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.

Abstract: An anchor for attaching an object to a bone-like structure, and a method for deploying same is provided. The anchor includes a body and a plurality of barbs. The barbs are located in axially aligned, circumferentially spaced relation to each other about the body. Each barb is elastically deformable, and has a normal configuration which extends rearwardly and radially outwardly from the body to an outer end located outside a longitudinal projection of the largest geometric cross-section of the body transverse to its longitudinal axis. A bore for engagement by a length of cord-like material extends through the front portion of the body. An opening oriented perpendicularly to the bore extends through the rear portion of the body. A longitudinal slot aligned with the opening connects the front end of the body to the opening.

Abstract: An improved suture threading apparatus is provided which includes an elongated rod having a handle at one of its ends and a needle holder adapted to receive the gripping end of a needle pivotally attached to its other end. The attachment is such that the needle holder may be moved by an actuator between a first position wherein a needle received by the needle holder is held substantially in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the elongated rod, and a second position wherein a needle received by the needle holder is held substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rod. The actuator connects the needle holder to a finger grip substantially adjacent to the handle and includes biasing means which tend to hold the needle holder in its first position in the absence of a force applied to the finger grip overcoming the biasing force to move the needle holder to its second position. A method for using this apparatus to thread suture through tissue also is provided.

Abstract: A suture throw holder and rundown system for running one or more throws formed in two lengths of suture extending from a surgical site down to the surgical site so as to form a knot at the surgical site. The system comprises a support mechanism for releasably supporting a plurality of throws in a predetermined arrangement adjacent a surgical site and a tool for removing throws from the support mechanism and running the throws down the lengths of suture to the surgical site.

Abstract: A suture retaining device in the form of a frusto-conical button having parallel upper and lower planar surfaces which are connected together by a conical surface. The button is provided with a recessed chamber for substantially completely accommodating one or more suture knots. At least one hole is formed in the button leading from the recessed chamber to the lower planar surface, and at least one hole is formed in said button leading from the recessed chamber to the conical surface.

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.

Abstract: A system for attaching an object to a workpiece including an anchor assembly and an installation tool is provided. The anchor assembly includes a body and at least two barbs. The body has a first portion having a first end, a reduced second portion having a second end and a middle portion connecting the first and second ends of the first and second portions respectively. The barbs extend from the first end of the first portion axially and radially outwardly to outer ends located radially outwardly of an axial projection of the maximum transverse cross-section of the first portion. Each barb is curved in its normal unstressed state, but is capable of being elastically deformed into longitudinal channels in the middle portion of the anchor assembly. The anchor assembly is deployed in a hole in the workpiece by an installation tool which is adapted to receive the reduced second portion of the anchor assembly in its distal end.

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.

Abstract: A packaging system for a pre-assembled suture anchor assembly of the sort comprising of a suture anchor, a length of suture threadingly engaging the suture anchor and a pair of surgical needles attached to the opposite ends of the length of suture. The packaging system includes a tubular element sized to receive and removably hold the pointed ends of the respective needles within its opposite ends, and an envelope including front and back pockets, a top flap and a belt-like portion which is deflectable outwardly from the exterior of the envelope. The envelope can be manipulated between (1) a totally open position wherein the envelope is a flat sheet, (2) a partially closed position wherein the suture anchor is engaged by the belt-like element against the exterior of the envelope, the suture is located in a coil within the front pocket and the needles joined by the tubular element are located in the back pocket, and (3) a totally closed position wherein the top flap is folded over the open ends of the pockets.

Abstract: A suture throw holder, rundown tool and cutting system for running one or more throws formed in two lengths of suture extending from a surgical site down to the surgical site so as to form a knot at the surgical site and for blindly cutting the suture ends adjacent the knot. The system comprises a support mechanism for releasably supporting a plurality of throws in a predetermined arrangement adjacent a surgical site, and a tool for removing throws from the support mechanism, running the throws down the lengths of the suture to the surgical site, and blindly cutting the suture ends at substantially equal lengths every time adjacent a knot formed by the throws at the surgical site.

Abstract: A suture throw holder, rundown tool and cutting system for running one or more throws formed in two lengths of suture extending from a surgical site down to the surgical site so as to form a knot at the surgical site and for blindly cutting the suture ends adjacent the knot. The system comprises a support mechanism for releasably supporting a plurality of throws in a predetermined arrangement adjacent a surgical site, and a tool for removing throws from the support mechanism, running the throws down the lengths of the suture to the surgical site, and blindly cutting the suture ends at substantially equal lengths every time adjacent a knot formed by the throws at the surgical site.

