Suture anchor

Abstract

An anchor device and system for coupling soft tissue to osseous tissue includes a stopper member that supports a loop of suture material. A fixing member includes features that allow it to be rigidly coupled to surrounding bone and thus hold the stopper member in a cavity within the bone. The loop of suture material, in turn, supports a second suture device, which is coupled to, and thus retains, the soft tissue. In certain embodiments, the fixing member includes a wadding structure having a generally elastic property.

1 . A method of anchoring a suture to a bone comprising:
 forming a cavity in said bone;   inserting an anchor assembly into said cavity, said anchor assembly including a first stopper portion and a second wadding portion;   activating said wadding portion so as to cause said wadding portion to transition from a first un-constricted state to a second constricted state, whereby a first external surface region of said wadding portion is urged outwardly against a corresponding surface region of said cavity and whereby a second surface region of said wadding portion is disposed adjacent a corresponding surface region of said stopper portion so as to configure said stopper portion to remain within said cavity.   
     
     
         2 . A method of anchoring a suture to a bone as defined in  claim 1  wherein said activating said wadding portion comprises applying a tensile force to a suture feature of said wadding portion. 
     
     
         3 . A method of anchoring a suture to a bone as defined in  claim 1  wherein said activating said wadding portion comprises applying a tensile force to a suture feature of said wadding portion so as to draw a first portion of said suture feature coaxially through a second portion of said suture feature. 
     
     
         4 . A method of anchoring a suture to a bone as defined in  claim 1  wherein said constricted state of said wadding portion comprises a knotted configuration of said wadding portion. 
     
     
         5 . A method of anchoring a suture to a bone as defined in  claim 1  comprising tilting said stopper portion so as to configure said stopper portion to remain within said cavity. 
     
     
         6 . A method of anchoring a suture to a bone as defined in  claim 1  wherein said activating said wadding portion comprises applying a compressive force to a substantially flexible elastomeric feature of said wadding portion. 
     
     
         7 . A method of fixing a suture to bone comprising:
 forming a bore in a patient's bone at a target location;   providing a suture anchor assembly, said suture anchor assembly including a body portion and a generally flexible deployment suture portion, said body portion having a proximal end surface region and a distal end surface region, said deployment suture portion being coupled to said body portion, said deployment suture having a portion of a sliding suture disposed therewithin;   providing an insertion tool, said insertion tool including a longitudinal member, said longitudinal member having an insertion tool distal end feature;   removably coupling said insertion tool distal end feature to said proximal end surface region of said body portion;   guiding said body portion into said bore using said insertion tool;   applying tension to said sliding suture to adjust a position of said sliding suture;   applying tension to a proximal region of said deployment suture to constrict a portion of said deployment suture, whereby said deployment suture is reconfigured into a partially compact form adjacent said proximal end surface region of said body portion; and   withdrawing said longitudinal member of said insertion tool.   
     
     
         8 . A method of fixing a suture to bone as defined in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 applying additional tension to said proximal region of said deployment suture so as to reconfigure said deployment suture in a fully compact form.   
     
     
         9 . A method of fixing a suture to bone as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said guiding said body portion into said bore using said insertion tool further comprises:
 providing a helical thread on a surface region of said body portion; and   rotating said insertion tool about a longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member during said guiding said body portion into said bore so as to engage said helical thread with a corresponding internal surface region of said bore.   
     
     
         10 . A method of fixing a suture to bone as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said removably coupling said insertion tool distal end feature to said proximal end surface region of said body portion further comprises:
 providing said insertion tool distal end feature with a geometric aspect;   providing, said proximal end surface region of said body portion with a corresponding geometric aspect; and   orienting said insertion tool to match said insertion tool distal end feature geometric aspect to an orientation of said proximal end surface region geometric aspect.   
     
     
         11 . A method of fixing a suture to bone as defined in  claim 10  wherein said insertion tool distal end feature geometric aspect comprises a hexagonal shape. 
     
     
         12 . A method of fixing a suture to bone as defined in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 inclining said longitudinal member of said insertion tool after guiding said body portion into said bore and prior to said applying tension to said proximal region of said deployment suture, so as to cock said body member within said bore and engage a surface region of said body member with a corresponding internal surface region of said bore.   
     
     
         13 . A method of fixing a suture to bone comprising;
 forming a bore in a patients bone at a target location;   providing a suture anchor assembly, said suture anchor assembly including a body portion and a generally flexible deployment suture portion, said body portion having a proximal end surface region and a distal end surface region, said deployment suture portion being coupled to said body portion, said deployment suture having a portion of a tubular aspect defining an external surface region and an internal surface region, said internal surface region being disposed about a longitudinal internal cavity, said external surface region having a first aperture and a second aperture wherein a portion of said deployment suture is disposed through said first apertures within said longitudinal internal cavity and through said second aperture;   providing an insertion tool, said insertion tool including a longitudinal member, said longitudinal member having an insertion tool distal end feature;   removably coupling said insertion tool distal end feature to said proximal end surface region of said body portion;   guiding said body portion into said bore using said insertion tool;   applying tension to a proximal region of said deployment suture to displace said portion of said deployment suture disposed within said longitudinal internal cavity and thereby constrict a portion of said deployment suture, whereby said deployment suture is reconfigured into a partially compact form adjacent said proximal end surface region of said body portion; and   withdrawing said longitudinal member of said insertion tool.   
     
     
         14 . A method of fixing a suture to bone as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 providing a sliding suture, where a portion of said sliding suture is disposed within said longitudinal internal cavity.   
     
     
         15 . A method of fixing a suture to bone as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 coupling a portion of said sliding suture to a soft tissue region of said patient.   
     
     
         16 . A method of fixing a suture to bone as defined in  claim 13  wherein said deployment suture comprises a braided suture. 
     
     
         17 . A method of fixing a suture to bone as defined in  claim 13  wherein said body portion includes a fluted external surface region. 
     
     
         18 . A method of fixing a suture to bone as defined in  claim 13  wherein said body portion includes a barbed external surface region. 
     
     
         19 . A method of fixing a suture to bone as defined in  claim 13  wherein said applying tension to a proximal region of said deployment suture to displace said portion of said deployment suture disposed within said longitudinal internal cavity and thereby constrict a portion of said deployment suture serves to knot said deployment suture adjacent said proximal end surface region of said body portion. 
     
     
         20 . A method of fixing a suture to bone as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 forming said bore by driving a pointed portion of said distal end surface region into said patient's bone at said target location.