Method and apparatus for securing tissue

Abstract

An anchor has a pointed end portion may be utilized to form an opening in a bone in a patient's body. The anchor is moved into the opening formed in the bone in the patient's body with a suture connected to the anchor. The suture may then be utilized to retain body tissue in a desired position relative to the bone. The body tissue may be either hard or soft body tissue. If desired, the anchor may be utilized in conjunction with layers of soft body tissue. When a suture is used it may be secured by connecting a retainer with the suture. Alternatively, sections of the suture may be interconnected. It is believed that it may be preferred to secure the suture in place after at least a predetermined tension has been established in the suture and/or a predetermined force has been transmitted to the body tissue. The suture may be secured in place by exposing a retainer to ultrasonic vibratory energy or by applying the ultrasonic vibratory energy directly to sections of the suture.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for securing a suture relative to a body tissue in a patient's body, comprising 
 a body portion defining a longitudinal central axis and including a first end and a second end, the second end including a pointed end portion; and    a plurality of openings each defining a passage through the body portion orthogonal to the longitudinal central axis.    
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body portion is substantially cylindrical.  
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pointed end portion is conical in shape.  
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pointed end portion is wedge-shaped.  
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pointed end portion is formed by the intersection of a plurality of surface.  
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of surfaces is flat.  
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of surfaces is concave.  
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of passages are substantially parallel.  
     
     
         9 . A device for securing a suture relative to a body tissue in a patient's body, comprising 
 a cylindrical body defining a longitudinal central axis and a pointed end portion having a central axis which is coincident with the longitudinal central axis of the cylindrical body,    a first opening defining a first passage through the cylindrical body in a direction transverse to the longitudinal central axis of the cylindrical body, and    a second opening defining a second passage through the cylindrical body in a direction transverse to the longitudinal central axis of the cylindrical body.    
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the first passage and the second passage are substantially parallel.  
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the pointed end portion forms an opening in the body tissue in the patient's body when a force is applied against a trailing end of the cylindrical body in a direction extending along the longitudinal central axis of the cylindrical body.  
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the cylindrical body is made of bone.  
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the bone is allogenic bone.  
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the bone is autogenic bone.  
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the bone is xenogenic bone.  
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the bone is cortical bone.  
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the cylindrical body is formed of a single piece of freeze dried bone.  
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the cylindrical body is made of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, biodegradable material, and bioerodible material.  
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the body tissue is soft tissue.  
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the body tissue is bone.  
     
     
         21 . A device for securing a suture relative to a body tissue in a patient's body, comprising 
 a cylindrical body defining a longitudinal central axis and including a substantially conical end portion having a central axis which is coincident with the longitudinal central axis of the cylindrical body, wherein the cylindrical body is made of bone;    a first opening defining a first passage through the cylindrical body in a direction transverse to the longitudinal central axis of the cylindrical body; and    a second opening defining a second passage through the cylindrical body substantially parallel to the first opening,    wherein the conical end portion forms an opening in the body tissue in the patient's body when a force is applied against a trailing end of the cylindrical body in a direction extending along the longitudinal central axis of the cylindrical body.