Soft tissue attachment system and clip

Abstract

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.

1 . A suture attachment clip comprising a head suitably shaped to allow the passage of a suture during the attachment of soft tissue to bone; said head further comprising one or more lobes, said lobes enclosing a space for the passage of a suture. 
   
   
       2 . The suture attachment clip of  claim 1  wherein said head further comprises a first and second lobe, wherein an end of said first lobe extends to form a first prong so that said first prong is continuous with said first lobe, said first prong having a first outwardly protruding terminal end, and wherein an end of said second lobe extends to form a second prong so that said second prong is continuous with said second lobe, said a second prong having a second outwardly protruding terminal end. 
   
   
       3 . The suture attachment clip of  claim 2  wherein said clip is capable of attaching to a bone plate by snapping said first prong and said second prong into a corresponding receiving orifice on said bone plate. 
   
   
       4 . The suture attachment clip of  claim 2  wherein said second outwardly protruding terminal end is continuous with a first outwardly protruding terminal end of a second suture attachment clip. 
   
   
       5 . The suture attachment clip of  claim 4  wherein said clip attaches to a bone plate by snapping into a corresponding receiving channel on said bone plate. 
   
   
       6 . The suture attachment clip of  claim 4  further comprising an eyelet for inserting bone screws or fasteners therethrough. 
   
   
       7 . The suture attachment clip of  claim 1  wherein said head further comprises a first and second lobe, wherein said first and second lobes are continuous with a single prong. 
   
   
       8 . The suture attachment clip of  claim 7  wherein said clip is capable of attaching to a bone plate by inserting said single prong into a corresponding receiving orifice on said bone plate. 
   
   
       9 . The suture attachment clip of  claim 7  wherein said single prong is externally threaded. 
   
   
       10 . The suture attachment clip of  claim 1  wherein said head further comprises a first and second lobe, said first lobe being continuous with a first bendable prong and said second lobe being continuous with a second bendable prong. 
   
   
       11 . The suture attachment clip of  claim 10  wherein said first and second bendable prongs are parallel to one another. 
   
   
       12 . The suture attachment clip of  claim 10  wherein said clip is capable of attaching to a bone plate by inserting said first and second bendable prongs through first and second receiving orifices in said bone plate; bending said first and second parallel prongs through first and second exit orifices on said bone plate. 
   
   
       13 . A method for attaching soft tissue to bone using a clip comprising a head suitably shaped to allow the passage of a suture, said head having one or more lobes, said lobes enclosing a space for the passage of a suture; said method comprising the step of passing a suture through said enclosed space during the attachment of soft tissue to bone. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of passing a suture through a first or second lobe on said head, wherein an end of said first lobe extends to form a first prong so that said first prong is continuous with said first lobe, said first prong having a first outwardly protruding terminal end; and wherein an end of said second lobe extends to form a second prong so that said second prong is continuous with said second lobe, said second prong having a second outwardly protruding terminal end. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of snapping said first prong and said second prong into a corresponding receiving orifice on a bone plate. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said second outwardly protruding terminal end is continuous with a first outwardly protruding terminal end of a second said suture attachment clip. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of attaching said clip to a bone plate by snapping said clip into a corresponding receiving channel on said bone plate. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of inserting bone screws or fasteners through an eyelet on said clip. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of passing said suture through a first or second lobe on said head, said first and second lobes being continuous with a single prong. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of attaching said clip to a bone plate by inserting said single prong into a corresponding receiving orifice on said bone plate. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said single prong is externally threaded. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of passing said suture through a first or second lobe on said head, said first lobe being continuous with a first bendable prong and said second lobe being continuous with a second bendable prong. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said first and second bendable prongs are parallel to one another. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising the step of attaching said clip to a bone plate by inserting said first and second bendable prongs through first and second receiving orifices in said bone plate; bending said first and second parallel prongs through first and second exit orifices on said bone plate. 
   
   
       25 . A system for attaching soft tissue to bone comprising,
 a bone plate having one or more orifices on the perimeter of said bone plate;   one or more suture attachment clips, said one or more suture attachment clips comprising compressible prongs that are selectively insertable into and selectively detachable from said one or more orifices of said bone plate;   said one or more suture attachment clips further comprising a head forming an enclosed space for passage of one or more sutures when said one or more suture attachment clips are secured to the perimeter of said bone plate.   
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25 , said one or more suture attachment clips further comprising,
 at least two outwardly protruding lobes, whereby said at least two outwardly protruding lobes are connected by at least one inwardly protruding segment;   said at least two adjacent outwardly protruding lobes and said at least one inwardly protruding segment being integrally connected to form a continuous filament, said filament enclosing a space for the passage of one or more sutures.   
   
   
       27 . A method for attaching soft tissue to bone comprising the steps of,
 providing a bone plate having one or more orifices on the perimeter of said bone plate;   providing one or more suture attachment clips, said one or more suture attachment clips comprising compressible prongs and a head forming an enclosed space for passage of one or more sutures when said one or more suture attachment clips are secured to the perimeter of said bone plate:   compressing said prongs of said one or more suture attachment clips and selectively inserting said one or more suture attachment clips into said one or more orifices on the perimeter of said bone plate;   passing one or more sutures through said head of said one or more suture attachment clips during the attachment of soft tissue to bone.   
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  whereby after the suture has been attached to soft tissue and bone, said method further comprising the step of compressing said prongs of said one or more suture attachment clips and selectively detaching said one or more suture attachment clips from said one or more orifices on the perimeter of said bone plate. 
   
   
       29 . A kit for attaching soft tissue to bone comprising,
 a bone plate having one or more orifices on the perimeter of said bone plate;   one or more suture attachment clips, said one or more suture attachment clips comprising compressible prongs that are selectively insertable into and selectively detachable from said one or more orifices of said bone plate;   said one or more suture attachment clips further comprising a head forming an enclosed space for passage of one or more sutures when said one or more suture attachment clips are secured to the perimeter of said bone plate.   
   
   
       30 . A bone plating system, comprising:
 a bone plate having top, bottom and side walls;   said side wall having a plurality of orifices configured therein;   at least one suture attachment clip configured to be detachably received in selected ones of said sidewall orifices.   
   
   
       31 . The bone plating system of  claim 30 , wherein said at least one suture attachment clip is configured to define an enclosed loop that extends from said side wall when received in the orifice. 
   
   
       32 . The bone plating system of  claim 30 , wherein said suture attachment clip has a generally U-shaped configuration with two distal ends that define an open side of the U-shape, and said distal ends are configured to fit within selected ones of said plurality of orifices. 
   
   
       33 . A bone plate, comprising:
 a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall extending between said top wall and said bottom wall;   at least one suture attachment structure extending from said side wall of the bone plate.   
   
   
       34 . The bone plate of  claim 33 , wherein said suture attachment structure defines a loop for receiving a suture. 
   
   
       35 . The bone plate of  claim 33 , wherein said suture attachment structure extends at an acute angle relative to said top wall. 
   
   
       36 . The bone plate of  claim 33 , wherein said suture attachment structure is substantially rigid and defines a fixed area through which a suture can extend.