securely fastens a suture to a wound tissue without the need to tie knots. The present invention provides an orthopedic fastening fastener for fastening a suture, comprising: a fastening fastener body having a central portion and first and second fastening portions connected to opposite sides of the central portion, the first and second fastening portions including first and second suture holes through which the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, allow a suture to pass through; and a fastener including a fastening structure that is detachably connected to the fastening fastener body, the fastener being used to compress and fix the suture between the fastener and the fastening fastener body when the fastener is connected to the fastening fastener body, without the need for additional knotting.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to an orthopedic fixation fastener for fixing a suture, and particularly to an orthopedic fixation fastener that firmly fixes a suture to affected tissue without the need to tie a knot.

Background Art

[0002] Orthopedic fixation fasteners are often used to support or fix bone fragments and torn tendons and to promote the stability of the healing of bone and surrounding soft tissues. When using an orthopedic fixation fastener, in many cases, it is necessary to pull the suture to tie a knot in order to provide a force to compress the tissue and prevent slippage and displacement of the suture. However, the effect of an orthopedic fixation fastener is easily affected by the quality of the knot, and thus affects the prognosis of the surgery.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] In view of the above, in order to solve the problems of existing orthopedic fixation fasteners, the present disclosure provides an orthopedic fixation fastener that firmly fixes a suture to affected tissue without the need to tie a knot.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] This disclosure provides an orthopedic fastener for securing sutures, the fastener comprising: a fastener body having a central portion, a first fastening portion and a second fastening portion, the first and second fastening portions being connected to opposite sides of the central portion, the central portion, the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion each having a first suture hole and a second suture hole that penetrate the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, so that the central portion, the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion define an upper and lower surface as a whole and allow a corresponding suture to pass through; and a fastener comprising a fastening structure, which is detachably connected to the fastener body by the fastening structure, and when the fastener is connected to the fastener body, at least one suture is compressed and fixed between the fastener and the fastener body.

[0005] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the fastening structure may include a first hook structure that is curved at a first angle in the direction of the fastening fastener body so that it can be detachably hook-engaged and secured to the engaging structure in the central portion.

[0006] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the engagement structure may be one side of the central portion where the first and second fixing portions are not connected.

[0007] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the engagement structure may be a recessed structure in the fastening fastener body.

[0008] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the fastening structure may consist of a first hook structure curved at a first angle toward the fastening fastener body and a second hook structure curved at a second angle, such that the first angle may be greater than the second angle, so that the fastening structure can be detachably hook-engaged and fixed to a pair of engaging structures in the central part.

[0009] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a pair of engagement structures may be two opposing sides of a central portion, where the first and second fixing portions are not connected.

[0010] In some embodiments of this disclosure, a set of engagement structures may be a recessed structure in the central portion, on one side where the first and second fixing portions are not connected, and in the fastening fastener body.

[0011] In some embodiments of this disclosure, when a fastener is connected to a fastening fastener body, a accommodating space having a width less than or equal to the diameter of the suture can be formed between the fastener and the fastening fastener body.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the fastening structure may include a plurality of insertion bar structures, the fastening fastener body may further include a plurality of corresponding hole structures, and the plurality of insertion bar structures may be detachably engaged with the plurality of hole structures.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the number of hole structures may be greater than or equal to the number of insertion bar structures, and the position of the fastener on the fastening fastener body can be determined by the number of hole structures that engage with the number of insertion bar structures.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the fixation device may further include a third suture opening through which a suture thread passes.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a portion or all of the central part of the fastening fastener body may be recessed in a direction from the top to the bottom to a depth less than or equal to the diameter of the suture, so as to form a recessed structure.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the fastening structure may include a first hook structure curved at a first angle toward the fastening fastener body so as to be detachably hook-engaged and secured to the engaging structure in the central portion, and the fastener may further include a stopper structure extending toward the fastening fastener body and protruding less than the diameter of the suture, the stopper structure may be provided on one side of the central portion where the first and second fastening portions are not connected when the fastener is coupled to the fastening fastener body.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the fastening structure may include a plurality of insertion bar structures, the fastening fastener body may further include a plurality of correspondingly detachably engaging hole structures, the fastener may further include a stopper structure, the stopper structure may be a projection extending in the direction of the fastening fastener body smaller than the diameter of the suture, and the stopper structure may be provided on one side of the central portion where the first and second fastening portions are not connected when the fastener is coupled to the fastening fastener body.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a portion of the recessed structure may form a directional recess for accommodating sutures.

