Method of connecting body tissue to a bone

Abstract

An improved method of connecting body tissue to a bone in a body. The method includes utilizing an anchor with a conical leading end, a trailing end, a central longitudinal axis passing through the leading and trailing ends, at least two suture passages extending through the anchor transverse to the central longitudinal axis, and a length. The leading end of the anchor has a maximum dimension transverse to the central longitudinal axis that is less than a maximum dimension of the trailing end transverse to the central longitudinal axis. The anchor includes at least one of the suture passages having a portion of a suture positioned therein. The method includes advancing the anchor to insert the leading end of the anchor first through an aperture in a cortical layer of the bone to place the entire anchor within cancellous tissue of the bone, wherein the length of the anchor is greater than a width of the aperture. The method also includes applying a force to the anchor by pulling on the suture to rotate the anchor within the cancellous tissue of the bone to prevent the anchor from passing back through the aperture in the cortical layer of the bone. The method also includes attaching the suture to the body tissue to be connected to the bone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of connecting body tissue to a bone in a body, the method comprising:
 utilizing an anchor having a conical leading end, a trailing end, a central longitudinal axis passing through the leading and trailing ends, at least two suture passages extending through the anchor transverse to the central longitudinal axis, and a length, the leading end having a maximum dimension transverse to the central longitudinal axis that is less than a maximum dimension of the trailing end transverse to the central longitudinal axis, at least one of the suture passages having a portion of a suture positioned therein;   advancing the anchor to insert the leading end of the anchor first through an aperture in a cortical layer of the bone to place the entire anchor is within cancellous tissue of the bone, the length of the anchor being greater than a width of the aperture;   applying a force to the anchor by pulling on the suture to rotate the anchor within the cancellous tissue of the bone to prevent the anchor from passing back through the aperture in the cortical layer of the bone; and   attaching the suture to the body tissue to be connected to the hone.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the force to the anchor includes rotating the anchor approximately 90 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein utilizing the anchor includes one of the suture passages being proximate the conical leading end of the anchor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of: bone, autogenic bone, lyophilized bone, cortical bone, polymer, bioerodible polymer, biodegradable polymer, allograft, xenograft, metal, titanium, and stainless steel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suture is polymeric, 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body tissue to be connected to the bone is a ligament or tendon. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body tissue to be connected to the bone comprises multiple layers. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein utilizing the anchor includes the at least two suture passages being parallel to one another. 
     
     
         9 . A method of connecting body tissue to a bone in a body with a suture having first and second suture portions, the method comprising:
 forming an aperture in a cortical layer of the bone;   using an anchor having a tapered leading end, a trailing end, a central longitudinal axis extending through the tapered leading end and the trailing end, a first opening located at least in part, within the tapered leading end, a second opening transverse to the central longitudinal axis, and a length longer than a maximum dimension of the aperture formed in the cortical layer of the bone, the first suture portion being positioned in the first opening, and the second suture portion extending through the second opening;   inserting the anchor through the aperture formed in the cortical layer of the bone until the anchor is within cancellous tissue of the bone;   pulling the first and second suture portions to rotate the anchor within the cancellous tissue of the bone to prevent the anchor from passing back through the aperture in the cortical layer of the bone; and   attaching the suture to the body tissue to the connected to the bone.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the anchor is rotated approximately 90 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the cancellous tissue of the bone serves as a fulcrum, and leverage is created by the location of the first opening at least in part within the tapered leading end. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the anchor is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of: bone, autogenic bone, lyophilized bone, cortical bone, polymer, bioerodible polymer, biodegradable polymer, allograft, xenograft, metal, titanium, and stainless steel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the suture is polymeric. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the body tissue to be connected is a ligament or tendon. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the body tissue to be connected comprises multiple layers.