Abstract: A suture hook for use in arthroscopic repairs of the shoulder has a tapered shaft and a handle disposed on the proximal end of the shaft. An O-ring post for holding suture is disposed on the handle. A curved hook on the distal end of the shaft terminates in a sharp point for piercing tissue. A slot is formed distally on the convex side of the hook for receiving a loop of the suture. A length of suture loaded as a loop onto the suture anchor is held in the slot and secured by wrapping the suture tails around the O-ring post. The loaded suture hook is advanced through tissue by piercing the tissue with the sharp tip. The suture is then released from the post and the hook is retrograded leaving the loop of suture available for further surgical manipulation.

Abstract: A corkscrew suture anchor has a continuous thread spiralling around a tapering central core. At the distal end, the suture anchor terminates in a rounded point. At the proximal end of the suture anchor is an eye for receiving suture. The suture anchor has a large thread surface per turn of thread. Anti-backout ridges can be formed on the front and/or back faces of the threads. A driver for the suture anchor is provided, the driver including a shaft having a central axis, a length, a distal end, and a proximal end. The shaft is provided at its distal end with an opening aligned with the central axis of the shaft, for receiving the hexagonal proximal end of the suture anchor. One or more sutures threaded through the suture eye are threaded through the hollow tubular shaft. The suture is pulled into and captured by V-shaped notches on the proximal end of the handle to hold the suture anchor in place on the distal end of the driver under the tension of the captured sutures.

Abstract: A method of fixation of osteochondritis dissecans fragments in which chondral fragments are approximated to bone using a guide sleeve having multiple parallel guide tunnels. A drill is inserted through one of the guide tunnels, and a hole is drilled through the fragment and into the bone to a predetermined depth. A fragment-retaining implant inserted into the hole secures the fragment to the bone. Further holes are drilled while the fragment is held in place with the guide sleeve. The implant is inserted using the guide sleeve as a guide.

Abstract: A corkscrew suture anchor has a continuous thread spiralling around a tapering central core. At the distal end, the suture anchor terminates in a rounded point. At the proximal end of the suture anchor is an eye for receiving suture. The suture anchor has a large thread surface per turn of thread. Anti-backout ridges can be formed on the front and/or back faces of the threads. A driver for the suture anchor is provided, the driver including a shaft having a central axis, a length, a distal end, and a proximal end. The shaft is provided at its distal end with an opening aligned with the central axis of the shaft, for receiving the hexagonal proximal end of the suture anchor. One or more sutures threaded through the suture eye are threaded through the hollow tubular shaft. The suture is pulled into and captured by V-shaped notches on the proximal end of the handle to hold the suture anchor in place on the distal end of the driver under the tension of the captured sutures.

Abstract: A corkscrew suture anchor has a continuous thread spiralling around a tapering central core. At the distal end, the suture anchor terminates in a rounded point. At the proximal end of the suture anchor is an eye for receiving suture. The suture anchor has a large thread surface per turn of thread. Anti-backout ridges can be formed on the front and/or back faces of the threads. A driver for the suture anchor is provided, the driver including a shaft having a central axis, a length, a distal end, and a proximal end. The shaft is provided at its distal end with an opening aligned with the central axis of the shaft, for receiving the hexagonal proximal end of the suture anchor. One or more sutures threaded through the suture eye are threaded through the hollow tubular shaft. The suture is pulled into and captured by V-shaped notches on the proximal end of the handle to hold the suture anchor in place on the distal end of the driver under the tension of the captured sutures.

Abstract: A suture anchor assembly for attachment of tissue to bone includes a suture anchor having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end having an opening. A filament strand is looped through the opening and is attached at either end to a disk. The disk has a central opening that accommodates a suture anchor driver. The driver engages the suture anchor for installation through the tissue and into the underlying bone. As the suture anchor is installed into bone, tissue is approximated to the bone by the captured disk. Traction suture attached to the disk allows testing of the installation, and retrieval of the assembly in the event of failure during installation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for autogenous transplantation of articular cartilage with bone from one site, such as in the knee, to another to treat chondral defects. Graft harvesters and recipient site harvesters create identically-sized donor graft osteochondral cores and recipient sockets. Collared pins disposed within the harvesters facilitate removal of the harvested cores. Windows formed in the side of the harvester tubes allow visualization of the graft, such as when being inserted into the recipient socket. A removable three-piece driver/extractor is provided to allow for impact-driving and depth control of the harvesters into the selected sites.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing the anterior cruciate ligament using arthroscopic surgery. A closed-ended socket is formed in the tibia and the femur. The locations of the sockets are determined using an offset aimer to reference anatomical structures within the knee. An ACL graft is fixated in the tibial and femoral sockets using interference screws. The method obviates the need to form tibial incisions and tunnels, as required by existing methods.

Abstract: A cannulated screw anchor extractor with a clear plastic outer sheath allows backing out of the screw anchor from bone into the inner cannulation of the clear, plastic sheath. The threads of the screw anchor purchase the inner cannulation of the sheath to secure the anchor for removal from within the body and avoid screw loss in soft tissue during extraction.

