Method and apparatus for attaching connective tissues to bone using a suture anchoring device

Abstract

A bone anchor and methods for using same to secure connective tissue, such as tendons, to bone are disclosed which permit a suture attachment that lies entirely beneath the cortical bone surface. The bone anchor of the invention incorporates a deformable body that creates an increased anchor body diameter after it is inserted into the cancellous bone and deployed beneath the cortical surface of the bone. The increased body diameter, by virtue of its intrinsic geometry, creates both axial and rotational fixation of the bone anchor or suture fixation point.

1 . Apparatus for attaching connective tissue to bone, comprising a body having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, which is adapted to be inserted into a bone, said body having an outer peripheral wall extending substantially completely about said longitudinal axis and defining an inner lumen, said body including a plurality of spaced slits disposed about said outer peripheral wall, each of said slits having a length, wherein a distance x between two adjacent slits at a first location along the length of each of the slits is smaller than a distance y between said two adjacent slits at a second location along the length of each of the slits.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said slits each comprise an end, said first location being proximate to an end of each of the adjacent slits and the second location being in a middle region of each of the adjacent slits.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said slits further comprises an angled surface at an end thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said slits further comprises an angled surface at each end thereof, each of said angled surfaces extending depthwise into a wall forming said body.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a generally cylindrical body, and said peripheral wall comprises an outer circumferential wall.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of spaced slits are generally parallel to said longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of spaced slits each lie at an acute angle relative to said longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said acute angle is between 0 and 45 degrees.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of spaced slits comprises at least six slits.  
     
     
         10 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         11 . Apparatus for attaching connective tissue to bone, comprising a body having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, which is adapted to be inserted into a bone, said body having an outer peripheral wall extending substantially completely about said longitudinal axis and defining an inner lumen, said body including a plurality of spaced slits disposed about said outer peripheral wall, each of said slits having a length and an angled surface at an end thereof, extending depthwise into a wall forming said body.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein each of said slits has an angled surface at each end thereof, extending depthwise into said wall.  
     
     
         13 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said first location is proximate to an end of each of the slits and the second location is in a middle region of each of said adjacent slits.  
     
     
         15 - 20 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A method of fabricating an apparatus for attaching connective tissue to bone, comprising: 
 making a pattern of a bone anchor using a bio-compatible material;    forming a plurality of spaced slits across a width of said pattern, such that an end of each of said slits includes an angled surface extending depthwise into said pattern; and    fabricating said pattern into an anchor body.    
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said forming step further comprises forming an angled surface extending depthwise into said pattern at each end of each of said slits.  
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said forming step further comprises forming said slits such that adjacent ones of said slits are closer together at a first location along a length thereof and farther apart at a second location along said length.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein when said body is placed in compression, regions of said outer wall between adjacent ones of said spaced slits expand radially to extend into adjacent bone.