Abstract: A suture anchor is described which in one form may be easily fabricated from extruded material by angular cuts and bore holes which provide an offset pulling force to the suture. In an alternate and preferred embodiment the suture anchor is injection molded having an annular displaced corner and abutment wall which act to seat the suture anchor firmly within a bore hole. Novel application means are also disclosed which hold the suture anchor on a frangible shaft for insertion and upon completion of the insertion permit fracture of the frangible portion and removal of the instrument.

Abstract: A suture anchor is described which in one form may be easily fabricated from extruded material by angular cuts and bore holes which provide an offset pulling force to the suture. In an alternate and preferred embodiment the suture anchor is injection molded having an annular displaced corner and abutment wall which act to seat the suture anchor firmly within a bore hole. Novel application means are also disclosed which hold the suture anchor on a frangible shaft for insertion and upon completion of the insertion permit fracture of the frangible portion and removal of the instrument.

Abstract: A suture anchor is described which in one form may be easily fabricated from extruded material by angular cuts and bore holes which provide an offset pulling force to the suture. In an alternate and preferred embodiment the suture anchor is injection molded having an annular displaced corner and abutment wall which act to seat the suture anchor firmly within a bore hole. Novel application means are also disclosed which hold the suture anchor on a frangible shaft for insertion and upon completion of the insertion permit fracture of the frangible portion and removal of the instrument.

Abstract: A suture anchor is described which in one form may be easily fabricated from extruded material by angular cuts and bore holes which provide an offset pulling force to the suture. In an alternate and preferred embodiment the suture anchor is injection molded having an annular displaced corner and abutment wall which act to seat the suture anchor firmly within a bore hole. Novel application means are also disclosed which hold the suture anchor on a frangible shaft for insertion and upon completion of the insertion permit fracture of the frangible portion and removal of the instrument.

Abstract: A suture anchor is described which in one form may be easily fabricated from extruded material by angular cuts and bore holes which provide an offset pulling force to the suture. In an alternate and preferred embodiment the suture anchor is injection molded having an annular displaced corner and abutment wall which act to seat the suture anchor firmly within a bore hole. Novel application means are also disclosed which hold the suture anchor on a frangible shaft for insertion and upon completion of the insertion permit fracture of the frangible portion and removal of the instrument.

Abstract: A system for anchoring tissue to bone includes an anchor member having an outer, bone engaging wall, a distal end, and a proximal end, a suture receiving slot extending partially into the anchor member, forming an internal passageway ending in a suture seat. The suture seat is integral with the anchor member and is formed within the anchor member.

Abstract: A suture anchor is described which in one form may be easily fabricated from extruded material by angular cuts and bore holes which provide an offset pulling force to the suture. In an alternate and preferred embodiment the suture anchor is injection molded having an annular displaced corner and abutment wall which act to seat the suture anchor firmly within a bore hole. Novel application means are also disclosed which hold the suture anchor on a frangible shaft for insertion and upon completion of the insertion permit fracture of the frangible portion and removal of the instrument.

Abstract: A system for inserting suture anchors includes a suture anchor insertion tool, a suture anchor, a length of suture thread and any needles pre-attached thereto. The suture anchor insertion tool having a handle, an elongate suture anchor inserting member, a suture thread retaining cap provided on the handle, an internal retaining cavity formed integrally with the handle and a cover member that is selectively positionable so as to enclose the internal cavity.

Abstract: An applicator for deploying a fastener into tissue, the fastener including a head portion and a filament portion extending from the head portion, the applicator comprising an elongated hollow needle member having a pointed distal end portion, a slotted portion for releasably retaining the head of the shaped fastener, and a first connector portion; and a chuck comprising a second connector portion engageable with the first connector portion for interconnecting the needle member and the chuck, a push rod having a distal end portion adapted to move lengthwise in the needle member, and an actuator for moving the push rod in the needle member so as to eject the head portion of the fastener from the slotted portion of the needle member. A method for deploying the fastener in tissue is also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel surgical cannula system is disclosed. The system generally comprises a guide rod, a cannula housing, an obturator and a dam assembly. A novel method for deploying the surgical cannula is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for grasping sutures includes an elongate housing and a hollow introducer needle attached to a distal end of the housing. The introducer needle has an open distal end having a sharpened, tissue penetrating edge. A suture grasping element is disposed in the open distal end of the introducer needle and is movable at least between first and second positions corresponding to the retracted and extended positions of the suture grasping element, respectively. The suture grasping element may consist of two jaws, one jaw having a pod located on a distal end thereof and one jaw being movable between opened and closed positions. In the closed position, the pod contacts a distal portion of the other jaw in a manner sufficient to retain a suture between the jaws. In additional embodiments, the suture grasping element may also consist of a substantially diamond-shaped wire loop or two wire-like member.

