Suture-retaining device and anchor

Abstract

A rotator cuff tendon injury is repaired using a flexible fastener and an anchor. The flexible fastener is attached to the rotator cuff tendon and also secured to the anchor. The anchor is attached to or supported by various locations on the humerus other than the humeral head, to provide a robust means for holding the rotator cuff tendon in the desired position against the humeral head.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device used for reattaching a tendon that has detached from a bone, comprising:
 a suture-retaining device having a through-hole suitable for passing multiple sutures therethrough and a clamp that is configured to hold the sutures passed through the through-hole in place; and   an anchor having a shaft that is mechanically coupled to the suture-retaining device and a threaded end configured for engagement with a cortex of the bone.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the anchor has a shaft that is passed through an opening in the suture-retaining device. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the clamp is movable and has a surface that clamps the sutures. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the clamp has a first surface that presses the sutures against a second surface on the suture-retaining device. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the first surface moves with the clamp and the second surface is stationary. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the clamp is a wedge. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the clamp is a screw. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the bone is a humerus bone. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the anchor has a length that is adjustable after insertion of the suture-retaining device and the anchor into an intramedullary cavity of the humerus bone. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the anchor comprises a cannulated screw with internal threads and a secondary screw that is engaged with the internal threads of the cannulated screw, and wherein the suture-retaining device is mechanically coupled to the secondary screw. 
     
     
         11 . A device for supporting sutures, comprising:
 a head portion for engagement with a plurality of sutures, the head portion having a through-hole suitable for passing multiple sutures therethrough and a clamp that is configured to hold the sutures passed through the through-hole in place; and   a body portion having a threaded end that is configured for engagement with a cortex of a bone while the suture-retaining device is positioned in an intramedullary cavity of the bone,   wherein the body portion is mechanically coupled to the head portion.   
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the body portion has a shaft that is passed through an opening in the head portion. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the clamp is movable and has a surface that clamps the sutures. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the clamp has a first surface that presses the sutures against a second surface on the head portion. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the first surface moves with the clamp and the second surface is stationary. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the clamp is a wedge. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the clamp is a screw. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the body portion has a length that is adjustable after insertion of the head portion and the body portion into the intramedullary cavity of the humerus bone. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the body portion comprises a cannulated screw with internal threads and a secondary screw that is engaged with the internal threads of the cannulated screw, and wherein the head portion is mechanically coupled to the secondary screw.