Anchor and method for securing a suture

Abstract

An improved anchor and device to secure a suture relative to bone. The anchor includes a generally cylindrical body portion with an opening extending from the leading end to the trailing end adapted to receive at least a portion of the suture and at least a portion of a tool therein. The anchor also includes at least two projections configured to extend from the anchor when the anchor is deployed in the bone. The anchor is configured to confine at least two suture portions between the body portion and the bone when the anchor is deployed in the bone. The anchor is also configured to have a first maximum dimension transverse to the central longitudinal axis of the body portion, and a greater second maximum dimension transverse to the central longitudinal axis when the anchor is deployed in the bone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An anchor configured to secure a suture relative to bone, the anchor comprising:
 a generally cylindrical body portion having a leading end, a trailing end, a central longitudinal axis, and an opening extending from the leading end to the trailing end configured to receive at least a portion of the suture and at least a portion of a tool therein;   at least two projections configured to extend from the anchor when the anchor is deployed in the bone, the projections configured to engage the bone and secure the anchor in the bone;   the anchor being configured to confine at least two suture portions between the body portion and the bone when the anchor is deployed in the bone; and   the anchor being configured to have a first maximum dimension transverse to the central longitudinal axis of the body portion and a second maximum dimension transverse to the central longitudinal axis of the body portion, the second maximum dimension configured to be greater than the first maximum dimension when the anchor is deployed in the bone.   
     
     
         2 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is configured to be withdrawn from the body portion. 
     
     
         3 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is formed of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         4 . The anchor of  claim 3 , wherein the polymeric material is hydrophilic. 
     
     
         5 . The anchor of  claim 3 , wherein the polymeric material is one selected from the group consisting of cellulose, petroylglutamic acid, high purity carboxymethylcellulose, a collagen, and a polylactide. 
     
     
         6 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is made of one from the group consisting of autogenic bone, allogenic bone, xenogenic bone, a biodegradable material, a non-biodegradable material, polycaperlactone, metal, a biodegradable copolymer, and a bioerodible copolymer. 
     
     
         7 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the trailing end includes a generally flat surface transverse to the central longitudinal axis adapted to bear an insertion force. 
     
     
         8 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the trailing end is configured to releasably receive the at least a portion of the tool therein. 
     
     
         9 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the leading end has a tapered configuration. 
     
     
         10 . A method of securing a suture with respect to bone, the method comprising:
 utilizing an anchor comprising a generally cylindrical body portion having a leading end, a trailing end, a central longitudinal axis, and an opening extending from the leading end to the trailing end configured to receive at least a portion of the suture therein, and at least two bone engaging projections extending from the body portion configured to engage the bone and secure the anchor in a desired position in the bone;   applying pressure to the anchor with a pusher member to move the anchor into the bone with at least two suture portions extending out of the opening;   moving an elongate member within the pusher member and the opening of the body portion; and   expanding the anchor from a first maximum dimension transverse to the central longitudinal axis to a second maximum dimension transverse to the central longitudinal axis after the insertion of the anchor in the bone.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising withdrawing the elongate member from the opening. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the anchor is formed of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the polymeric material is hydrophilic. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the polymeric material is one selected from the group consisting of cellulose, petroylglutamic acid, high purity carboxymethylcellulose, a collagen, and a polylactide. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising applying force to tension the at least two suture portions extending out of the opening. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising tying the at least two suture portions extending out of the opening. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising utilizing at least one additional anchor, and applying pressure through an additional pusher member to the at least one additional anchor to move it into another desired position in the bone, and having at least two additional suture portions extending from an opening therein. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising tying the at least two additional suture portions extending from the opening of the at least one additional anchor.