Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for securing tissue to bone. A surgical system can include a guide, a suture anchor including a sheath and a screw, a first driver shaft, and a second driver shaft. The first driver shaft can be configured to be removably received within a lumen of the guide such that an awl tip thereof extends beyond a distal end of the sheath. The sheath and the guide can have first and second side openings, respectively, that can receive at least one suture therethrough. The second driver shaft can be configured to be removably received within the lumen of the guide when the first elongate shaft is removed therefrom, the second driver shaft having a distal driver member configured to be removably received within a proximal channel formed in the screw to drive the screw into mating engagement with the sheath.

Abstract: A surgical filament snare assembly including an anchor capable of being fixated in bone and having a filament engagement feature. A first filament has a noose on a first portion of at least a first limb and has a second portion connected to the filament engagement feature of the anchor. Preferably, at least one free filament limb, which in some embodiments is a length of the first filament and in other embodiments is a second filament, is capable of being passed through tissue to be repaired and has at least one end passable through the noose to enable incremental tensioning of the tissue after the anchor is fixated in bone. The noose strangulates the free filament limb when tension is applied to at least one of the free filament limb and the noose.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for securing tissue to bone. A surgical system can include an outer shaft, an elongate inner shaft, and an implantable suture anchor assembly including first and second anchor bodies. The second, more proximal, anchor body has one or more openings extending through a side wall or through opposed side walls thereof. The inner shaft is configured to be received within the outer shaft and through the first and second anchor bodies such that a distal end of the inner shaft protrudes beyond a distal end of the first anchor body. The inner shaft is configured to be removably coupled to the first anchor body such that the inner shaft is configured to be rotated to cause a proximal portion of the first anchor body to move proximally into a lumen extending through the second anchor body and to occlude the opening in the second anchor body.

Abstract: A surgical filament snare assembly including an anchor capable of being fixated in bone and having a filament engagement feature. A first filament has a noose on a first portion of at least a first limb and has a second portion connected to the filament engagement feature of the anchor. Preferably, at least one free filament limb, which in some embodiments is a length of the first filament and in other embodiments is a second filament, is capable of being passed through tissue to be repaired and has at least one end passable through the noose to enable incremental tensioning of the tissue after the anchor is fixated in bone. The noose strangulates the free filament limb when tension is applied to at least one of the free filament limb and the noose.

Abstract: An improved implant inserter, and method of using same, with an elongated, substantially rigid shaft having a proximal surface which is capable of receiving a driving force, and a substantially rigid tip portion having a distal end and a proximal end. At least the distal end of the tip portion is capable of being placed within an implant such as a suture anchor. The inserter further includes a compliant region disposed between the tip portion and the shaft which requires less lateral force to bend than the tip portion, at least when the tip portion has been placed within the implant.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for securing tissue to bone. A surgical system can include an outer shaft, an elongate inner shaft, and an implantable suture anchor assembly including first and second anchor bodies. The second, more proximal, anchor body has one or more openings extending through a side wall or through opposed side walls thereof. The inner shaft is configured to be received within the outer shaft and through the first and second anchor bodies such that a distal end of the inner shaft protrudes beyond a distal end of the first anchor body. The inner shaft is configured to be removably coupled to the first anchor body such that the inner shaft is configured to be rotated to cause a proximal portion of the first anchor body to move proximally into a lumen extending through the second anchor body and to occlude the opening in the second anchor body.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In one embodiment, a biceps tenodesis system is provided and includes a sheath inserter tool, an expandable sheath configured to couple to the sheath inserter tool, an expander inserter tool, and an expander configured to couple to the expander inserter tool. The sheath inserter tool is configured to advance the expandable sheath, with a tendon disposed therearound, into a bone hole, and the expander inserter tool is configured to advance the expander through an outer shaft of the sheath inserter tool and to drive the expander into the sheath. The expander is configured to be received within a lumen extending at least partially through the expandable sheath to thereby expand the sheath. In this way, the system delivers the tendon or ligament into the bone hole and locks the sheath and tendon within the bone hole.

Abstract: Systems and tools are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In one embodiment, a sheath is provided having a first sidewall with proximal and distal ends and a second sidewall with proximal and distal ends. The distal ends of the first and second sidewalls can be coupled to one another by a hinge pin such that the first and second sidewalls pivot relative to one another about the hinge pin. A sheath inserter tool is also provided and it can be configured to couple to the sheath and to advance the expandable sheath, with a tendon disposed therearound, into a bone hole. An expander is also provided for expanding the sheath. In this way, a tendon or ligament is delivered into the bone hole and the sheath and tendon are locked within the bone hole.

