System and Method for Anchoring Suture to Bone

Abstract

A system for attaching soft tissue to bone includes an anchor, a suture, and a tissue retainer. The anchor may have a threaded tip that engages the bone, and a suture retention portion with passageways arranged such that each of first and second anchor portions of the suture can be drawn through the passageways along only a single direction. The tissue retainer has passageways through which the suture can freely move in either direction. Thus, the anchor and the tissue retainer may be attached to bone and tissue, respectively, and the suture may be drawn to substantially irreversibly draw the bone and tissue together. In alternative embodiments, an anchor may receive only one portion of suture and/or one suture end may be affixed to the anchor. The anchor may alternatively permit free motion of the suture, while the tissue retainer permits passage of the suture along only one direction.

1 . A system for attaching a bone and a tissue together via a suture, the system comprising:
 an anchor comprising:
 a bone retention portion configured to engage the bone to attach the anchor to the bone; and 
 a suture retention portion attached to the bone retention portion, the suture retention portion comprising a plurality of passageways arranged to receive the suture, and a first notch positioned to receive a compressed section of the suture such that the compressed section is compressed against the first notch by a compression section of the suture. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bone retention portion comprises a threaded tip having a plurality of threads shaped to engage the bone to attach the anchor to the bone. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the suture comprises first and second anchor portions, wherein the first anchor portion extends along a first pathway through the passageways and the second anchor portion extends along a second pathway through the passageways, wherein the first and second anchor portions under tension can only be advanced in a single direction along the first and second pathways, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second anchor portions are able to be independently drawn along the first and second pathways, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first anchor portion comprises the compression section and the compressed section, wherein the suture retention portion further comprises a second notch positioned to receive a compressed section of the second anchor portion such that the compressed section of the second anchor portion is compressed against the second notch by a compression section of the second anchor portion. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first notch is oriented substantially perpendicular to at least one passageway of the plurality of passageways. 
     
     
         7 . A system for attaching a bone and a tissue together via a suture comprising first and second anchor portions, the system comprising:
 an anchor comprising:
 a bone retention portion configured to engage the bone to attach the anchor to the bone; and 
 a first suture retention portion attached to the bone retention portion, the first suture retention portion comprising a plurality of passageways arranged to define first and second pathways along which each of the first and second anchor portions under tension is able to be advanced along only a single direction, independent of advancement of the other of the first and second anchor portions. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the passageways comprise a primary passageway, a first secondary passageway, and a second secondary passageway, wherein the first pathway passes through the primary passageway and the first secondary passageway, and the second pathway passes through the primary passageway and the second secondary passageway. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second pathways are substantially symmetrical to each other across a long axis of the anchor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of passageways comprises two passageways symmetrically displaced from each other across a long axis of the anchor. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a tissue retainer comprising a second suture retention portion configured to retain a retainer portion of the suture. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second suture retention portion comprises one or more passageways through which the retainer portion is relatively freely movable along a retainer pathway, along either direction. 
     
     
         13 . A method for coupling a suture to a bone through the use of an anchor, the method comprising:
 inserting the suture along a first pathway through a plurality of passageways of a suture retention portion of the anchor, such that the suture under tension can only be advanced in a single direction along the first pathway; and   rotating the anchor about an axis to induce engagement the anchor with the bone, thereby attaching the anchor to the bone.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the bone retention portion comprises a threaded tip having a plurality of threads, wherein inducing engagement of the anchor with the bone comprises engaging the bone with the threads in response to rotation of the anchor to attach the anchor to the bone. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the threaded tip comprises a sharpened shape, the method further comprising:
 positioning the threaded tip against the bone; and   pressing the tip against the bone along the axis to induce penetration of the bone by the threaded tip.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the suture comprises first and second anchor portions, wherein inserting the suture along the first pathway comprises inserting the first anchor portion along the first pathway and inserting the second anchor portion along the second pathway such that the second anchor portion under tension can only be advanced in a single direction along the second pathway. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising drawing one of the first and second anchor portions along the corresponding pathway of the first and second pathways independently of motion of the other of the first and second anchor portions. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the passageways comprise a primary passageway, a first secondary passageway, and a second secondary passageway, wherein inserting the first anchor portion along the first pathway comprises inserting the first anchor portion through the primary passageway and the first secondary passageway, wherein inserting the second anchor portion along the second pathway comprises inserting the second anchor portion through the primary passageway and the second secondary passageway. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the suture retention portion comprises a notch positioned adjacent to the passageways, wherein retaining the first anchor portion comprises receiving a compressed section of the suture such that the compressed section is compressed against the notch by a compression section of the suture to substantially prevent motion of the suture through the passageways in a manner that permits the tissue retainer to move apart from the anchor.