Abstract: This invention relates to surgical suturing devices and methods by which suture may be passed through tissue during surgery, and, more particularly, to an improved blade of a suture passer needle. The suture passer needle includes a first side, a second side, and a blade disposed at an end of the needle. The blade has a first edge extending from the first side of the needle and a second edge extending from the second side of the needle, which converge to a tip of the blade. A notch is disposed in the blade and forms an opening in the first side of the blade. The blade also has one or more cutout portions distal and/or proximal the notch, which minimize the stress and strain placed on the blade. The suture passer needle can be incorporated into surgical suturing devices or suture passer devices to pass suture through a tissue body.

Abstract: A drill guide to facilitate drilling a hole into a bone and inserting an anchor. The drill guide includes a handle extending to a proximal end and a guide shaft extending from the handle to a distal end. A recess extends into the handle at the proximal end. The drill guide also includes a channel extending through the recess and into the guide shaft and a contact surface extending from the recess. The contact surface may be a proximal surface on a ring extending circumferentially within the recess. The contact surface may alternatively be a proximal surface on a protrusion extending from and within the recess. For example, the protrusion is a triangular protrusion extending along the recess toward the channel. The contact surface allows for the use of inserters of varying sizes within the channel of the drill guide.

Abstract: An anchor construct having an anchor having a length of suture material passing therethrough, the suture material having a loop strand terminating at a first end and a post strand terminating at a second end, a splice loop formed by first end, a sliding construct formed by the first end and the second end, wherein the sliding construct is configured to adjust the relative position of the splice loop and the anchor. The anchor construct can be deployed by passing the first end through a first body and through the splice, creating a locking loop of a first size around the first body, implanting the anchor into a bone hole, pulling the post strand to decrease the perimeter of the positioning loop to a second size smaller than the first size, and pulling the loop strand to decrease the perimeter of the locking loop to a smaller second size.

Abstract: A self-drilling suture inserter including a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis having a proximal end and a distal end, which is connected to a tubular portion. The inserter also includes an inserter tip, which is attached to and extends distally from the shaft. The inserter tip comprises a suture anchor retention slot extending therethrough. The inserter tip also comprises a distal end with a drilling point. The tubular portion can also include an outer tube having a first inner volume and a suture tube having a second inner volume. The suture tube extends within the first inner volume of the outer tube.

Abstract: A knotless instability anchor having an anchor having a first side and a second side with a suture material passing therethrough from the first side to the second side. The suture material has an adjustable loop extending from the first side of the anchor and a first limb and a second limb extending from the second side of the anchor. A splice is formed in the first limb between a first end of the first limb and the anchor. A self-collapsing loop is formed in the first limb between the first end and the splice. The second limb extends through the splice in the first limb.

Abstract: A locking suture construct having suture material with a first end and a second end, each attached to a first body in a slidable manner, a constricting member formed in the second end of the suture material, and a bight in the suture material between the first end and the second end. The bight can be pulled through the constricting member around a second body to create a locking loop. The first end and the second end are passed through the locking loop. Pulling the first end increases a perimeter of the locking loop and moves the constricting member toward the second body. When the constricting member reaches the second body, pulling the first end reduces the perimeter of the locking loop and moves/rotates the constricting member around the second body toward the first body to hold the first body in relative position to the second body.

Abstract: An anchor construct having an anchor having a length of suture material passing therethrough, the suture material having a loop strand terminating at a first end and a post strand terminating at a second end, a splice loop formed by first end, a sliding construct formed by the first end and the second end, wherein the sliding construct is configured to adjust the relative position of the splice loop and the anchor. The anchor construct can be deployed by passing the first end through a first body and through the splice, creating a locking loop of a first size around the first body, implanting the anchor into a bone hole, pulling the post strand to decrease the perimeter of the positioning loop to a second size smaller than the first size, and pulling the loop strand to decrease the perimeter of the locking loop to a smaller second size.

Abstract: A knotless instability anchor having an anchor having a first side and a second side with a suture material passing therethrough from the first side to the second side. The suture material has an adjustable loop extending from the first side of the anchor and a first limb and a second limb extending from the second side of the anchor. A splice is formed in the first limb between a first end of the first limb and the anchor. A self-collapsing loop is formed in the first limb between the first end and the splice. The second limb extends through the splice in the first limb.

Abstract: A locking suture construct having suture material with a first end and a second end, each attached to a first body in a slidable manner, a constricting member formed in the second end of the suture material, and a bight in the suture material between the first end and the second end. The bight can be pulled through the constricting member around a second body to create a locking loop. The first end and the second end are passed through the locking loop. Pulling the first end increases a perimeter of the locking loop and moves the constricting member toward the second body. When the constricting member reaches the second body, pulling the first end reduces the perimeter of the locking loop and moves/rotates the constricting member around the second body toward the first body to hold the first body in relative position to the second body.

Abstract: An automated anchor inserter system for drilling a pilot hole and inserting an anchor. The system includes a body having a first end and a second end. An input shaft extends from the first end of the body and a guide tube extends from the second end of the body. The system also includes a first drive shaft recess and a second drive shaft recess within the body. A drill drive shaft is moveable within the input shaft and an inserter drive shaft is moveable within the second drive shaft recess. In a first configuration, the input shaft and the drill drive shaft move distally together through the first drive shaft recess and in a second configuration, the drill drive shaft moves proximally relative to the input shaft. In a third configuration, movement of the drill drive shaft moves the inserter drive shaft.