[0019] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the orthopedic fastening fastener may further include a detachable structure provided on the side edge to which the fastening fastener body is connected to the fastener, or on the side edge to which the fastener is connected to the fastening fastener body.

[0020] The orthopedic fastening fastener of this disclosure comprises a fastening fastener body that allows a suture to pass through and compresses the tissue, and a fixation device that is detachably connected to the fastening fastener body. By compressing and fixing the suture between the two, the need for additional knots to prevent slippage is eliminated. The orthopedic fastening fastener of this disclosure has a substantially flat shape, which allows the pressure to be evenly distributed over a larger surface area, thereby reducing tissue hyperplasia and irregular remodeling caused by uneven pressure. Furthermore, since the fixation device is detachably connected to the fastening fastener body, it is possible to remove and adjust the fastening fastener body and fixation device even after they have been assembled when fixing a suture using the orthopedic fastening fastener of this disclosure.

[0021] This disclosure will be better understood by reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the attached drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0022] [Figure 1]The top view of the orthopedic fixing fastener according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] The exploded perspective view of the orthopedic fixing fastener according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] The top view of the fixing fastener body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] The side view of the fixing fastener body along the line A-A shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] The top view of the fixture according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] The side view of the fixture along the line B-B shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] The top view of the orthopedic fixing fastener according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8A] The exploded perspective view of the orthopedic fixing fastener according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8B] The partial side view of the orthopedic fixing fastener according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] The perspective view of the fixture according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] The exploded perspective view of the orthopedic fixing fastener according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] The perspective view of the fixture according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] The perspective view of the fixture according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0023] The following description contains certain information relating to exemplary embodiments in this disclosure. The drawings and detailed descriptions thereof in this disclosure are for exemplary embodiments only. However, this disclosure is not limited to these exemplary embodiments. Other variations and embodiments of this disclosure will be conceivable to those skilled in the art. Unless otherwise specified, similar or corresponding elements in the drawings may be indicated by similar or corresponding reference numerals. Also, the drawings and illustrations in this disclosure are not generally to scale and do not necessarily correspond to actual relative dimensions.

[0024] For consistency and ease of understanding, similar features are indicated by reference numerals in the illustrative drawings (although not in some examples). However, features in different embodiments may differ in other respects and should not be narrowly limited to those shown in the drawings.

[0025] Terms such as “at least one embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “different embodiments,” “several embodiments,” and “this embodiment” may indicate that embodiments of the Disclosure described in this manner may include certain features, structures, or characteristics, but not all possible embodiments of the Disclosure must necessarily include those features, structures, or characteristics. Also, when phrases such as “in one embodiment” or “in this embodiment” are used repeatedly, they may, but not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, when phrases such as “embodiment” are used in relation to “the Disclosure,” it should be understood that not all embodiments of the Disclosure must necessarily include certain features, structures, or characteristics, but rather that “at least some embodiments of the Disclosure” include the specific features, structures, or characteristics mentioned.

[0026] The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., used in the specification and drawings of this disclosure are used to distinguish different objects and are not used to describe a specific order. Furthermore, the term “connection” used in the specification and drawings of this disclosure means either a direct or indirect connection via an intermediate element and is not necessarily limited to a physical connection.

[0027] The term “including” and any variation thereof in the specification and drawings of this disclosure is used to mean “including, but not limited to.” This is intended as non-exclusive inclusion and clearly indicates the open-ended inclusion or relationship of the combinations, groups, series and their equivalents mentioned. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device comprising a series of steps or modules may optionally include, but is not limited to, steps or modules not listed, or other steps or modules specific to those processes, methods, products, or devices.

[0028] Furthermore, for explanatory and non-limiting purposes, specific details such as functional entities, technologies, protocols, and standards are included to facilitate understanding of the described technology. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known methods, technologies, systems, and architectures are omitted to avoid obscuring the explanation with unnecessary details.

[0029] This disclosure relates to orthopedic fasteners for fixing sutures in general, and more particularly to orthopedic fasteners that securely fix sutures to affected tissue without the need to make knots. The orthopedic fastener of this disclosure comprises a fastener body through which the suture passes and compresses the tissue, and a fastener detachably connected to the fastener body, thereby compressing and fixing the suture between the two, eliminating the need for additional knots to prevent slippage. The orthopedic fastener of this disclosure has a substantially flat shape, which allows the pressure to be evenly distributed over a larger surface area, thereby reducing tissue hyperplasia and irregular remodeling due to uneven pressure. Furthermore, since the fastener is detachably connected to the fastener body, it is possible to remove and adjust the fastener body and fastener even after they have been combined when fixing sutures using the orthopedic fastener of this disclosure.