Abstract: A suture threader comprises a body having first and second ends, a first suture threader extending from the body first end, and a second suture threader extending from the body second end.

Abstract: A structure anchor assembly having a suture anchor, a suture attached to the suture anchor, and an inserter for deploying the suture anchor in bone whereby the suture will extend from, and be anchored to, the bone. The suture anchor has a drill portion, a thread portion and a suture attachment portion. The drill portion is disposed on a distal portion of the anchor and is adapted to penetrate the bone. The thread portion extends proximally from the drill portion along the remainder of the length of the anchor and is adapted to draw the anchor through the bone. A proximal portion terminates in a proximal end surface. The thread portion extends along the proximal portion and terminates adjacent to the proximal end surface.

Abstract: A needle assembly for passing suture within the body includes a rigid needle having a proximal end and a pointed distal end, and an opening in the distal end extending through the needle for retaining a suture therein; a stop element positioned on the needle proximate to, and spaced from, the proximal end of the needle; a sheath having a lengthwise bore therethrough for slidably retaining the needle; and a lock member engageable with the needle stop element to prevent distal movement of the needle in the sheath bore. The needle distal end is movable to an exposed position for passing the assembly through tissue, and is movable to a shielded position within the sheath for passing the assembly safely past the tissue which is not to be penetrated. There is further contemplated a method for passing suture within the body, using the needle assembly.

Abstract: A fastener for binding a layer of mammalian soft tissue to a mammalian bone includes a body portion for disposition in a bore in the bone, the body portion having means thereon for resisting movement of the body portion from the bore. The fastener further includes gripper portions extending from the body portion and extendible through the layer of tissue toward the bone to bind the tissue to the bone. The invention further contemplates a method for making the fastener, a method for binding layers of material together using the fastener, a tool for setting the fastener, and tools and fasteners in combination.

Abstract: A bone anchor inserter for insertion of a bone anchor into a bore in a bone, the inserter comprising a handle having a grip portion, an actuator member mounted on the handle, a sleeve fixed in the handle and extending therefrom, and a shaft fixed at one end to the actuator member and slidably movable in the sleeve. The sleeve is provided with an opening in a side wall thereof proximate, but spaced from, a free end of the sleeve. The opening facilitates loading a bone anchor therethrough and into the sleeve between a free end of the sleeve and a distal end of the shaft. The invention further contemplates a method for loading a bone anchor inserter, a method for holding and delivering a bone anchor, and a method for inserting a bone anchor in a bore in a bone.

Abstract: There is presented a suture anchor comprising a head portion and a connector portion. The head portion includes a pointed free end, a cutting flute extending substantially throughout the length of the head portion, and screw threads extending substantially throughout the length of the head portion. The connector portion extends axially from the head portion for releasable connection to an anchor inserter. The connector portion is provided with structure for attachment of a suture thereto. There is further presented a suture anchor inserter for use in combination with the suture anchor in attachment of the anchor to a bone, and a suture anchor length of suture material. There is still further presented a method for anchoring a length of suture to a bone.

Abstract: A suture threader comprises a body having first and second ends, a first suture threader extending from the body first end, and a second suture threader extending from the body second end.

Abstract: A system for anchoring tissue to bone includes a suture anchor, a first loop of suture thread attached to the suture anchor, a suture needle and a second loop of suture thread which is attached to the suture needle, the first and second suture loops are interlocked with one another. The suture needle can be of a conventional type useful in open surgical procedures, or a type useful in closed surgical procedures that is formed on the end off an elongate tool. A method for anchoring soft tissue to bone using the system is also provided.

Abstract: A suture anchor for anchoring one end of a conventional suture to bone comprising a coupling member, at least one barb made of a resilient elastic material projecting form said coupling member, and means for attaching one end of a suture to said suture anchor. The coupling member and the at least one barb and adapted to securely anchor one end of the suture in bone when the suture is attached to the attachment means so that the other end of the suture extending outside the bone can be used to attach objects to the bone. A novel application tool is also provided.