Systems and methods for fixing soft tissue

Abstract

Embodiments of systems and methods for fixing soft tissue are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, soft tissue may be fixed to an attachment surface (such as bone, other soft tissue, other implants, or allograft or xenograft materials) by providing a helical suture in the soft tissue, wherein the soft tissue has a longitudinal axis along which the soft tissue undergoes tension under normal physiological conditions, and wherein a longitudinal axis of the helical suture in the soft tissue is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the soft tissue; and securing the helical suture to an attachment surface.

1 . A method for fixing soft tissue of a subject to an attachment surface, comprising:
 inserting a helical suture having a longitudinal axis in the soft tissue of the subject, wherein the soft tissue has a longitudinal axis and wherein the longitudinal axis of the helical suture in the soft tissue is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the soft tissue; and   securing the helical suture to the attachment surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the soft tissue undergoes tension, under normal physiological conditions, along the longitudinal axis of the soft tissue. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the soft tissue comprises a tendon. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the helical suture comprises at least two turns of suture material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein securing the helical suture to the attachment surface comprises securing the helical suture to an anchor secured to the attachment surface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment surface comprises a bone, tendon, soft tissue, allograft material, xenograft material, or a synthetic material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the helical suture comprises a turn angle between approximately 20 degrees and approximately 70 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the helical suture is a first helical suture and the method further comprises inserting a second helical suture in the soft tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising securing the second helical suture to the attachment surface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the second helical suture is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first helical suture. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the second helical suture is oriented non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first helical suture. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first helical suture and second helical suture have opposite directions of rotations. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first helical suture and second helical suture have the same direction of rotation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first helical suture and the second helical suture overlap. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first helical suture is a first end of a single strand of suture material and the second helical suture is a second end of the single piece of suture material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first helical suture is a first piece of suture material and the second helical suture is a second piece of suture material. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inserting the helical suture in the soft tissue comprises:
 inserting a helix-shaped needle having a tip into the soft tissue; and   rotating the helix-shaped needle to provide a helical channel in the soft tissue;   securing suture material to the tip of the helix-shaped needle; and   reversing a direction of rotation of the helix-shaped needle thereby inserting the helical suture in the soft tissue.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inserting a helical suture comprises:
 inserting a helix-shaped needle into the soft tissue, wherein the suture is coupled to the helix-shaped needle; and   rotating the helix-shaped needle to insert the suture in the soft tissue.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein rotating the helix-shaped needle advances the helix-shaped needle through the soft tissue. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein rotating the helix-shaped needle comprises:
 linearly translating a slide component of an insertion instrument comprising the helix-shaped needle, wherein the linear translation of the slide component causes rotation of the helix-shaped needle.