[0030] For example, the orthopedic fixation fasteners of this disclosure can be used in tendon repair surgery, but are not limited to this application. More specifically, in tendon repair surgery, in order to suture a ruptured tendon to bone, it is often necessary to use a sutured anchor, insert and fix the anchor into the bone, and then pull the tendon and bone together with the suture. In this case, to prevent the tendon from slipping along the suture, a knot is made to fix it after the suture has been passed through the tendon. The orthopedic fixation fasteners of this disclosure can replace the method of simply making a knot by compressing and fixing the suture of the sutured anchor to the surface of the tendon, providing pressure to stably compress the tendon to the bone and preventing the slippage of the suture from affecting the suturing effect. This not only eliminates the effort of making a knot during use, but also further reduces poor surgical outcomes due to uneven surface pressure and poor quality knots.

[0031] The present disclosure will be described in further detail below, in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments.

[0032] Referring to Figure 1, Figure 1 is a top view of an orthopedic fastening fastener according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring simultaneously to Figure 2, Figure 2 is an exploded view of an orthopedic fastening fastener according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] In some embodiments, the orthopedic fastening fastener of the present disclosure comprises a fastening fastener body 10 through which multiple sutures (L1-L4) pass and compress tissue, and a fastening device 150 detachably connected to the fastening fastener body 10. When the fastening device 150 is connected to the fastening fastener body 10, one or more of the multiple sutures (L1-L4) are compressed and fixed between the fastening device 150 and the fastening fastener body 10. Taking a certain type of tendon repair surgery as an example, as shown in Figure 1, at least sutures L2 and L3 need to be compressed and fixed between the fastening device 150 and the fastening fastener body 10.

[0034] In some embodiments, the fastening fastener body 10 is substantially flat and may have a central portion 110 and first fastening portions 120 and second fastening portions 130, each connected to opposite sides of the central portion 110, with the central portion 110, the first fastening portion 120 and the second fastening portion 130 collectively defining an upper surface 141 and a bottom surface 142. The first fastening portion 120 and the second fastening portion 130 may include first suture holes 121 and second suture holes 131 penetrating the upper surface 141 and bottom surface 142, respectively, to allow a plurality of sutures (L1 to L4) to pass through.

[0035] In some embodiments, the fastener 150 may also be substantially flat and may include a fixing structure so as to be detachably connected to the central portion 110 of the fastener body 10. In some embodiments, the surface formed by the substantially flat fastener 150 is defined as a horizontal plane, and the fixing structure may be a first hook structure 151 that curves in the direction of the fastener body 10 along the edge of the horizontal plane so as to be detachably hook-engaged and fixed to the engaging structure of the central portion 110, and the engaging structure may be, for example, one side of the central portion 100 where the first fixing portion 120 and the second fixing portion 130 are not connected, or a recessed structure in the fastener body 10. In some embodiments, the surface formed by the substantially flat fastener 150 is defined as a horizontal plane, and the fastening structure may be a first hook structure 151 that curves in the direction of the fastening fastener body 10 along the edge of the horizontal plane, and a second hook structure 152 that curves in the direction of the fastening fastener body 10 along the other edge of the horizontal plane, so that it can be detachably hook-engaged and fixed to a pair of engaging structures in the central portion 110. The engaging structure may be, for example, two opposing sides of the central portion 100 where the first fastening portion 120 and the second fastening portion 130 are not connected, one side of the central portion where the first and second fastening portions are not connected, and a recessed structure in the fastening fastener body, or two or more recessed structures in the fastening fastener body.

[0036] In some embodiments, the substantially flat fastener 150 may have a third suture hole 153 penetrating its upper and lower surfaces to allow multiple sutures (L1-L4) to pass through. In some embodiments, the third suture hole 153 may be formed in the center of the substantially flat surface to allow the user to pass the sutures more easily when using the orthopedic fastener of the present disclosure and to improve the problem of prolonged assembly time due to the small size of the overall structure.

[0037] In some embodiments, the surface formed by the substantially flat fastener 150 is defined as a horizontal plane, and a removal recess 154 may be formed on one edge of the horizontal plane to provide space for applying force with a tool when removing the fastener 150 from the fastener body 10, and to provide a positioning function during assembly. More specifically, the removal recess 154 may be provided on the edge of the horizontal plane adjacent to the first fastening portion 120 or the second fastening portion 130.