Abstract: A suture throw holder and rundown system for running one or more throws formed in two lengths of suture extending from a surgical site down to the surgical site so as to form a knot at the surgical site. The system comprises a support mechanism for releasably supporting a plurality of throws in a predetermined arrangement adjacent a surgical site and a tool for removing throws from the support mechanism and running the throws down the lengths of suture to the surgical site.

Abstract: A suture throw holder, rundown tool and cutting system for running one or more throws formed in two lengths of suture extending from a surgical site down to the surgical site so as to form a knot at the surgical site and for blindly cutting the suture ends adjacent the knot. The system comprises a support mechanism for releasably supporting a plurality of throws in a predetermined arrangement adjacent a surgical site, and a tool for removing throws from the support mechanism, running the throws down the lengths of the suture to the surgical site, and blindly cutting the suture ends at substantially equal lengths every time adjacent a knot formed by the throws at the surgical site.

Abstract: A novel holder is disclosed which is adapted to be used in conjunction with a suture anchor assembly of the sort comprising at least a suture attached to a suture anchor and preferably also comprising at least one surgical needle attached to the suture, wherein the holder comprises suture anchor holding means for releasably holding the suture anchor to the holder, suture holding means for releasably holding the suture to the holder, and needle holder means for releasably holding the at least one needle to the holder, if the same is provided as part of the suture anchor assembly, and covering means for selectively covering the suture anchor while it is held by the suture anchor holding means, and for selectively covering substantially all of the suture while it is held by the suture holding means, and for selectively covering the at least one needle while the needle is held by the needle holding means, if the same is provided as part of the suture anchor assembly.

Abstract: A method for anchoring suture to bone, wherein the method comprises the steps of (1) providing a suture anchor of the sort comprising (a) a coupling member, (b) at least one barb, said barb having a first end and a second end and being curved in its normal unstressed state and being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight configuration, said barb being attached to said coupling member so that said second end of said barb is substantially displaced from said coupling member when said barb is in its normal unstressed state but is aligned with said coupling member when said barb is deformed to a substantially straight configuration, and (c) attachment means for attaching the suture to the suture anchor, (2) deforming the barb to a substantially straight configuration and retaining the barb in its deformed condition, and attaching a suture to the suture anchor, and forming a hole in a bone to which the suture is to be anchored, (3) inserting the suture anchor with its deformed barb into

Abstract: A wire probe unit having stabilizer with a clamp and a mating cap for locking and precisely positioning a memory probe wire relative to a needle cannula having a hub with a socket at one end and a beveled point at the other end. The clamp has a guide post extending from one end thereof and a set of clamping fingers extending from an opposite end thereof. The guide post is configured to be received within the socket of the hub and the fingers are configured to captively hold the probe wire which is fed through a central bore in the stabilizer and needle cannula. The clamping fingers have tapered ends which fit into a fustro conical socket formed internally of the cap. When the stabilizer is in a retracted position, the probe wire is sheathed in the cannula needle and when the stabilizer is in its forward position, a J-shaped hook at the end of the probe wire extends outwardly from the tip of the needle a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A new and improved suture anchor of the sort adapted to anchor an intermediate portion of a piece of conventional suture in bone, and a new and improved installation tool for deploying the same, said installation tool being adapted to releasably hold at least one curved needle which is attached to said piece of conventional suture.

Abstract: A novel suture anchor comprising (a) a coupling member having a first end portion and a reduced second end portion, and a shoulder formed at the junction of the first end portion and the reduced second end portion, (b) at least one barb, the barb having a first end and a second end and being curved in its normal unstressed state and being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight configuration, the barb being attached to the coupling member so that the second end of the barb is substantially displaced from the coupling member when the barb is in its normal unstressed state but is capable of being aligned with the coupling member when the barb is deformed to a substantially straight length, and (c) attachment means for attaching one end of a suture to the suture anchor.

Abstract: A new and improved suture anchor of the sort adapted to anchor an intermediate portion of a piece of conventional suture in bone, and a new and improved installation tool for deploying the same, said installation tool being adapted to releasably hold at least one curved needle which is attached to said piece of conventional suture.

Abstract: A novel suture anchor installation tool which comprises an elongated member having a first end and a second end and a slot extending from the first end towards the second end, the slot being sized to snugly accommodate the suture anchor's barb, whereby the suture anchor may be attached to the elongated member at the first end of the elongated member by fitting the barb into the slot so that the barb extends upward and outward from the first end of the elongated member, through the slot, with the body of the suture anchor engaging the first end of the installation tool.In use, the suture is first attached to the suture anchor and then the suture anchor is attached to the elongated member in the foregoing manner. Then the first end of the elongated member is pressed into a predrilled hole in the bone, forcing the suture anchor in ahead of it.