Knotless anchor assembly and methods thereof

Abstract

A knotless anchor assembly method and device comprising an anchor and a compression member, wherein the anchor further comprises a pilot tip and anchor body. During procedures to tension the knotless anchor assembly, the anchor is driven into bone or other surface or component, and the tension member is urged into the anchor body recess. The compression member is secured in the anchor body to lock the tension member in place. The knotless anchor assembly gives the surgeon or user the ability to optimize tensioning by having the ability to change tension in the tension member by adjusting the compression member during or after the repair.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A knotless anchor assembly comprising:
 a compression member defining a longitudinal axis and further comprising a cylindrical body including a leading end having a smooth outer surface a trailing end comprising a first engagement element;   an anchor defining a longitudinal axis and further comprising a cylindrical anchor body having a first end, a second end, a threaded outer surface, and a transverse recess extending distally from the proximal end and laterally through the anchor body to form a U-shaped recess at the proximal end of the anchor body, the transverse recess having a bottom surface and a pair of opposing concave side surfaces including a second engagement element and defining an interior recess cavity, the interior recess cavity being sized and configured to receive the compression member therein; and   wherein the compression member is configured to translate distally within the interior recess cavity to secure a tensioning member associated with the anchor by pinching the tensioning member between the distal portion of the compression member and the bottom surface of the transverse recess.   
     
     
         2 . The knotless anchor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second engagement element is configured to engage the first engagement element of the compression member. 
     
     
         3 . The knotless anchor assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second engagement elements comprise threads. 
     
     
         4 . The knotless anchor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the compression member in a first direction causes the compression member to advance distally within the interior recess cavity to lock the tensioning member to the anchor in a tensioned state. 
     
     
         5 . The knotless anchor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the compression member in a second direction different from the first direction causes the compression member to retreat proximally within the interior recess cavity to unlock the tensioning member, thereby allowing re-tensioning of the tensioning member. 
     
     
         6 . The knotless anchor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the trailing end of the compression member comprises a proximal portion of the cylindrical body. 
     
     
         7 . The knotless anchor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the smooth outer surface of the leading end of the compression member comprises the leading surface of the compression member and a distal portion of the cylindrical body adjacent to the leading surface. 
     
     
         8 . The knotless anchor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor body further comprises a central channel extending between the bottom surface of the transverse recess and the distal end of the anchor body. 
     
     
         9 . The knotless anchor assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the central channel includes a proximal opening formed within the bottom surface of the transverse recess. 
     
     
         10 . The knotless anchor assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a pilot tip at the distal end of the anchor body. 
     
     
         11 . The knotless anchor assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the pilot tip has a pointed distal end positioned distally of the central channel and a post extending proximally into the central channel. 
     
     
         12 . The knotless anchor assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the pilot tip has a transverse opening extending through the post configured to receive the tensioning member associated with the anchor therethrough. 
     
     
         13 . The knotless anchor assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the post has a pair of opposing longitudinal recesses extending between a proximal end of the post and the transverse opening. 
     
     
         14 . The knotless anchor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the transverse recess extends to only one side of the anchor. 
     
     
         15 . The knotless anchor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor body includes at least one cutaway portion at the proximal end, the cutaway portion formed parallel to the longitudinal axis and transverse to the transverse recess. 
     
     
         16 . The knotless anchor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cutaway portion is configured to engage with a distal end of an insertion tool. 
     
     
         17 . A method of securing tissue to tissue, bone, or other member, comprising:
 implanting a knotless anchor assembly into bone, the knotless anchor assembly comprising an anchor defining a longitudinal axis and further comprising a cylindrical anchor body and a compression member, the compression member defining a longitudinal axis and further comprising a cylindrical body including a leading end having a smooth outer surface a trailing end comprising a first engagement element, the anchor body having a first end, a second end, a threaded outer surface, and a transverse recess extending distally from the proximal end and laterally through the anchor body to form a U-shaped recess at the proximal end of the anchor body, the transverse recess having a bottom surface and a pair of opposing concave side surfaces including a second engagement element and defining an interior recess cavity, the interior recess cavity being sized and configured to receive the compression member therein;   urging a portion of a tensioning member having one or more ends secured to soft tissue into the transverse recess;   tensioning the tensioning member to a desired tension level; and   rotating the compression member in a first direction to advance the compression member distally within the interior recess cavity such that the distal portion of the compression member pinches the tensioning member between the distal portion of the compression member and the bottom surface of the transverse recess to lock the tensioning member to the anchor at the desired tension level.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising the further steps of:
 rotating the compression member in a second direction different from the first direction to release tension in the tensioning member by retreating the compression member proximally to disengage the distal portion of the compression member from the tensioning member;   tensioning the tensioning member to a second desired tension level; and   rotating the compression member in the first direction to advance the compression member distally within the interior recess cavity such that the distal portion of the compression member pinches the tensioning member between the distal portion of the compression member and the bottom surface of the transverse recess to lock the tensioning member to the anchor at the second desired tension level.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the second engagement element is configured to engage the first engagement element of the compression member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second engagement elements comprise threads.