[0038] Referring simultaneously to Figures 3 and 4, Figures 3 and 4 are a top view and a side view along line AA of a fastening body according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, respectively. In some embodiments, the fastening body 10 may be substantially flat, and the plane formed by the central portion 110 may be defined as a horizontal plane. Viewed from the side, the first fastening portion 120 may form a plane slightly inclined clockwise along the horizontal plane, and the second fastening portion 130 may form another plane slightly inclined counterclockwise along the horizontal plane. In this case, the top surface 141 forms an arcuate surface to conform to the geometric shape of hard tissue, and the bottom surface 142 has a structure consisting of inclined surfaces on both sides opposite the central horizontal plane, and can conform to the geometric shape of soft tissue. The inclination angles of the planes formed by the first fastening portion 120 and the second fastening portion 130 may be adjusted according to different application scenarios.

[0039] In some embodiments, the central portion 110 of the fastening fastener body 10 may have the maximum thickness to increase overall rigidity and prevent breakage. In some embodiments, the central portion 110 of the fastening fastener body 10 may form a recessed structure 111 that is slightly recessed from the top surface 142 to the bottom surface 143 to accommodate one or more of the sutures (L1 to L4), and the recessed structure 111 may be at least partially covered by the fastener 150 to secure the sutures that are housed between the fastening fastener body 10 and the fastener 150. In some embodiments, the recess depth of the recessed structure 111 may be equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the sutures (L1 to L4), for example, 0.24 to 3.6 mm (preferably 0.3 mm), to form a housing space for accommodating one or more of the sutures (L1 to L4) and to increase the compressive force that the fastener 150 applies to the sutures housed in the recessed structure 111. In some embodiments, the central portion 110 of the fastening fastener body 10 does not need to have a recessed structure 111 that is slightly concave from the upper surface 142 to the bottom surface 143.

[0040] Referring simultaneously to Figures 5 and 6, Figures 5 and 6 are a top view and a side view along line BB of a fastener according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, respectively. In some embodiments, the fastener body 10 may be substantially flat, and the fastener 150 may also be substantially flat, and depending on the structure of the side surface of the fastener body 10, a first hook structure 151 and a second hook structure 152 may be formed that can be hooked and fixed to opposing sides. For example, if the side surface of the fastener body 10 has a rectangular structure, the first hook structure 151 and the second hook structure 152 may extend a certain length along two opposing edges of the horizontal plane of the fastener 150 in the direction of the fastener body 10, and then curve at a first angle θ1 and a second angle θ2, respectively, to form a rectangular frame-like structure that can be hooked onto the rectangular structure.

[0041] In some preferred embodiments, the first angle θ1 is greater than the second angle θ2, so that if the suture needs to be readjusted when using the orthopedic fastening fastener of this disclosure, the first hook structure 151 can be pried open with less force and the fastener 150 can be easily removed. In some preferred embodiments, the second angle θ2 may be about 90° so that the second hook structure 152 can stably hook-engage with the side of the fastening fastener body 10, and the first angle θ1 may be slightly greater than the second angle θ2, for example, 95° or 100°, so that the fastener 150 can be easily removed when the user needs to adjust the suture and a sufficient hook-engagement fastening action is provided.

[0042] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 2 or Figure 4, if a recessed structure 111 is formed in the central portion 110 of the fastening fastener body 10, the length extending in the direction of the fastening fastener body 10 along two opposing edges of the horizontal plane of the fastener 150 can be equal to the length of the side surface of the fastening fastener body 10, so as to ensure that sufficient compressive force is applied to the sutures in which the fastener 150 is housed. Alternatively, the recess depth of the recessed structure 111 can be adjusted so that the difference between the extending length and the length of the side surface of the fastening fastener body 10 plus the recess depth is equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the multiple sutures (L1 to L4).

[0043] Alternatively, in some embodiments, the central portion 110 of the fastening fastener body 10 does not form a recessed structure 111, and a receiving space for accommodating one or more of the multiple sutures (L1-L4) can be formed in other ways. For example, if the central portion 110 of the fastening fastener body 10 does not have a recessed structure 111, the length extending in the direction of the fastening fastener body 10 along two opposing edges of the horizontal plane of the fastener 150 can be slightly greater than the length of the side surface of the fastening fastener body 10. That is, when both the first hook structure 151 and the second hook structure 152 hook-engage with the side surface of the fastening fastener body 10, a receiving space for accommodating one or more of the multiple sutures (L1-L4) can be formed between the fastener 15 and the fastening fastener body 10, and preferably, the difference between the extending length and the length of the side surface of the fastening fastener body 10 can be equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the multiple sutures (L1-L4) in order to increase the compressive force that the fastener 150 applies to the sutures that are accommodated.

