Knotless suture anchor assembly

Abstract

A one-piece or two-piece knotless suture anchor assembly for the attachment or reattachment or repair of tissue to a bone mass. The assembly allows for an endoscopic or open surgical procedure to take place without the requirement of tying a knot for reattachment of tissue to bone mass. In one embodiment, a spike member is inserted through tissue and then inserted into a dowel-like hollow anchoring sleeve which has been inserted into a bone mass. The spike member is securely fastened or attached to the anchoring sleeve with a ratcheting mechanism thereby pulling or adhering (attaching) the tissue to the bone mass.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A knotless suture anchor assembly for attachment of tissue to bone, said assembly comprising: 
       a) a spike member having a first end and a second end;  
       b) at least one suture element having a first end and a second end wherein said first end of said at least one suture element is connected to said second end of said spike member;  
       c) a stop means connected to said second end of said suture element; and  
       d) a hollow anchoring sleeve for installation and attachment to a bone mass for receiving and having a length sufficient to completely encircle said first end and said second end of said spike member.  
     
     
       2. A knotless suture anchor assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said spike member has an exterior surface which is smooth, ribbed, threaded, or expandable for secure engagement of said spike member with said hollow anchoring sleeve. 
     
     
       3. A knotless suture anchor assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said hollow anchoring sleeve has an exterior surface which is ribbed, threaded, for secure engagement of said sleeve with said bone mass. 
     
     
       4. A knotless suture anchor assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said hollow anchoring sleeve has an interior surface which is ribbed, threaded, or smooth for secure engagement of said spike member. 
     
     
       5. A knotless suture anchor assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said stop means is disc-shaped, rod-shaped, ring-shaped, x-shaped, or horseshoe-shaped. 
     
     
       6. A knotless suture anchor assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said hollow anchoring sleeve has a first end and a second end and a collar attached to said first end for secure engagement of said hollow anchoring sleeve with said bone mass. 
     
     
       7. A method for the attachment of tissue to a bone mass utilizing said assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising the steps of: 
       a) installing said hollow anchoring sleeve in said bone mass; and  
       b) inserting said spike member through said tissue and then into said hollow anchoring sleeve.  
     
     
       8. A method for the attachment of tissue to bone utilizing the method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising the step of: 
       c) ratcheting down said spike member into said hollow anchoring sleeve to a desired depth for secure attachment of said tissue to said bone mass.  
     
     
       9. A method for the attachment of tissue to a bone mass utilizing said assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising the steps of: 
       a) installing said hollow anchoring sleeve in said bone mass;  
       b) inserting said stop means through an underside of said tissue mass; and  
       c) inserting said spike member into said hollow anchoring sleeve.  
     
     
       10. A method for the attachment of tissue to bone utilizing the method as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising the step of: 
       d) ratcheting down said spike member into said hollow anchoring sleeve to a desired depth for secure attachment of said tissue to said bone mass.  
     
     
       11. A method for the attachment of tissue to a bone mass utilizing said assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising the steps: 
       a) inserting said stop means through an underside of said tissue mass; and  
       b) inserting said spike member through said tissue and then into said hollow anchoring sleeve and then inserting the sleeve with the anchor therein into said bone mass.  
     
     
       12. A knotless suture anchor assembly for attachment of tissue to bone, said assembly comprising: 
       a) a spike member having a first end and a second end;  
       b) at least one suture element having a first end and a second end wherein said first end of said suture element is connected to said second end of said spike member;  
       c) a stop mean having a surface for securing said tissue and being permanently attached to said second end of said suture element; and  
       d) an anchor means connected to said first end of said spike member for installation and attachment of said spike member to said bone mass.  
     
     
       13. A knotless suture anchor assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said stop means is disc-shaped, rod-shaped, ring-shaped, X-shaped, or horseshoe-shaped. 
     
     
       14. A method for the attachment of tissue to a bone mass utilizing said assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , comprising the steps of: 
       a) inserting said spike member through said tissue and then into said bone mass.  
     
     
       15. A knotless suture anchor assembly for attachment of tissue to bone, said assembly comprising: 
         a )  a spike member for insertion into the bone having a first end and a second end;    
         b )  at least one suture element having a first end, a second end, and a length connecting the ends, and    
         c )  a stop means, wherein the at least one suture element has the first end and the second end of the at least one suture element permanently attached to the stop means and wherein the length of the at least one suture element is attached to the spike member.   
     
     
       16. The knotless suture anchor assembly, as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the ends of the at least one suture element is attached to the stop means in a fixed manner. 
     
     
       17. The knotless suture anchor assembly, as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the spike member is a screw, prong or wedge configuration. 
     
     
       18. The knotless suture anchor assembly, as claim in  claim 15 , wherein the stop means is disc- shaped, ring - shaped, X - shaped, rod - shaped or horseshoe - shaped.   
     
     
       19. The knotless suture anchor assembly, as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the spike member is a screw and wherein the stop means is ring- shaped or disc - shaped, and wherein one suture element is used having a first and second end attached to the stop means in a fixed fashion and a length connecting the first and second end attached to the screw.   
     
     
       20. A method for the attachment of tissue to a bone mass utilizing the assembly as claimed in  claim 15 , comprising the steps of: 
         a )  inserting the spike member through the tissue; and then inserting the spike member into the bone mass which draws the tissue toward the bone mass, to effectuate a repair.