Tenodesis anchor

Abstract

A tenodesis anchor having an anchor member coupled to at least one fiber loop. The anchor member is inserted into a bone and the loop closed about a tendon to be anchored to the bone. Closing the loops additionally deforms the anchor member so that it remains within the bone, thereby securing the tendon trapped in the loop to the bone without the use of a staple.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of attaching a tendon to bone, comprising the steps of:
 providing an anchor member having a series of slots formed therein and at least one loop having a predetermined diameter that is woven through the series of slots in the anchor member and terminates in a free end that, when pulled, will cause the loop to slide relative to the anchor member;   driving the anchor member into a bone so that the loop remains on the outside of the bone;   passing a tendon through the loop;   pulling the free end of the loop to reduce the diameter of the loop until the tendon is securely trapped within the loop.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor member transitions from a first configuration that was able to pass through the hole in a bone into a second configuration that cannot pass through the hole in the bone in response to sliding of the loop relative to the anchor member as the free end of the loop is pulled. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the anchor comprises two of the loops passing through the series of slots in the anchor member. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein a second end of each of the loops is fixed and second end of each of loops forms the free ends that, when pulled, will reduce the diameter of each of the loops. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising an inserter extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first end configured as a fork having a pair of spaced apart tines. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the pair of tines are configured to form a hole in a bone when driven therein.