[0044] Referring to Figures 1 to 6, a method for fixing sutures using the orthopedic fixation fastener of this disclosure will be described using a tendon repair surgery requiring the use of two suture anchors as an example. A total of four sutures (L1-L4) pass through the tendon to be sutured, with sutures L1 and L2 located on the first side adjacent to the first suture hole 121, and sutures L3 and L4 located on the second side adjacent to the second suture hole 131. The user must first take out the fixation fastener body 10 and pass sutures L1 and L2 through the first suture hole 121 and sutures L3 and L4 through the second suture hole 131. Next, the fixation fastener body 10 is firmly pressed against the tendon tissue to evenly distribute the pressure over a larger surface area and reduce tissue hyperplasia and irregular remodeling due to uneven pressure. Next, the second hook structure 152 of the fastener 150 is firmly hooked onto one side of the fastening fastener body 10. Sutures L2 and L3 are pulled towards the center 110 of the fastening fastener body 10 and passed through the third suture hole 153. Then, the four sutures (L1 to L4) are pulled to adjust their position, and the first hook structure 151 of the fastener 150 is pushed down to firmly hook onto the other side of the fastening fastener body 10. This eliminates the need to tie knots and allows the sutures to be compressed and securely fixed. Furthermore, due to the structural design of the first hook structure 151 and the second hook structure 152, if adjustments are needed even after assembling the orthopedic fastening fastener, the fastening fastener body 10 and the fastener 150 can be easily separated by simply prying open the removal recess 154 with a tool, greatly improving the convenience of use.

[0045] Referring to Figure 7, which is a top view of an orthopedic fastening fastener according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the fastening fastener body 20 in the orthopedic fastening fastener of the present disclosure is substantially flat and may have a central portion 210 and first fastening portions 220 and second fastening portions 230 connected to opposite sides of the central portion 210, respectively. The first fastening portions 220 and second fastening portions 230 may include first suture holes 221 and second suture holes 231 penetrating the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, to allow a plurality of sutures to pass through.

[0046] In this embodiment, the fastening fastener body 20 has essentially the same structure as the fastening fastener body 10 described above and can be used in combination with the fastener 150. The only difference is that the central portion 210 further has an elongated recess 211, for example an elliptical recess, for the first hook structure 151 of the fastener 150 to hook securely, and the long side of the elongated recess 211 can be smaller than or approximately equal to the width of the central portion 210 to provide a function for aligning the engagement position. The elongated recess 211 may or may not penetrate the top and bottom surfaces. In some preferred embodiments, the elongated recess 211 may be located close to the edge of the central portion 210 to increase the space for accommodating suture thread between the fastening fastener body 20 and the fastener 150. In some embodiments, the elongated recess may be located on one or both sides of the central portion 210 where the first and second fastening portions are connected or not connected.

[0047] Referring to Figure 8A, which is an exploded view of an orthopedic fastening fastener according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the fastening fastener body 30 in the orthopedic fastening fastener of the present disclosure is substantially flat and may have a central portion 310 and first fastening portions 320 and second fastening portions 330 connected to opposite sides of the central portion 310, respectively. To allow a plurality of sutures to pass through, the first fastening portions 320 and second fastening portions 330 may include first suture holes 321 and second suture holes 331 penetrating the top and bottom surfaces, respectively.

[0048] In some embodiments, the fastener 160 may also be substantially flat and include a fastening structure so as to be detachably connected to the central portion 310 of the fastening fastener body 30. In some embodiments, the fastening structure may consist of a plurality of insertion bar structures (162a to 162c), and the fastening fastener body 30 may further include a plurality of correspondingly detachably engaging hole structures (311a to 311c). The number and placement of the plurality of insertion bar structures (162a to 162c) are not limited and can be adjusted according to different application scenarios. In some embodiments, the number of hole structures may be greater than or equal to the number of insertion bar structures. In some preferred embodiments, the number of hole structures may be greater than the number of insertion bar structures, and the plurality of insertion bar structures may engage with arbitrarily different hole structures, thereby determining the position of the fastener on the fastening fastener body.

