All-suture suture anchor systems and methods

摘要

A method of anchoring soft tissue to a suitable bone site, using a soft suture anchor, includes steps of disposing the soft suture anchor on a shaft of an inserter, and securing a proximal end of a tensioning suture limb, extending proximally from the soft suture anchor, to structure in a handle of the inserter, so that it is maintained in place at a first level of holding tension (Thold). The inserter shaft is inserted into a bone hole at a desired procedural site, so that the soft suture anchor is positioned at a location where it is to be anchored. A further step involves actuating a control mechanism in the inserter handle to move the structure proximally to apply a second level of deployment tension (Tload) to the tensioning suture limb.

主权项

1. A soft suture anchoring system, comprising:
a suture anchor fabricated entirely of soft material, comprising a length of suture having a plurality of loops disposed therein and further comprising a tensioning suture limb disposed along the suture anchor and extending from one end of the suture anchor; an inserter for inserting the suture anchor into a bone hole, the inserter comprising a shaft for holding and deploying the suture anchor and a handle proximal to the shaft; said handle comprising a crossbar disposed transversely across a width of said handle and attachable to the tensioning suture limb for holding and maintaining the tensioning limb under a first level of holding tension (Thold) sufficient to hold the tensioning suture limb in place, and a tensioning knob disposed entirely proximally of said crossbar, which tensioning knob moves said crossbar proximally to apply a second level of deployment tension (Tload) to the tensioning limb to expand a lateral dimension of the suture anchor in order to deploy the anchor, wherein the crossbar is connected to the shaft, so that the crossbar moves axially when the shaft moves axially; and a pinching device disposed adjacent to the crossbar and having a surface for pinching the tensioning suture limb against the crossbar.