Self-punching swivel anchor and method for knotless fixation of tissue

Abstract

A method and device for knotless fixation of tissue. A swivel anchor having a rotatable implant is used to capture suture for surgical tissue repair without requiring suture knots. The implant may be provided with a conical metal tip which is self-punching and avoids the need for pre-drilling a hole in bone. The implant includes a closed aperture to allow free sliding of a suture strand. The swivel anchor is secured in a hole in bone by advancing a fixation device, such as a cannulated interference screw, over the body of the implant.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 802,057, filed on May 18, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 801,097, filed on May 18, 2006, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to methods and instruments for fixation of sutures and tissue to bone.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]When soft tissue tears away from bone, reattachment becomes necessary. Various devices, including sutures, screws, staples, wedges, anchors and plugs have been used in the prior art to secure soft tissue to bone. Surgical methods utilizing suture anchors alone are disadvantageous for reattachment of large areas of detached tissue because they often do not allow good tissue to bone contact.[0004]Reattachment of soft tissue to bone typically requires the surgeon to pass suture material through selected tissue, form a plurality of surgical knots extr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The instruments and methods of the present invention overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, such as those noted above, by providing a swivel implant at the distal end of a driver that securely engages and lock

Problems solved by technology

Surgical methods utilizing suture anchors alone are disadvantageous for reattachment of large areas of detached tissue because they often do not allow good tissue to bone contact.

Knot tying during surgery, particularly arthroscopic surgery, is tedious and time-consuming.

There is also a tendency for the knots to deform or collapse as the surgeon manually forces the knots down into the proper position.

Also, the suture knots often are exposed to abrasion or cutting by sharp or rough areas along the walls of the bone canal into which anchors are typically inserted to provide fixation of tendon to bone.

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