[0049] In this embodiment, the fastening fastener body 30 has substantially the same structure as the fastening fastener body 10 described above. The only difference is that the central portion 310 has multiple hole structures (311a to 311c), and after engaging with multiple insertion bar structures (162a to 162c) provided on the fastener 160, the fastener 160 is connected to the fastening fastener body 30, and one or more of the multiple sutures can be compressed and fixed between the fastener 160 and the fastening fastener body 30.

[0050] In some embodiments, the surfaces of the multiple insertion bar structures (162a to 162c) may have reinforcing structures to stabilize the connection strength between the fastener 160 and the fastening fastener body 30 while loosely engaged with the multiple hole structures (311a to 311c), for example, annular projections may be present on the end surfaces of the insertion bar structures. In some embodiments, the reinforcing structures or other strengthening structures on the surfaces of the multiple insertion bar structures (162a to 162c) can stabilize the connection strength between the fastener 160 and the fastening fastener body 30 while fully engaged with the multiple hole structures (311a to 311c), for example, annular projections may be present on the end surfaces of the insertion bar structures.

[0051] In some embodiments, the central portion 310 of the fastening fastener body 30 may form a recessed structure as described above to accommodate one or more of a plurality of sutures. The recessed structure may be at least partially covered by the fastener 160 to secure the sutures contained between the fastening fastener body 30 and the fastener 160. In some embodiments, the recessed structure may be a directional recess 312, with both ends connected to a first suture hole 321 and a second suture hole 331, respectively, and another elongated directional recess 313 may be connected approximately in the center of the directional recess 312, with the other end of the elongated directional recess 313 connected to one edge of the central portion 310. This guides the paths of the plurality of sutures in the central portion 310 and provides a positioning function.

[0052] In some embodiments, the surface formed by the substantially flat fastener 160 can be defined as a horizontal plane, and a stopper structure 161 can be formed along the edge of the horizontal plane in the direction of the fastener body 30, relative to the elongated directional recess 313, to compress the sutures housed in the elongated directional recess 313, thereby increasing the compressive force that the fastener 160 applies to the sutures housed in the recessed structure. In some embodiments, to generate more frictional force, one side of the stopper structure 161 that contacts the sutures may be rough or serrated.

[0053] To illustrate this embodiment more clearly, a method for fixing sutures using the orthopedic fastening fastener of this disclosure will be described using a tendon repair surgery that requires the use of two suture anchors as an example. Referring simultaneously to Figure 8B, which is a partial side view of an orthopedic fastening fastener according to another embodiment of this disclosure. A total of four sutures (L1-L4) pass through the tendon to be sutured, with sutures L1 and L2 on the first side and sutures L3 and L4 on the second side. The user must first take out the fastening fastener body 30 and pass sutures L1 and L2 through the first suture hole 321 and sutures L3 and L4 through the second suture hole 331. Next, the fastening fastener body 30 is firmly pressed against the tendon tissue to evenly distribute the pressure over a larger surface area and reduce tissue hyperplasia and irregular remodeling due to uneven pressure. Next, the multiple insertion bar structures (162a~162c) of the fastener 160 are loosely engaged with the multiple hole structures (311a~311c) of the central part 310 of the fastener body 30. The sutures L2 and L3 are pulled towards the central part 310 along the directional recess 312, and then pulled out from the edge of the central part 310 along the elongated directional recess 313, as shown in Figure 8B. The four sutures (L1~L4) are pulled to adjust their position, and the multiple insertion bar structures (162a~162c) are fully engaged with the multiple hole structures (311a~311c). This eliminates the need to tie knots, compresses and securely fixes the sutures, prevents slippage, and greatly improves ease of use.

[0054] Referring to Figure 9, which is a stereoscopic view of a fastener according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the fastener 170 has substantially the same structure as the fastener 160 described above, and in particular the fastening structure may consist of a plurality of insertion bar structures (172a to 172c) and can be used in combination with the fastener body 30. The only difference is that the fastening structure of the fastener 170 may further include a first hook structure 171 that curves toward the fastener body 30 along the edge of a flat surface to increase the strength with which the fastener 170 is connected, by being detachably hook-engaged and fixed to one side of the central portion 310 where the first fastening portion 320 and the second fastening portion 330 are not connected. In some embodiments, the fastener 170 may be used in combination with a fastener body in which no recessed structure is formed in the central portion.

