Suture anchor and methods for implanting same

Abstract

Surgical devices such as implants or suture fastenings are assembled from a plurality of discrete components, one of which components includes a heat bondable plastic material for bonding the components together. At least two components are bonded to each other by the applying heat to the heat bondable plastic material of one component. The heat bondable plastic material is preferably a polymeric or composite material suitable for surgical applications and implantation in humans, and may be a biodegradable material. A laser may be used as the heat source. The present invention is advantageously embodied in heat bonded fastenings for sutures or K-wires, in which a variety of different suture anchors are usable, including expandable distal suture anchors. Other embodiments include a metal bone plate which is held to bone by a metal bone screw and a nut of bondable material bonded to the plate to secure the connection; a piece of bondable material bonded to a metal prosthesis to custom fit the prosthesis; and a surgical implant custom formed by bonding together a plurality of discrete elements one or more of which is bondable.

1 . A method of implanting a suture anchor in tissue comprising: 
 positioning the suture anchor in tissue, a distal portion of the suture anchor having a mandrel connected thereto;    moving the mandrel relative to a proximal portion of the suture anchor to increase the diameter of at least a portion of the suture anchor thereby locking the suture anchor to the tissue; and    removing at least a portion of the mandrel from the suture anchor.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further including the step of holding the proximal portion of the suture anchor in place while moving the mandrel.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the mandrel is moved proximally to increase the diameter of the at least a portion of the suture anchor.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further including the step of creating an opening in the tissue.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the suture anchor is positioned in the opening while the suture anchor has an inactivated diameter.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the mandrel is moved to give the at least a portion of the suture anchor an activated diameter thereby locking the suture anchor in the opening, the activated diameter being greater then the inactivated diameter.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tissue is bone.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  further including the step of holding the proximal portion of the suture anchor in place while moving the mandrel.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the mandrel is moved proximally to increase the diameter of the at least a portion of the suture anchor.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  further including the step of creating an opening in the bone tissue.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the suture anchor is positioned in the opening while the suture anchor has an inactivated diameter.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the mandrel is moved to give the at least a portion of the suture anchor an activated diameter thereby locking the suture anchor in the opening, the activated diameter being greater then the inactivated diameter.