Knotless suture anchor and method for knotlessly securing tissues

Abstract

A method for securing first and second tissues with a suture anchor comprising the steps of forming a borehole in the first tissue; threading a suture through the second tissue forming a loop in the suture with the tissue thereby secured in the loop, the loop defining two suture portions; attaching the two suture portions to the anchor whereby the two suture portions are threaded through the anchor and initially movable with respect to the anchor; and providing a force to a shaft of the anchor, the force causing clamping of the two suture portions in the anchor and deformation of a deformable portion of the anchor to cause the deformable portion to engage a wall of the borehole thereby to secure the suture anchor in the first tissue and the loop holding the second tissue to the suture anchor.

1 . A method for securing first and second tissues with a suture anchor comprising the steps of:
 forming a borehole in the first tissue;   threading a suture through the second tissue forming a loop in the suture with the tissue thereby secured in the loop, the loop defining two suture portions;   attaching the two suture portions to the anchor whereby the two suture portions are threaded through the anchor and initially movable with respect to the anchor; and   providing a force to a shaft of the anchor, the force causing clamping of the two suture portions in the anchor and deformation of a deformable portion of the anchor to cause the deformable portion to engage a wall of the borehole thereby to secure the suture anchor in the first tissue and the loop holding the second tissue to the suture anchor.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of clamping comprises providing a spacing between two clamping members in the anchor and frictionally engaging the two suture portions between the clamping members when the force is applied to the suture anchor. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising providing a convoluted path for the two suture portions in the anchor to assist in securement of the suture portions in the suture anchor. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the path is U-shaped. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of attaching comprises threading the two suture portions through an opening in the shaft and clamping the two suture portions between the opening in the shaft and a clamping member of the suture anchor. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of clamping comprises moving the shaft proximally to cause deformation of the deformable portion, and clamping the two suture portions between a distal wall of the opening and the clamping member disposed proximally with respect to the deformable portion and coaxially about the shaft. 
   
   
       7 . A method for securing first and second tissues with a suture anchor comprising the steps of:
 forming a borehole in the first tissue;   threading a suture through the second tissue forming a loop in the suture with the tissue thereby secured in the loop, the loop defining two suture portions;   attaching the two suture portions to the anchor whereby at least one of the two suture portions is threaded through the anchor and initially movable with respect to the anchor; and   providing a force to a shaft of the anchor, the force causing clamping of the at least one of the two suture portions in the anchor and deformation of a deformable portion of the anchor to cause the deformable portion to engage a wall of the borehole thereby to secure the suture anchor is the first tissue and the loop holding the second tissue to the suture anchor,   further comprising locking said deformable portion and shaft together to ensure that said at least one of the two suture portions is securely held to said anchor.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of locking comprises providing at least one proximally disposed stop member directed proximally on a first concentric member surrounding the shaft for engagement with a shoulder on the shaft to prevent movement of the shaft and the concentric member after deformation of the deformable portion. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising crimping said stop member radially inwardly securely against the shaft and in abutment with the shoulder.