Wedge shaped suture anchor and method of implantation

Abstract

A suture anchor is described which in one form may be easily fabricated from extruded material by angular cuts and bore holes which provide an offset pulling force to the suture. In an alternate and preferred embodiment the suture anchor is injection molded having an annular displaced corner and abutment wall which act to seat the suture anchor firmly within a bore hole. Novel application means are also disclosed which hold the suture anchor on a frangible shaft for insertion and upon completion of the insertion permit fracture of the frangible portion and removal of the instrument. In another form of the invention, the suture anchor comprises a substantially wedge-shaped body having a smaller distal end and a larger proximal end, means thereon for retaining a suture, and means thereon for releasable connection to an inserter shaft; a boundary surface and a plow surface of the body intersecting to form a biting edge at the proximal end of the body; and the boundary surface and an abutment surface of the body intersecting to form a cam surface at the proximal end of the body; and the biting edge being adapted to be in engagement with a first wall portion of a bore in a bone and the cam surface being adapted to be in engagement with a second wall portion of the bore opposed to the first wall portion; wherein tension on the inserter shaft is operable to move the cam portion along the bore second wall portion and rotate the body in the bore such that the biting edge bites into the bore first wall portion to lock the body in the bore.

1 . A bone anchor system comprising: 
 a plurality of suture anchors, each comprising a substantially wedge-shaped body having a smaller distal end and a larger proximal end, means thereon for retaining a suture, and means thereon for releasable connection thereof to an inserter shaft;    an inserter shaft connected to each said anchor by said releasable connection means; and    a suture connected to each of said anchors by said suture retaining means, said sutures each being visually distinguishable from the remainder of said sutures, such that appropriate pairs of strands of said sutures may be visually identified by an operator.    
   
   
       2 . The bone anchor system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said sutures are visually distinguishable by color.  
   
   
       3 . A bone anchor system comprising: 
 a suture anchor comprising a substantially wedge-shaped body having a smaller distal end and a larger proximal end, means thereon for retaining a plurality of sutures, and means thereon for releasable connection thereof to an inserter shaft;    an inserter shaft connected to said anchor by said releasable connection means; and    a plurality of suture strands connected to said anchor by said suture retaining means, said suture strands being visually distinguishable from each other, such that appropriate pairs of strands of said sutures may be visually identified by an operator.    
   
   
       4 . The bone anchor system in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said suture strands are visually distinguishable by color.  
   
   
       5 . A bone anchor system comprising: 
 a bone anchor having means thereon for retaining a suture; and    the suture retained by said bone anchor;    said suture being identifiable by color such that said suture can be distinguished from other sutures of other colors.