Soft tissue repair system

Abstract

A suture anchor delivery system includes a handle having a needle extending therefrom. A suture anchor assembly is slidably received on the needle. The suture anchor assembly includes a proximal anchor, a distal anchor, and a suture extending therebetween. The suture is secured to the proximal anchor by forming a loop in the suture and passing the loop at least partially through a passageway in the proximal anchor. One end of the suture is then secured to the distal anchor. The other end of the suture is passed through the loop and terminates in a free end to selectively lock the suture against the proximal anchor. A retraction line is passed through the loop to allow a surgeon to selectively adjust the length of the suture between the two anchors and/or to selectively unlock the suture from the proximal anchor.

1 . A suture anchor assembly comprising: 
 an anchor having a first passageway extending through at least a portion of the anchor;    a suture comprising a proximal end and an opposing distal end, a portion of the suture between the proximal end and the distal end being formed into a loop, the loop being at least partially passed through the first passageway, at least one of the proximal end or the distal end of the suture being passed through the loop such that pulling on at least one of the proximal end or the distal end of the suture that is passed through the loop causes the suture to selectively lock against the anchor; and    a retraction line threaded through the loop of the suture such that the application of tension by the retraction line on the loop causes the suture to selectively unlock from the anchor.    
   
   
       2 . A suture anchor assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second passageway extending through at least a portion of the anchor, a portion of the proximal end or the distal end of the suture that is passed through the loop passing through the second passageway before passing through the loop.  
   
   
       3 . A suture anchor assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a third passageway extending through at least a portion of the anchor, a portion of the proximal end or the distal end of the suture that is not passed through the loop passing through the third passageway.  
   
   
       4 . A suture anchor assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a channel recessed on the anchor, the channel intersecting with the first passageway.  
   
   
       5 . A suture anchor assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second anchor, the suture being secured to the second anchor distal of the loop.  
   
   
       6 . A suture anchor assembly comprising: 
 an anchor having a first passageway and a spaced apart second passageway each extending through at least a portion of the anchor;    a suture comprising a proximal end and an opposing distal end, a portion of the suture between the proximal end and the distal end passing through the first passageway and the second passageway so as to form a loop, at least one of the proximal end or the distal end of the suture being passed through the loop such that pulling on at least one of the proximal end or distal end of the suture that is passed through the loop causes the suture to selectively lock against the anchor; and    a retraction line threaded through the loop of the suture such that the application of tension by the retraction line on the loop causes the suture to selectively unlock from the anchor.    
   
   
       7 . The suture anchor assembly recited in  claim 6 , wherein the loop is coiled so as to form a closed loop, the suture and retraction line passing through the closed loop.  
   
   
       8 . The suture anchor assembly recited in  claim 6 , wherein the proximal end of the suture is passed through the loop.  
   
   
       9 . The suture anchor assembly recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a third passageway extending through the anchor, the suture passing through the third passageway prior to passing through the loop.  
   
   
       10 . A suture anchor assembly comprising: 
 an anchor comprising: 
 a top surface and an opposing bottom surface;  
 an elongated channel recessed into the bottom surface; and  
 a first passageway and a spaced apart second passageway extending from the top surface to the channel; and  
   a suture comprising a proximal end and an opposing distal end, a portion of the suture between the proximal end and the distal end being formed into a loop, the loop being at least partially passed through the first passageway, at least one of the proximal end or the distal end of the suture being passed through the second passageway and then through the loop such that pulling on the proximal end or the distal end of the suture that is passed through the loop causes the suture to selectively lock against the anchor.    
   
   
       11 . A suture anchor assembly as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a retraction line threaded through the loop of the suture such that tension can be applied on the loop through the retraction line.  
   
   
       12 . A suture anchor assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the anchor further comprises a third passageway, wherein the proximal end or the distal end of the suture that is not passed through the loop is passed through the third passageway.  
   
   
       13 . A suture anchor assembly as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a second anchor, wherein the proximal end or the distal end of the suture that is not passed through the loop is secured to the second anchor.  
   
   
       14 . A suture anchor assembly as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a channel recessed on the anchor, the channel intersecting with the first passageway and the second passageway.