Self-Cinching Suture Anchors, Systems, and Methods

Abstract

Various self-cinching suture anchors, self-cinching suture anchor systems, and methods of use are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a suture anchor is provided that includes an outer member and an inner member configured to be received within the outer member. The inner and outer members can define a gap that allows a suture to be movably disposed within the outer member, e.g., within the gap, when the inner member is disposed within the outer member. The inner member can be configured to be secured within the outer member by a knot of the suture having a diameter greater than a width of the gap so as to fix the inner member within the outer member, while still allowing uni-directional tensioning of the suture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A surgical method, comprising:
 inserting a suture anchor into bone such that a bone-engaging feature on an external surface of the suture anchor engages the bone;   tensioning a suture extending within an inner lumen of the suture anchor and proximally out of the suture anchor such that a soft tissue attached to the suture is tensioned relative to the bone and the suture anchor;   inserting a plug into the inner lumen of the suture anchor such that the suture is positioned within the inner lumen in a gap between an external surface of the plug and an internal surface of the suture anchor; and   after tensioning the suture and inserting the plug into the inner lumen of the suture anchor, forming a knot in the suture that has a diameter preventing the knot from passing through the gap, the soft tissue providing tension to the suture that pulls the knot toward a distal end of the suture anchor such that the knot retains the plug within the inner lumen of the suture anchor.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein with the soft tissue providing tension to the suture the knot abuts a proximal surface of the plug and pushes the plug distally relative to the suture anchor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the suture is tensioned after the plug is inserted into the inner lumen of the suture anchor such that the tensioning causes the suture to slide within the gap relative to the suture anchor and the plug. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the suture is tensioned before the plug is inserted into the inner lumen of the suture anchor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the suture extends within the inner lumen of the suture anchor before the suture anchor is inserted in the bone. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising extending the suture within the inner lumen of the suture anchor after inserting the suture anchor into the bone and before tensioning the suture. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the suture extends around a suture seating member located in a distal portion of the suture anchor, and tensioning the suture causes the suture to slide relative to the suture seating member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising forming a tunnel in the bone;
 wherein inserting the suture anchor includes inserting the suture anchor into the tunnel.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising forming a hole in the bone;
 wherein inserting the suture anchor includes inserting the suture anchor into the hole.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein inserting the suture anchor into the bone causes a hole to be formed in the bone. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the bone-engaging feature includes a tooth, a ridge, a flange, a rib, a barb, a protrusion, or a thread. 
     
     
         21 . A surgical method, comprising:
 inserting an inner member of a suture anchor into an outer member of the suture anchor that is disposed in bone, and thereafter sliding a suture within a gap between an external surface of the inner member and an internal surface of the outer member, the suture being attached to a soft tissue such that sliding the suture within the gap causes the soft tissue to be tensioned and adjusted in position relative to the bone, the inner member, and the outer member;   wherein tension from the soft tissue causes a knot, which is formed in the suture and has a diameter greater than a width of the gap, to self-cinch and push against a proximal surface of the suture anchor and thereby retain the inner member within the outer member.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the suture is freely slidable in only one direction within the gap. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the suture extends within an inner lumen of the outer member and around a suture seating member located in a distal portion of the outer member, and sliding the suture within the gap causes the suture to slide relative to the suture seating member. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the inner member is inserted into the outer member until a distal surface of the inner member abuts the suture seating member. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the suture extends within an inner lumen of the outer member before the outer member is disposed in the bone. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising extending the suture within an inner lumen of the outer member after inserting the outer member into the bone. 
     
     
         27 . A suture anchor system, comprising:
 a suture anchor including first and second anchor members, wherein:
 the second anchor member is configured to be advanced distally into an interior of the first anchor member such that a gap of space exists around a perimeter of the second anchor member between an interior surface of the first anchor member and an exterior surface of the second anchor member, 
 the first anchor member includes a suture seating member configured to seat a suture therearound, 
 with the second anchor member fully distally advanced into the interior of the first anchor member the suture seating member is located entirely distally beyond the second anchor member, and 
 the first anchor member has a bone-engaging feature formed on an exterior surface of the first anchor member. 
   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein with the second anchor member fully distally advanced into the interior of the first anchor member the gap of space exists along an entire longitudinal length of the second anchor member. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein with the second anchor member fully distally advanced into the interior of the first anchor a suture is configured to be seated around the suture seating member with terminal ends of the suture located outside of the suture anchor and with the suture extending through the gap of space.