Tissue Anchors, Kits, and Associated Methods

Abstract

Tissue anchors, kits that include a tissue anchor, and methods of anchoring tissue to a bone are described. An example embodiment of a tissue anchor includes a screw and a stem releasably attached to the screw. The screw defines a first opening, a second opening, and a lumen that extends from the first opening to the second opening. A portion of the stem is sized and configured to be received within the lumen defined by the screw.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tissue anchor comprising:
 a screw having a lengthwise axis, a screw main body, and a thread extending from the screw main body and away from the lengthwise axis, the screw main body defining a first opening, a second opening, and a lumen extending from the first opening to the second opening; and   a stem releasably attached to the screw and partially disposed within the lumen defined by the screw, the stem having a stem proximal end, a stem distal end, and a stem main body defining a first portion, a second portion, a first recess, a second recess, a first passageway, and a second passageway, the first portion of the stem having a first portion proximal end, a first portion distal end disposed between the stem proximal end and the stem distal end, and a first outside diameter, the second portion of the stein having a second outside diameter that is greater than the first outside diameter, each of the first recess and the second recess defined on the first portion of the stem and extending from the first portion proximal end to the first portion distal end, each of the first and second passageways extending through the second portion of the stem and in communication with the lumen defined by the screw.   
     
     
         2 . The tissue anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the stem has a first side and a second side; and
 wherein the first recess is positioned on the first side of the first portion of the stem and the second recess is positioned on the second side of the first portion of the stem.   
     
     
         3 . The tissue anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the stein has a second portion proximal end disposed between the stem proximal end and the stem distal end and a second portion distal end; and
 wherein each of the first passageway and the second passageway has an opening defined on the second portion proximal end.   
     
     
         4 . The tissue anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the stem has a second portion proximal end disposed between the stem proximal end and the stein distal end, a second portion distal end, and a second portion length extending from the second portion proximal end to the second portion distal end; and
 wherein each of the first passageway and the second passageway extends through the entire second portion length.   
     
     
         5 . The tissue anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the stem has a first portion length extending from the first portion proximal end to the first portion distal end;
 wherein the second portion of the stein has a second portion proximal end disposed between the stem proximal end and the stem distal end, a second portion distal end, and a second portion length extending from the second portion proximal end to the second portion distal end, the second portion length being less than the first portion length.   
     
     
         6 . The tissue anchor of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first passageway and the second passageway extends only through die second portion. 
     
     
         7 . The tissue anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the screw main body has a screw proximal end, a screw distal end, a distal portion extending from the screw distal end toward the screw proximal end, a third outside diameter at the screw proximal end, and a fourth outside diameter at the screw distal end that is less than the third outside diameter, the outside diameter of the screw main body tapering along the distal portion of the screw main body. 
     
     
         8 . The tissue anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the first recess has a first radius of curvature and the second recess has a second radius of curvature that is the same as the first radius of curvature. 
     
     
         9 . The tissue anchor of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first passageway and the second passageway has an oval cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         10 . The tissue anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the first passageway is disposed adjacent to the first recess and the second passageway is disposed adjacent to the second recess. 
     
     
         11 . The tissue anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the stem main body defines a first continuous surface extending from the first portion proximal end to the first portion distal end. 
     
     
         12 . Ile tissue anchor of  claim 11 , wherein the first continuous surface defines a portion of the first passageway and the first recess. 
     
     
         13 . The tissue anchor of  claim 11 , wherein the first continuous surface defines the entire first recess. 
     
     
         14 . The tissue anchor of  claim 11 , wherein the stem main body defines a second continuous surface extending from the first portion proximal end to the first portion distal end. 
     
     
         15 . The tissue anchor of  claim 14 , wherein the second continuous surface defines a portion of the second passageway and the second recess. 
     
     
         16 . The tissue anchor of  claim 14 , wherein the second continuous surface defines the entire second recess. 
     
     
         17 . A tissue anchor comprising
 a screw having a lengthwise axis, a screw main body, and a thread extending from the screw main body and away from the lengthwise axis, the screw main body defining a first opening, a second opening, and a lumen extending from the first opening to the second opening; and   a stem releasably attached to the screw and partially disposed within the lumen defined by the screw, the stem having a stem proximal end, a stem distal end, and a stem main body defining a first portion, a second portion, a first recess, a second recess, a first passageway, and a second passageway, the first portion of the stem having a first portion proximal end, a first portion distal end disposed between the stem proximal end and the stem distal end, and a first outside diameter, the second portion of the stem having a second portion proximal end disposed between the stein proximal end and the stem distal end, a second portion distal end, a second portion length extending from the second portion proximal end to the second portion distal end, and a second outside diameter that is greater than the first outside diameter, each of the first recess and the second recess defined on the first portion of the stem and extending from the first portion proximal end to the first portion distal end, each of the first and second passageways extending only through the second portion and in communication with the lumen defined by the screw, each of the first and second passageways extending through the entire second portion length.   
     
     
         18 . A method of anchoring tissue to a bone comprising:
 creating an opening over said tissue;   locating said tissue;   selecting a tissue anchor comprising:
 a screw having a lengthwise axis, a screw main body, and a thread extending from the screw main body and away from the lengthwise axis, the screw main body defining a first opening, a second opening, and a lumen extending from die first opening to the second opening; and 
 a stem releasably attached to the screw and partially disposed within the lumen defined by the screw, the stem having a stem proximal end, a stem distal end, and a stem main body defining a first portion, a second portion, a first recess, a second recess, a first passageway, and a second passageway, the first portion of the stem having a first portion proximal end, a first portion distal end disposed between the stem proximal end and the stem distal end, and a first outside diameter, the second portion of the stem having a second outside diameter that is greater than the first outside diameter, each of the first recess and the second recess defined on the first portion of the stem and extending from the first portion proximal end to the first portion distal end, each of the first and second passageways extending through the second portion of the stein and in communication with the lumen defined by the screw; 
   drilling a passageway into said bone;   introducing die screw of die tissue anchor into the passageway;   advancing the screw into the passageway;   passing a suture through the lumen defined by the screw and the first passageway defined by the stem;   passing the suture through the second passageway defined by the stem and the lumen defined by the screw;   positioning a portion of said tissue adjacent the tissue anchor;   attaching said tissue to the screw using the suture such that said tissue is anchored to the screw; and   closing the opening.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tissue anchor has a tissue anchor proximal end and a tissue anchor distal end; and
 wherein advancing the screw into the passageway comprises advancing the screw into the passageway such that the tissue anchor proximal end is coplanar with a surface of said bone.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein attaching said tissue to the screw using the suture such that said tissue is anchored to the screw comprises attaching said tissue to the screw by knotting the suture such that said tissue is anchored to the screw.