Abstract: An arthroscopic method and apparatus for implanting a suture anchor into tissue using a cannulated tissue-shifting guide. Tissue at a repair site is secured with a cannulated tissue-shifting guide. Suture material is appended to a suture anchor. The suture anchor is attached to a device driver and installed through the cannulated tissue-shifting guide at the repair site and into bone. A power drill can be attached to the device driver and used to drive the suture anchor during installation.

Abstract: An arthroscopic method and apparatus for implanting a suture fixation device or other appliance into tissue using a hollow cannulated grasper. Tissue at a repair site is secured with a hollow grasper. Suture material is appended to a suture anchor. The suture anchor or other appliance is attached to a device driver and installed through the hollow grasper into the repair site, where it is drilled into bone.

Abstract: A corkscrew suture anchor has a spiral-shaped body having a hollow central core, a distal end, and a proximal end. The distal end of the spiral body terminates in a sharp point, and the proximal end of the spiral-shaped body has an eye for receiving suture. The suture anchor expands resiliently during installation, and contracts to securely grip the bone once the installation force is relaxed. A driver for the suture anchor is provided, the driver including a shaft having a central axis, a length, a distal end, and a proximal end. The shaft is provided at its distal end with a stud aligned with the central axis of the shaft, for insertion into the hollow, central axis of the spiral-shaped body of the suture anchor, and a notch disposed adjacent to the stud for driveably engaging the proximal end of the spiral-shaped body.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing the anterior cruciate ligament using arthroscopic surgery. A closed-ended socket is formed in the tibia and the femur. The locations of the sockets are determined using an offset aimer to reference anatomical structures within the knee. An ACL graft is fixated in the tibial and femoral sockets using interference screws. The method obviates the need to form tibial incisions and tunnels, as required by existing methods.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for arthroscopic reattachment of torn tissue to a bone at a surgical repair site using at least one suture anchor and a tissue grasper. The torn tissue is grasped with jaws of the tissue grasper. The jaws include a top and bottom jaw. The upper jaw has an aperture, and the bottom jaw has a U-shaped slot. The aperture and slot are aligned with each other when the jaws are closed. A threaded suture anchor is inserted through the aligned aperture and slot in the jaws of the grasper, the grasped tissue, and into the bone in a single drilling step. An outrigger located on the barrel of the grasper is adapted to receive a drill and align the threaded suture anchor such that the suture anchor is automatically aligned with the aperture and slot of the jaws of the grasper at the repair site. After insertion of the suture anchor the grasper is removed from the repair site.

Abstract: A drill guide for marking a proper location of a bone tunnel for arthroseopic surgery, provided with a marking hook designed to reference the posterior cruciate ligament. The marking hook includes a slot to allow the surgeon to view endoscopically the position of a guide pin as it is drilled through the tibia.

Abstract: An arthroscopic method and apparatus for implanting a suture fixation device or other appliance into tissue using a hollow cannulated grasper. Tissue at a repair site is secured with a hollow grasper. Suture material is appended to a suture anchor. The suture anchor or other appliance is attached to a device driver and installed through the hollow grasper into the repair site, where it is drilled into bone.

Abstract: A pin-locked cannulated screwdriver assembly. A guide pin is secured within a cannulated screwdriver. The guide pin includes a mark for indicating the depth of insertion of an end of the pin. Using the screwdriver, the guide pin can be positioned between one of the cut bone blocks and one of the adjacent bone masses. The cannulated screwdriver is removed from the guide pin, with the guide pin remaining positioned between the one bone block and bone mass. A cannulated interference screw is positioned on the distal end of the screwdriver and the screwdriver and screw are slid over the positioned guide pin. The position of the cannulated screwdriver over the guide pin is then locked. The cannulated interference screw is then positioned at the distal end of the screwdriver, and the entire assembly is inserted between the bone block and bone mass.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for retracting the infrapatellar fat pad during arthroscopic knee surgery. The apparatus includes a silicone retractor strap for supporting the fat pad, a device for threading the strap into the arthroscopic operating compartment, and a segment of suture or other frangible connector for connecting the retractor strap to the threading device.

Abstract: An interference screw and sheath for endosteal fixation of ligaments. A graft, attached between previously cut bone blocks, is placed under tension in a graft tunnel. The screw is driven between the bone to which the graft is being fixed and a corresponding one of the bone blocks. The screw includes an end portion having rounded back edges for protecting the graft from inadvertent damage after the sheath has been removed. The screw may be cannulated for insertion over a prepositioned guide pin. The guide pin has a larger than normal diameter to prevent the pin from bending during insertion. The screw cannulation is sufficiently large to accommodate the enlarged guide pin. The sheath has a cutout at one end such that during screw insertion, the graft is covered by the sheath and protected from the threads of the screw, while the bone to which the graft is being fixed is exposed to the threads of the screw.

Abstract: A coring reamer and method for creating a tibial tunnel and producing a bone graft for arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. A conventional guide pin is drilled through the tibia and removed. A collared guide pin is then inserted through the guide pin tunnel until the collar abuts against the tibia. A cannulated core saw is slid over the guide pin and collar to engage the tibia. The tibial tunnel is reamed by driving the core saw into the tibia.