Abstract: An anchor inserter including an inserter tube extending along a longitudinal axis having a proximal inserter end and a distal inserter end. The inserter also includes an inserter tip attached to and extending distally from the distal inserter end. The inserter tip has a proximal tip end and a distal tip end with a suture anchor retention slot extending through the distal tip end. The inserter has one or more cutting edges extending at least a partially along an outer perimeter edge of the distal tip end. The distal tip end has a first arm and a second arm. The first arm is substantially straight and the second arm is curved.

Abstract: A drill guide to facilitate drilling a hole into a bone and inserting an anchor. The drill guide includes a handle extending to a proximal end and a guide shaft extending from the handle to a distal end. A recess extends into the handle at the proximal end. The drill guide also includes a channel extending through the recess and into the guide shaft and a contact surface extending from the recess. The contact surface may be a proximal surface on a ring extending circumferentially within the recess. The contact surface may alternatively be a proximal surface on a protrusion extending from and within the recess. For example, the protrusion is a triangular protrusion extending along the recess toward the channel. The contact surface allows for the use of inserters of varying sizes within the channel of the drill guide.

Abstract: A drill guide to facilitate drilling a hole into a bone and inserting an anchor. The drill guide includes a handle extending to a proximal end and a guide shaft extending from the handle to a distal end. A recess extends into the handle at the proximal end. The drill guide also includes a channel extending through the recess and into the guide shaft and a contact surface extending from the recess. The contact surface may be a proximal surface on a ring extending circumferentially within the recess. The contact surface may alternatively be a proximal surface on a protrusion extending from and within the recess. For example, the protrusion is a triangular protrusion extending along the recess toward the channel. The contact surface allows for the use of inserters of varying sizes within the channel of the drill guide.

Abstract: A suture passer for use in arthroscopic soft tissue repair procedures. The suture passer includes a cannulated needle having a distal tip. A post is slidable within the cannulated needle. A snare is slidable within the cannulated needle between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position, the snare extends from the distal tip of the cannulated needle and in the retracted position, the snare extends around the post. The suture passer may have a handle extending proximally from the cannulated needle. In use, suture is passed through an open region between the snare and the post in the extended position. As the snare and, in some cases, the post, are retracted, the snare extends around the post and closes the open region, trapping the suture between the snare and the post in a closed region.

Abstract: A suture tape construct having a first section formed from a fibrous filament that extends from a first end to a second end and has a pair of a one-way protrusions extending therefrom. An anchor is positioned along the suture construct and, when the construct is deployed, is captured between the protrusions. The anchor may be a second section formed from braided suture material that is woven about the first section. The braided suture material can be deployed to form an all suture anchor while protrusions extending from the suture anchor proximately to the location of the deployed suture anchor prevent movement of the second section relative to the first section, thus forming a non-sliding suture tape anchored by the deployed braided material. The anchor may be a threaded anchor having an eyelet that is captured between the protrusions.

Abstract: A suture anchor driver with a tensioning mechanism. The suture anchor driver has a handle with a proximal end and a distal end. The handle has a recess with a shaft extending centrally therefrom. The suture anchor driver has a detent ring and a spool. The detent ring has a central aperture and one or more projections. The spool has a central aperture and is rotatable between first and second configurations. The spool has a plurality of protrusions extending from its side. The shaft extends through the central apertures in the detent ring and spool such that the projections of the detent ring are adjacent the protrusions extending from the spool. In the first configuration, one of the projections extends between two of the protrusions. In the second configuration, one of the projections is aligned with one of the protrusions.

Abstract: A suture tape construct having a first section formed from a fibrous filament that extends from a first end to a second end and has a pair of a one-way protrusions extending therefrom. An anchor is positioned along the suture construct and, when the construct is deployed, is captured between the protrusions. The anchor may be a second section formed from braided suture material that is woven about the first section. The braided suture material can be deployed to form an all suture anchor while protrusions extending from the suture anchor proximately to the location of the deployed suture anchor prevent movement of the second section relative to the first section, thus forming a non-sliding suture tape anchored by the deployed braided material. The anchor may be a threaded anchor having an eyelet that is captured between the protrusions.

Abstract: A self-drilling suture inserter including a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis having a proximal end and a distal end, which is connected to a tubular portion. The inserter also includes an inserter tip, which is attached to and extends distally from the shaft. The inserter tip comprises a suture anchor retention slot extending therethrough. The inserter tip also comprises a distal end with a drilling point. The tubular portion can also include an outer tube having a first inner volume and a suture tube having a second inner volume. The suture tube extends within the first inner volume of the outer tube.

Abstract: A knotless instability anchor having an anchor having a first side and a second side with a suture material passing therethrough from the first side to the second side. The suture material has an adjustable loop extending from the first side of the anchor and a first limb and a second limb extending from the second side of the anchor. A splice is formed in the first limb between a first end of the first limb and the anchor. A self-collapsing loop is formed in the first limb between the first end and the splice. The second limb extends through the splice in the first limb.

Abstract: A locking suture construct having suture material with a first end and a second end, each attached to a first body in a slidable manner, a constricting member formed in the second end of the suture material, and a bight in the suture material between the first end and the second end. The bight can be pulled through the constricting member around a second body to create a locking loop. The first end and the second end are passed through the locking loop. Pulling the first end increases a perimeter of the locking loop and moves the constricting member toward the second body. When the constricting member reaches the second body, pulling the first end reduces the perimeter of the locking loop and moves/rotates the constricting member around the second body toward the first body to hold the first body in relative position to the second body.