[0055] Referring to Figure 10, which is an exploded view of an orthopedic fastening fastener according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the fastening fastener body 40 in the orthopedic fastening fastener of the present disclosure is substantially flat and may have a central portion 410 and first fastening portions 420 and second fastening portions 430 connected to opposite sides of the central portion 410, respectively. To allow a plurality of sutures to pass through, the first fastening portions 420 and the second fastening portions 430 may include first suture holes 421 and second suture holes 431 penetrating the top and bottom surfaces, respectively.

[0056] In some embodiments, the fastener 180 may also be substantially flat and include a fastening structure so as to be detachably connected to the central portion 410 of the fastening fastener body 40. In some embodiments, the fastening structure may be a plurality of insertion bar structures 181, and the fastening fastener body 40 may further include a plurality of correspondingly detachably engaging hole structures 411.

[0057] In this embodiment, the fastening fastener body 40 has substantially the same structure as the fastening fastener body 30 described above. The only difference is that the recessed structure formed in the central portion 410 of the fastening fastener body 40 may be a first directional recess 413a and a second directional recess 413b that are not connected to the first suture hole 321 and the second suture hole 331, and the first directional recess 413a and the second directional recess 413b may be connected to another elongated directional recess 412, and the other end of the elongated directional recess 412 may be connected to one edge of the central portion 410. This guides the paths of multiple sutures in the central portion 410 and provides a positioning function.

[0058] In some embodiments, the elongated directional recess 412 of the fastener body 40 may have a removal recess 414 formed on the other side of the central portion 410 that is not connected to the edge, in order to provide space for applying force with a tool when removing the fastener 180 from the fastener body 40 and to provide a positioning function during assembly. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the removal recess 414 may be formed on one side of the horizontal edge of the fastener 180, as with the removal recess 154 described above.

[0059] In some embodiments, the surface formed by the substantially flat fastener 180 can be defined as a horizontal plane, and a first recess 183a and a second recess 183b can be formed on the horizontal plane in relation to the first directional recess 413a and the second directional recess 413b, respectively, to guide the paths of the multiple sutures in the central portion 410 and to provide a positioning function, and a stopper structure can be formed having a first directional hole 182a and a second directional hole 182b that extend in relation to the elongated directional recess 412 along the edge of the horizontal plane in the direction of the fastener body 40. The first directional hole 182a and the second directional hole 182b can be considered as a third suture hole as a whole.

[0060] To illustrate this embodiment more clearly, a method for fixing sutures using the orthopedic fixation fastener of this disclosure will be described using a tendon repair surgery that requires the use of two suture anchors as an example. A total of four sutures (L1-L4) pass through the tendon to be sutured, with sutures L1 and L2 located on the first side and sutures L3 and L4 on the second side. The user must first take out the fixation fastener body 40 and pass sutures L1 and L2 through the first suture hole 421 and sutures L3 and L4 through the second suture hole 4331. Next, the fixation fastener body 40 is firmly pressed against the tendon tissue to evenly distribute the pressure over a larger surface area and reduce tissue hyperplasia and irregular remodeling due to uneven pressure. Next, the multiple insertion bar structures 181 of the fastener 180 are loosely engaged with the multiple hole structures 411 of the central part 410 of the fastener body 40, and the sutures L2 and L3 are pulled toward the central part 410 of the fastener body 40. Suture L2 is first passed through the through hole jointly formed by the first directional recess 413a and the first recess 183a, and then through the second directional hole 182b. At the same time, suture L3 is first passed through the through hole jointly formed by the second directional recess 413b and the second recess 183b, and then through the first directional hole 182a. This pulls the sutures L2 and L3 out from the edge of the central part 410 along the elongated directional recess 412, adjusts the position of the four sutures (L1 to L4) by pulling them, and fully engages the multiple insertion bar structures 181 with the multiple hole structures 411. This eliminates the need to tie knots, compresses and securely fastens the suture thread, prevents slippage, and allows for easy separation of the fastening fastener body 40 and the fastener 180 simply by prying open the removal recess 414 with a tool, significantly improving ease of use.

[0061] Referring to Figures 11 and 12, Figures 11 and 12 are stereoscopic views of fasteners according to other embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the fasteners may be substantially elongated and flat, and the fastener 191 shown in Figure 11 may include an insertion bar structure 191a for engaging with a fastener body and a third suture hole (191b, 191c) penetrating the upper and lower surfaces for passing one or more sutures. In some embodiments, the fasteners may be substantially elongated and flat, and the fastener 192 shown in Figure 12 may include an insertion bar structure (192a, 192b) for engaging with a fastener body and a third suture hole 192c penetrating the upper and lower surfaces for passing multiple sutures.

