Abstract: An instrument for manipulating and passing suture through a tissue is disclosed. The instrument includes a handle and a needle. The needle includes a lumen and terminates with a distal opening and a sharp edge surface for piercing tissue. The instrument also includes a hook, axially slideable within the needle lumen and through the needle distal opening. The hook may axially slide between a suture-locking configuration, a suture-sliding configuration and a suture release and capture configuration. The instrument may include improvements that better protect smaller and more fragile sutures.

Abstract: An offset guide that places a surgical tool through a bone of a surgical joint. The offset guide may hold the surgical joint in a reduced configuration at a first location along the bone; the first location preferred for engaging the bone. The offset guide may engage the bone with a hook that engages two opposing sides of the bone to center the surgical tool through the bone. The offset guide may guide placement of a surgical tool through the bone center at a second location along the bone, the second location offset from the first location. The second location may be a preferable location for receiving the surgical tool therethrough. The surgical tool may include both a drill and an implant insertion tool. The implant insertion tool may place an implant at the second location, while the offset guide holds the surgical joint.

Abstract: Methods for measuring tissue defects include the use of a suture anchor, a drill guide, a needle driver, and a ruler. Using the drill guide, the surgeon extends the suture attached to an implanted anchor between the first and second ends of the defect. The surgeon then attaches a needle driver to the suture extending from the proximal end of the drill guide. Finally, the surgeon retracts the suture back through the drill guide and measures the distance between the needle driver and the proximal end of the drill guide to determine a length of a graft needed to repair the defect.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods and devices for coupling to a suture with a suture anchor. The suture anchor may include a cavity in which a length of suture may be drawn prior to insertion and from which that length of suture may be drawn out as the suture anchor is implanted. Therefore, in some embodiments, suture may be drawn out of the cavity from the length of suture rather than from working portions of the suture that extend outwardly from the tissue in which the suture anchor is being implanted.

Abstract: A flexible cannula and radially extending conformable flanges used to provide an adjustable effective length of flexible cannula, adjustable for varying tissue depths. At least some of the example embodiments include a flexible tubular body having a length, a flexible distal flange, a flexible proximal flange, and one or more flexible intermediate flanges positioned on the length of the tubular body between the distal and the proximal flanges. All of the flanges may be have the equivalent outer diameters. Each flange may be spaced axially spaced apart from the adjacent flexible flange with varying spacing. Some flanges may also have a circumferential row of perforations, allowing for selective removal of some flanges. The tubular body may also have a ring of perforations, allowing for selective removal of a portion of the tubular body. The flexible cannula may also have at least one suture docking stations on a proximal end of the cannula, to selectively retain a length of suture therein.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods and devices for coupling to a suture with a suture anchor. The suture anchor may include a cavity in which a length of suture may be drawn prior to insertion and from which that length of suture may be drawn out as the suture anchor is implanted. Therefore, in some embodiments, suture may be drawn out of the cavity from the length of suture rather than from working portions of the suture that extend outwardly from the tissue in which the suture anchor is being implanted.