Fenestrated suture anchor and method for knotless fixation of tissue

Abstract

A fenestrated suture anchor for fixation of tissue to bone. In a preferred embodiment, the suture includes an implant, such a swivel implant with a forked tip for capturing suture. The implant is secured in a hole in bone by advancing a fixation device, such as a cannulated interference screw, to engage and fully seat the implant. The cannulated fixation device is provided with a plurality of openings or fenestrations of various dimensions and geometries to provide multiple pathways through the anchor (i.e., though the interior of the body and through the fenestrations) to allow blood to flow to increase the healing zone, for example, for rotator cuff repair, while also promoting bone in-growth.

1 . A method of tissue fixation, comprising:
 providing a suture;   securing a first portion of the suture to the tissue to be fixated;   providing a bone socket; and   anchoring a second portion of the suture into the bone socket using a cannulated fixation device provided with side fenestrations.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of anchoring the suture into the bone socket comprises capturing the suture with an implant, inserting the implant into the bone socket and inserting the fixation device into the bone socket to engage and fully seat the implant in bone. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the implant is a swivel implant. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cannulated fixation device comprises a ribbed, push-in device. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cannulated fixation device comprises a threaded, screw-in device. 
   
   
       6 . A suture anchor, comprising:
 a cannulated fixation device provided with side fenestrations; and   an implant for capturing a suture.   
   
   
       7 . The suture anchor of  claim 6 , wherein the implant has a forked distal end for capturing the suture. 
   
   
       8 . The suture anchor of  claim 7 , wherein the implant is configured to allowed rotational insertion without causing excessive twisting and knotting of a suture captured in the forked end. 
   
   
       9 . The suture anchor of  claim 6 , wherein the fixation device has a threaded body. 
   
   
       10 . The suture anchor of  claim 6 , wherein the fixation device has a ribbed body. 
   
   
       11 . The suture anchor of  claim 6 , wherein the fixation device is a cannulated interference screw provided with side fenestrations. 
   
   
       12 . A suture anchor comprising a cannulated body, the cannulated body being provided with side fenestrations.