[0062] In the orthopedic fastening fasteners of this disclosure, the fastening fastener body and the fastener itself may be manufactured using a biocompatible material, such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and the fastening fastener body may have a smooth surface. In some embodiments, the length of the fastening fastener body is in the range of 5 to 50 mm, specifically set to, for example, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 mm. In some embodiments, the width of the fastening fastener body is in the range of 3 to 35 mm, specifically set to, for example, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 20, 25, or 30 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness of the central part of the fastening fastener body is in the range of 0.3 to 1.5 mm, specifically set to, for example, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 mm, and the thickness of the first and second fastening parts of the fastening fastener body is in the range of 0.3 to 1.5 mm, specifically set to, for example, about 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, or 0.9 mm. The dimensions of the fastener are adjusted according to the shape design of the embodiment and the dimensions of the fastening fastener body that conform thereto.

[0063] The orthopedic fastening fastener of this disclosure comprises a fastening fastener body that passes a suture through and compresses the tissue, and a fixation device that is detachably connected to the fastening fastener body, thereby compressing and fixing the suture between the two without the need for additional knots, and preventing slippage. The orthopedic fastening fastener of this disclosure may be substantially flat in shape to distribute the pressure evenly over a larger surface area, thereby reducing tissue hyperplasia and irregular remodeling due to uneven pressure. Furthermore, since the fixation device is detachably connected to the fastening fastener body, it can be removed and adjusted even after the fastening fastener body and fixation device have been combined when fixing a suture using the orthopedic fastening fastener of this disclosure.

[0064] Based on the above description, it is clear that various technologies can be used to realize the concepts described herein without departing from the scope of these concepts. Furthermore, although the concepts have been specifically described with reference to particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications can be made to the form and details without departing from the scope of these concepts. Thus, the described embodiments should be considered in all respects to be explanatory and not limiting. It should also be understood that this application is not limited to the particular embodiments described above, and that many rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions are possible without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A fastening fastener body having a central portion, a first fastening portion and a second fastening portion, wherein the first and second fastening portions are connected to opposite sides of the central portion, and the central portion, the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion define an upper surface and a lower surface as a whole, and the first and second fastening portions include a first suture hole and a second suture hole that penetrate the upper surface and the lower surface, respectively, allowing the corresponding suture thread to pass through. A fastener comprising a fastening structure, which is detachably connected to the fastening fastener body by the fastening structure, and which compresses and fixes at least one suture thread between the fastener and the fastening fastener body when the fastener is connected to the fastening fastener body. Orthopedic fastening fasteners used to secure sutures.

2. The fixing structure includes a first hook structure that curves at a first angle in the direction of the fixing fastener body, so that it can be detachably hooked and fixed to the engaging structure in the central part. An orthopedic fastening fastener for fixing sutures as described in claim 1.

3. The fixing structure comprises a first hook structure curved at a first angle in the direction of the fixing fastener body and a second hook structure curved at a second angle, so that each can be detachably hooked and fixed to a pair of engaging structures in the central part. An orthopedic fastening fastener for fixing sutures as described in claim 1.

4. The first angle is greater than the second angle. An orthopedic fastening fastener for fixing sutures as described in claim 3.

5. When the fastener is connected to the fastening fastener body, a storage space having a width less than or equal to the diameter of the suture thread is formed between the fastener and the fastening fastener body. An orthopedic fastening fastener for fixing sutures as described in claim 3.

6. The fixing structure includes a plurality of insertion bar structures, the fixing fastener body further includes a plurality of corresponding hole structures, and the plurality of insertion bar structures are detachably engaged with the plurality of hole structures. An orthopedic fastening fastener for fixing sutures as described in claim 1.

7. The fixing device further includes a third suture hole through which the suture thread passes. An orthopedic fastening fastener for fixing sutures as described in claim 1.

8. To form a recessed structure, a part or all of the central portion of the fastening fastener body is recessed from the top surface to the bottom surface to a depth less than or equal to the diameter of the suture thread. An orthopedic fastening fastener for fixing sutures as described in claim 1.

9. A portion of the recessed structure forms a directional recess for accommodating the suture thread. An orthopedic fastening fastener for fixing sutures as described in claim 8.

10. The fastener further includes a stopper structure which is a projection extending in the direction of the fastening fastener body that is smaller than the diameter of the suture thread, and the stopper structure is provided on one side of the central portion where the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion are not connected when the fastener is coupled to the fastening fastener body. An orthopedic fastening fastener for fixing sutures as described in claim 1.

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