Knotless filament anchor for soft tissue repair

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for securing tissue to bone, including drilling a bone hole into the bone; passing a filament through the tissue, the filament including a first end, a second end and a length therebetween, the second end having a loop; passing the first end of the filament through the loop of the filament; pulling on the first end of the filament such that the loop travels along the length of the filament and to the tissue; passing an anchor along the length of the filament, from the first end towards the loop and tissue; engaging the loop with a distal end of the anchor; positioning the distal end of the anchor, with the loop of the filament, into the bone hole; and securing the anchor in the bone.

1 . A filament comprising: at least a first tail and a second tail extending from at least one common loop, the first and second tails each having a length between a first end, terminating at the common loop, and a second end. 
     
     
         2 . The filament of  claim 1 , wherein the filament includes at least one indicating marker. 
     
     
         3 . The filament of  claim 2 , wherein the indicating marker is on one of the first tail or second tail. 
     
     
         4 . The filament of  claim 3 , wherein the first tail has a first indicating marker and the second tail has a second indicating marker different from the first indicating marker. 
     
     
         5 . The filament of  claim 2 , wherein the indicating marker is on at least a portion of the common loop. 
     
     
         6 . The filament of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the first tail is different from the length of the second tail. 
     
     
         7 . An implant for securing tissue, comprising an anchor and the filament of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . The implant of  claim 7 , wherein the anchor is positioned along the length of the first tail, the second tail, or both the first and second tails. 
     
     
         9 . The implant of  claim 7 , wherein the anchor is positioned on the common loop. 
     
     
         10 . A method of securing tissue, comprising:
 obtaining a filament including at least a first tail and a second tail extending from at least one common loop, the first and second tails each having a length between a first end, terminating at the common loop, and a second end;   passing at least one of the first or second tails through the tissue at a first position and in a first direction;   passing the first tail, second tail, or both tails, which were passed through the tissue, through the common loop;   tensioning the first tail, second tail, or both tails, which were passed through the tissue and common loop, towards a first anchor positioned in a second tissue; and   securing the first tail, second tail, or both tails, which were passed through the tissue and common loop, to the first anchor, wherein the tensioning and securing steps secure the tissue to the first anchor and second tissue.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of, after the tensioning and securing steps of one of the first or second tails, tensioning the other of the first or second tails, not passed through the tissue or the common loop, and securing the other of the first or second tails to a second anchor positioned in the second tissue at a location different from the position of the first anchor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the passing step positions the common loop on a top side of the tissue and the at least first or second tails through the tissue to an underside of the tissue. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first tissue is a rotator cuff and the second tissue is bone, wherein the first anchor is positioned in the bone at a position lateral to the rotator cuff and the tensioning step includes tensioning the rotator cuff in the lateral direction. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 obtaining a second filament including at least a first tail and a second tail extending from at least one common loop, the first and second tails each having a length between a first end, terminating at the common loop, and a second end;   passing at least one of the first or second tails of the second filament through the tissue at a second position and in the first direction;   passing the first tail, second tail, or both tails of the second filament, which were passed through the tissue at the second position, through the common loop of the second filament;   tensioning the first tail, second tail, or both tails of the second filament, which were passed through the tissue and common loop, towards a second anchor or a third anchor, the third anchor positioned in the second tissue at a location different from the position of the first and second anchors; and   securing the first tail, second tail, or both tails of the second filament, which were passed through the tissue and common loop, to the second or third anchor, wherein the tensioning and securing steps secure the tissue to the second or third anchor and second tissue.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of, after the tensioning and securing steps of one of the first or second tails of the second filament, tensioning the other of the first or second tails of the second filament, not passed through the tissue or the common loop, and securing the other of the first or second tails to the first or second anchor. 
     
     
         16 . A method of securing tissue, comprising:
 obtaining a filament including at least a first tail and a second tail extending from at least one common loop, the first and second tails each having a length between a first end, terminating at the common loop, and a second end;   passing the first tail, the common loop and a portion of the second tail through the tissue at a first position and in a first direction;   passing another portion of the second tail through the tissue at a second position, spaced from the first position, and in the first direction;   passing the second tail, which was passed through the tissue at the second position, through the common loop;   tensioning the first and second tails towards at least a first anchor positioned in a second tissue; and   securing at least one of the first tail or second tail to the at least first anchor, wherein the tensioning and securing steps tension and secure the tissue to the at least first anchor and second tissue.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first tail is tensioned and secured to the first anchor and the second tail is tensioned and secured to a second anchor positioned in the second tissue at a position spaced from the first anchor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the tissue is a rotator cuff and the second tissue is bone, wherein the at least first anchor is positioned in the bone in a portion lateral to the rotator cuff. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein another anchor is positioned medial to the at least first anchor, such that the another anchor is positioned under the rotator cuff, wherein the second tail passes through an eyelet of the another anchor. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tensioning step positions the common loop over the rotator cuff and the first and second tails form a triangular shape on the rotator cuff.