Tissue stabilization system

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for tissue stabilization. Some aspects include a carrier member having a length, width, and thickness, wherein the length and width are each at least two times greater than the thickness; attachment members extending from the carrier member and that engage connective tissue; and stabilizing members, each of which can couple a respective attachment member to the carrier member and is substantially positionally fixed relative to the carrier member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for stabilizing connective tissue to bone, the system comprising:
 a carrier having a length, width, and a thickness, the length and width each being at least two times greater than the thickness, the carrier configured to connect to the connective tissue, the carrier, at one end thereof, including an elongated portion with a bulbous tip portion; and   a bone connecting member including a first wall and a second wall with a cavity defined between the first wall and the second wall, the first wall being displaceable relative to the second wall, the cavity defining an enlarged bulge portion at a base of the bone connecting member, the enlarged bulge portion of the cavity sized to receive the bulbous tip portion to couple the carrier member to the bone connecting member.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bone connecting member comprises an exterior surface having threads. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bone connecting member comprises an exterior surface having tines. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall and the second wall of the bone connecting member is displaceable between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein, in the first position, the bulbous tip portion of the carrier is configured to be positioned in enlarged bulge portion of the cavity of the bone connecting member. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein, in the second position, the bone connecting member is configured to collapse around the bulbous tip portion of the carrier member. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein, in the second position, the bone connecting member is sized and configured to be secured to bone via at least one of threads and tines of the bone connecting member. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising attachment members extending from the carrier member, the attachment members configured to couple to the connective tissue.