Abstract: Systems and tools are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In one embodiment, a sheath is provided having a first sidewall with proximal and distal ends and a second sidewall with proximal and distal ends. The distal ends of the first and second sidewalls can be coupled to one another by a hinge pin such that the first and second sidewalls pivot relative to one another about the hinge pin. A sheath inserter tool is also provided and it can be configured to couple to the sheath and to advance the expandable sheath, with a tendon disposed therearound, into a bone hole. An expander is also provided for expanding the sheath. In this way, a tendon or ligament is delivered into the bone hole and the sheath and tendon are locked within the bone hole.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In one embodiment, a biceps tenodesis system is provided and includes a sheath inserter tool, an expandable sheath configured to couple to the sheath inserter tool, an expander inserter tool, and an expander configured to couple to the expander inserter tool. The sheath inserter tool is configured to advance the expandable sheath, with a tendon disposed therearound, into a bone hole, and the expander inserter tool is configured to advance the expander through an outer shaft of the sheath inserter tool and to drive the expander into the sheath. The expander is configured to be received within a lumen extending at least partially through the expandable sheath to thereby expand the sheath. In this way, the system delivers the tendon or ligament into the bone hole and locks the sheath and tendon within the bone hole.

Abstract: An improved implant inserter, and method of using same, with an elongated, substantially rigid shaft having a proximal surface which is capable of receiving a driving force, and a substantially rigid tip portion having a distal end and a proximal end. At least the distal end of the tip portion is capable of being placed within an implant such as a suture anchor. The inserter further includes a compliant region disposed between the tip portion and the shaft which requires less lateral force to bend than the tip portion, at least when the tip portion has been placed within the implant.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In particular, various delivery tools, including a variety of sheath inserter tools, are provided. The tools can be used to position a tendon within a prepared bone hole, and to deliver a sheath into the bone hole.

Abstract: Various devices, systems, and methods are provided for securing soft tissue to bone. In one exemplary embodiment, a two-piece inserter tool is provided that includes a tip portion that is configured to be removably coupled to a handle portion. A distal portion of the tip portion can be configured to be coupled to a suture anchor, and the tip portion and the anchor can be passed through a continuous suture loop prior to mating the tip portion to the handle portion.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In one embodiment, a surgical implant is provided having a sheath and an expander that is received within the sheath. Various delivery tools, including a sheath inserter and a driver, are also provided. In use, the sheath inserter can be used to position a tendon within a prepared bone hole, and it can be used to deliver the sheath with a guidewire coupled thereto into the bone hole. The driver can be provided for delivering the expander into the sheath. A loader can optionally be used to load the driver and expander onto the guidewire coupled to the implanted sheath.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In particular, various delivery tools, including a variety of sheath inserter tools, are provided. The tools can be used to position a tendon within a prepared bone hole, and to deliver a sheath into the bone hole.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for securing tissue to bone. A surgical system can include a guide, a suture anchor including a sheath and a screw, a first driver shaft, and a second driver shaft. The first driver shaft can be configured to be removably received within a lumen of the guide such that an awl tip thereof extends beyond a distal end of the sheath. The sheath and the guide can have first and second side openings, respectively, that can receive at least one suture therethrough. The second driver shaft can be configured to be removably received within the lumen of the guide when the first elongate shaft is removed therefrom, the second driver shaft having a distal driver member configured to be removably received within a proximal channel formed in the screw to drive the screw into mating engagement with the sheath.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for securing tissue to bone. A surgical system can include a driver device, an elongate shaft receivable within the driver device and having a dilator feature at its distal end, and a capture suture extending through the shaft such that the capture suture's terminal end portions extend to a more proximal position on the driver and the capture suture forms a loop that extends through an opening formed through a side of the shaft. The loop is configured to receive at least one retention suture therethrough and can be tightened by pulling the capture suture's terminal ends, thereby coupling the retention suture with the suture anchor. Once the shaft is inserted into bone and the loop with the retention suture is closed, the suture anchor is driven distally towards the dilator features and into the bone to secure the retaining suture in the bone.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for securing tissue to bone. A surgical system can include an outer shaft, an elongate inner shaft, and an implantable suture anchor assembly including first and second anchor bodies. The second, more proximal, anchor body has one or more openings extending through a side wall or through opposed side walls thereof. The inner shaft is configured to be received within the outer shaft and through the first and second anchor bodies such that a distal end of the inner shaft protrudes beyond a distal end of the first anchor body. The inner shaft is configured to be removably coupled to the first anchor body such that the inner shaft is configured to be rotated to cause a proximal portion of the first anchor body to move proximally into a lumen extending through the second anchor body and to occlude the opening in the second anchor body.

Abstract: Various devices, systems, and methods are provided for securing soft tissue to bone. In one exemplary embodiment, a two-piece inserter tool is provided that includes a tip portion that is configured to be removably coupled to a handle portion. A distal portion of the tip portion can be configured to be coupled to a suture anchor, and the tip portion and the anchor can be passed through a continuous suture loop prior to mating the tip portion to the handle portion.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In one embodiment, a surgical implant is provided having a sheath and an expander that is received within the sheath. Various delivery tools, including a sheath inserter and a driver, are also provided. In use, the sheath inserter can be used to position a tendon within a prepared bone hole, and it can be used to deliver the sheath with a guidewire coupled thereto into the bone hole. The driver can be provided for delivering the expander into the sheath. A loader can optionally be used to load the driver and expander onto the guidewire coupled to the implanted sheath.