BoneBiter™

The BoneBiter™ Suture Anchor System was designed and tested specifically for veterinary use. The BoneBiter™ is the original suture anchor introduced into veterinary medicine in 1996, revolutionize the repair techniques for ruptured or torn ligaments or tendons. The BoneBiter Suture Anchor has many possible applications for treating joint instability and for ligament/tendon repair.

What is the BoneBiter?
The BoneBiter Suture Anchor System is a suture anchor that is impacted through the cortical wall with as easy to use delivery system. The use of a pre-drilled hole facilitates accurate placement and guides anchor insertion. As in all cases of fixing suture to bone, adequate bone quality or strength is required.

The BoneBiter suture anchor system provides a versatile way for veterinary surgeons to utilize suture in the repair of joint instability. This unique method for quickly and easily anchoring sutures onto bone utilizes a patented system developed for veterinary orthopedics. By drawing upon previous product development experience, Androcles, Inc. was able to develop a suture anchor system with the needs of the veterinary surgeon in mind. The BoneBiter is small, easy to install, and able to resist forces equivalent to the breaking strength of a #2 & #5 braided suture.

The surgical methods for the repair or re-attachment of ligaments and tendons require one common feature:

Suture must be securely fixed to bone!

Bone Tunnels require a large exposure for the drilling of bone and the passing of suture through a tunnel which needs access to both tunnel ends. Unfortunately, it limits where the suture can be placed and can be difficult to perform.

A Screw and Washer requires a large exposure to allow for the drilling and tapping of bone to secure the suture and for the insertion of the washer. Unfortunately, it also limits where suture can be placed and leaves material on top of the bone that may cause tissue irritation.

The BoneBiter™ Suture Anchor requires a hammer, driver, and drill! Fortunately, it only needs a minimal size incision, can be quickly and easily placed in many areas previous methods would not allow, and leaves only suture on top of bone.

3 Step Insertion

What is a Suture Anchor?
A Suture anchor, also referred to as a tissue anchor, is a device that mechanically locks into bone. The anchor acts as an attachment site for sutures to repair tendon, ligament, and joint capsule ruptures or avulsions. Commonly using hard cancellous or cortical bone for anchorage, the subcortical placement of the anchor minimizes irritation to adjacent soft tissues. A variety of repair techniques in human orthopedics have been developed using suture anchors since 1991.

How is it used in small animals?
Clinical use of tissue anchors in small animals was first reported in 1993. The device used by the authors had a reported pullout force of 55.4N and produced favorable clinical results in all cases. With recorded pull out forces up to 6 times greater, the BoneBiter has been effectively used in treating small animal joint instability since 1996. Used in a variety of repair methods, the two most commonly reported techniques have been extracapsular suture stabilization of canine coxofemoral luxations and cruciate ligament ruptures. Additionally, the BoneBiter has been successfully used in canine and feline patients for tendon repair, collateral ligament repair, and dislocations of the elbow, hock, shoulder, stifle, tarsus, and carpus.

We invite you to contact us directly if you would like to discuss specific applications, indications for use, or if clarification of any issue.  For further questions email:  info@innovativeanimal.com

U.S. Patent #5,980,558 issued 11/9/99