Abstract: An anchor for securing soft tissue within a bone tunnel having an inner wall includes a resilient body member that defines a soft tissue opening and has a first, leading end and a second, trailing end. The anchor also has at least one bone engaging element connected to the body member. The anchor is movable between a first, sliding position wherein the at least one bone engaging element slides along the inner wall of the bone tunnel and the anchor is movable within the bone tunnel, and a second, locking position wherein the at least one bone engaging element engages the inner wall of the bone tunnel to resist movement of the anchor within the bone tunnel. In one embodiment, two opposed bone engaging legs are connected to the body at the second trailing end and extend at an angle away from the longitudinal axis and in a direction from the leading end to the trailing end. A pull tool engaging element provided on the second, trailing end of the body between the two opposed bone engaging legs.

Abstract: A suture anchor for attaching soft tissue to bone. The anchor has a body member and a longitudinal axis. The anchor contains at least two suture mounting passages for mounting suture to the anchor. A first passage is located proximally to the second passage.

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 members or a substantially U-shaped hook.

Abstract: A suture anchor retriever is adapted to remove a suture anchor from bone or other bodily member, the suture anchor being threaded and having a proximally-extending connector portion provided with a bore for receiving a suture, and having a pair of channels extending proximally to a proximal end of the connector portion. The anchor retriever comprises a stem portion having a socket portion at a distal end thereof, the socket portion being configured to fit snugly around the connector portion and within the channels so as to engage the suture anchor connector portion both externally and internally thereof, and a grip portion fixed to the stem portion at a proximal end of the stem portion. The stem portion is turnable around a lengthwise axis thereof by manipulation of the grip portion so as to bring surfaces of the socket portion to bear against complementary surfaces of the anchor connector portion, whereby to turn the anchor in the bone so as to retrieve the anchor from the bone.

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 device for sutureless attachment of soft tissue to bone has an elongate substantially cylindrical stud and a head disposed on a proximal end of the stud. The stud has a sidewall that defines a nominal diameter and the head has a diameter that is greater than the nominal diameter. At least one barb is provided to retain the stud within bone. The at least one barb may be constructed from a shape memory alloy and the stud and head may be constructed from a bioabsorbable material.

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 graft ligament anchor comprises a graft ligament engagement member disposed in an opening in a bone, the graft ligament engagement member being arranged to receive a graft ligament alongside the engagement member, and a locking member for disposition in the opening, and at least in part engageable with the graft ligament engagement member. Movement of the locking member in the opening causes the locking member to urge the engagement member, and the graft ligament therewith, toward a wall of the opening, to secure the graft ligament to the wall of the opening.

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: A suture anchor insertion system includes a suture anchor installation tool having a handle, a retaining chamber formed integrally with the handle, and an elongate suture anchor inserting member. The system may also include a suture anchor releasably engaged on a distal end of the suture anchor inserting member, a packet at least partially disposed within the retaining chamber, and a suture thread having an intermediate portion attached to the suture anchor and two free ends stored within the packet.

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 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 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: An installation tool for deploying an anchoring device in a preformed hole in a workpiece is provided. The anchoring device is attached to a portion of a length of cord-like material carrying a needle-like member about at least one of its free ends. A retention device defining a continuous groove around an axle; a retention groove defined by circumferentially spaced arcuate projections from at least one of its end surfaces; and a notch forming a pathway connecting the continuous groove with the retention groove also is provided. The needle-like member and the free end of the cord-like material are releasably located in the retention groove, the cord-like material is passed through the notch, and the cord-like material extending from the fastening device is wrapped around the axle. The retention device is also releasably attachable to the handle of the installation tool.

Abstract: A bone anchor and a bone anchor installation tool for deploying the bone anchor in bone.

Abstract: A bone anchor installation tool is provided comprising a body having a distal end surface and a proximal end surface. An axial passageway extends between the distal end surface and the proximal end surface, with the distal end of the axial passageway being sized to receive at least a portion of a bone anchor. A shaft is slidably disposed within the axial passageway. The shaft is adapted to move between (i) a first retracted position wherein the shaft's distal end surface is withdrawn sufficiently far into the interior of the axial passageway so as to allow at least a portion of a bone anchor to be received therein, and (ii) a second extended position wherein the shaft's distal end surface projects out of the distal end of the axial passageway. A peripheral rib is formed on the exterior surface of the body so as to be yieldably engaged by a rib engaging element connected to the shaft as the shaft moves from its first retracted position to its second extended position.

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 system for attaching an object to a workpiece including an anchor and an installation tool is provided. The anchor includes a body having a transverse cross-section slightly smaller than the transverse cross-section of a hole in a surface of the workpiece in which it is to be deployed, and at least two barbs. The body has a distal portion having an inner end, a proximal portion having an inner end, and a middle portion connecting the inner ends of the distal and proximal portions respectively. The barbs extend from the first end of the distal portion axially and radially outwardly to outer ends located radially outwardly of an axial projection of the maximum transverse cross-section of the distal portion. The barbs are located in channels having bases which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body in the middle section and thereafter slant outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the body as they extend to the outer end of the proximal portion.