Suture Anchoring System and Method

Abstract

A suture anchoring system and method includes a plurality of anchor members interconnected to form an anchor assembly with a suture extending therefrom. The anchor assembly has an insertion configuration wherein the anchor members are aligned in a substantially linear arrangement for delivery through an aperture in bodily tissue and an expanded configuration wherein the anchor members are transitioned to a non-linear arrangement to prevent passage of the anchor assembly back through the aperture.

1 . A suture anchoring system, comprising:
 a suture; and   at least three anchor members interconnected to form an anchor assembly with said suture extending therefrom, said anchor assembly having an insertion configuration wherein said at least three anchor members are aligned in a substantially linear arrangement sized for delivery through an aperture in bodily tissue and being transitionable to an expanded configuration wherein said at least three anchor members are positioned in a non-linear arrangement sized to prevent passage of said anchor assembly back through the aperture, said non-linear arrangement selected from the group consisting of a triangular-shaped arrangement of said at least three anchor members and a side-by-side arrangement of said at least three anchor members.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said non-linear arrangement comprises said triangular-shaped arrangement of said at least three anchor members. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said non-linear arrangement comprises said side-by-side arrangement of said at least three anchor members. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said side-by-side arrangement of said at least three anchor members comprises an alignment of said at least three anchor members in a substantially parallel relationship relative to one another. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each of said at least three anchor members includes opposite first and second end portions; and
 wherein said side-by-side arrangement of said at least three anchor members comprises an alignment wherein said first end portions of said at least three anchor members are positioned adjacent one another and wherein said second end portions of said at least three anchor members are positioned adjacent one another.   
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least three anchor members are interconnected in series to form said anchor assembly. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least three anchor members include first and second outer anchor members and at least one intermediate anchor member. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one intermediate anchor member is positioned transversely between said first and second outer anchor members to at least partially define said non-linear arrangement of said at least three anchor members. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said first and second outer anchor members are drawn toward one another to at least partially define said non-linear arrangement of said at least three anchor members. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said non-linear arrangement comprises said triangular-shaped arrangement of said at least three anchor members with said at least one intermediate anchor member extending transversely between said first and second outer anchor members. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each of said first and second outer anchor members includes first and second end portions, said at least one intermediate anchor member extending laterally between said first end portions of said outer anchor members, said second end portions of said outer anchor members being drawn toward one another to provide said triangular-shaped arrangement of said at least three anchor members. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said non-linear arrangement comprises said side-by-side arrangement of said at least three anchor members with said at least one intermediate anchor member positioned laterally between said first and second outer anchor members. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said anchor assembly comprises two of said intermediate anchor members positioned laterally between said first and second outer anchor members in a side-by-side relationship to define said expanded configuration of said anchor assembly. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first actuating element extending through a first loop structure associated with said first outer anchor member and through a second loop structure associated with said second outer anchor member; and   a second actuating element secured to said anchor assembly adjacent said at least one intermediate anchor member; and   wherein said first and second outer anchor members are drawn toward one another by pulling said first actuating element in a direction away from said anchor assembly to at least partially transition said anchor assembly toward said expanded configuration; and   wherein said at least one intermediate anchor member is positioned laterally between said first and second outer anchor members by pulling said second actuating element in a direction away from said anchor assembly to further transition said anchor assembly toward said expanded configuration   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising an actuating element extending through a first loop structure associated with said first outer anchor member and through a second loop structure associated with said second outer anchor member; and
 wherein said first and second outer anchor members are drawn toward one another by pulling said actuating element in a direction away from said anchor assembly to at least partially transition said anchor assembly toward said expanded configuration.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein each of said at least three anchor members has a tubular configuration defining an axial passage extending therethrough, said at least three anchor members being serially interconnected by a linking element extending through said axial passage in each of said at least three anchor members to form said anchor assembly, looped end portions of said linking element defining said first and second loop structures associated with said first and second outer anchor members. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein each of said linking element and said actuating element comprises a suture. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein each of said at least three anchor members has a tubular configuration defining an axial passage extending therethrough, said at least three anchor members being serially interconnected by a linking element extending through said axial passage in each of said at least three anchor members to form said anchor assembly. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising an actuating element extending through a first looped end portion of said linking element adjacent said first outer anchor member and through a second looped end portion of said linking element adjacent said second outer anchor member; and
 wherein said first and second outer anchor members are drawn toward one another by pulling said actuating element in a direction away from said anchor assembly to at least partially transition said anchor assembly toward said expanded configuration.   
   
   
       20 .- 55 . (canceled) 
   
   
       56 . A suture anchoring system, comprising:
 a suture; and   at least three anchor members interconnected to form an anchor assembly with said suture extending therefrom, said anchor assembly having an insertion configuration wherein said at least three anchor members are aligned in a substantially linear arrangement sized for delivery through an aperture in bodily tissue and being transitionable to an expanded configuration wherein said at least three anchor members are positioned in a triangular-shaped arrangement sized to prevent passage of said anchor assembly back through the aperture; and   wherein said at least three anchor members include outer anchor members and at least one intermediate anchor member, each of said outer anchor members including first and second end portions, said at least one intermediate anchor member extending laterally between said first end portions of said outer anchor members, said second end portions of said outer anchor members positioned adjacent one another to provide said triangular-shaped arrangement of said at least three anchor members.   
   
   
       57 . A suture anchoring system, comprising:
 a suture; and   at least three anchor members interconnected to form an anchor assembly with said suture extending therefrom, said anchor assembly having an insertion configuration wherein said at least three anchor members are aligned in a substantially linear arrangement sized for delivery through an aperture in bodily tissue and being transitionable to an expanded configuration wherein said at least three anchor members are positioned in a side-by-side arrangement sized to prevent passage of said anchor assembly back through the aperture; and   wherein said at least three anchor members include outer anchor members and at least one intermediate anchor member, each of said at least three anchor members including opposite first and second end portions, said first end portions of said at least three anchor members positioned adjacent one another and said second end portions of said at least three anchor members positioned adjacent one another to provide said side-by-side arrangement of said at least three anchor members.   
   
   
       58 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein said side-by-side arrangement of said at least three anchor members comprises an alignment of said at least three anchor members in a substantially parallel relationship relative to one another. 
   
   
       59 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein said anchor assembly comprises two of said intermediate anchor members positioned between said outer anchor members in a side-by-side relationship to define said side-by-side arrangement of said at least three anchor members.