Suture anchor inserter assembly and method

• US 5,782,862 A
• Filed: 07/01/1996
• Issued: 07/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bonutti Skeletal Innovations LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Peter M. Bonutti
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/673,923
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 606/232, 606/104
• US Class Current: 606/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0493 Protective devices for suturing, i.e. for protecting the patient's organs or the operator
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible

Abstract

A suture anchor inserter assembly includes a manually engageable handle and a shaft which extends axially outward from the handle. The shaft includes an inner member which is fixedly connected with the handle and an outer member which is retractable into the handle. An anchor is received in a chamber formed at the outer end of the shaft. A suture extends through a passage in the shaft, a passage in the handle and along an outer side of the shaft. The suture is tensioned to press the anchor into the chamber in the handle. A retainer assembly is manually operable to release the outer member for axial movement relative to the inner member. The handle advantageously has a triangular cross-sectional configuration.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said apparatus comprising a handle, an inner member having a first end portion fixedly connected with said handle and a second end portion spaced from said handle, and a tubular outer member at least partially enclosing said inner member, said outer member being slidable along said inner member into said handle in a direction parallel to a longitudinal central axis of said inner member, said outer member being slidable along said inner member into said handle to move said outer member from an extended position in which said outer member extends beyond said second end portion of said inner member to a retracted position in which said second end portion of said inner member extends beyond said outer member, said inner and outer members cooperating to form a chamber for receiving the suture anchor when said outer member is in the extended position.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a first length of said inner member and a first length of said outer member are disposed in said handle in a telescopic relationship when said outer member is in the extended position, a second length of said inner member and a second length of said outer member being disposed in said handle in a telescopic relationship when said outer member is in the retracted position, said second length of said inner member and said second length of said outer member being longer than said first length of said inner member and said first length of said outer member so that the extent of the telescopic relationship in said handle between said inner and outer members is greater when said outer member is in the retracted position than when said outer member in the extended position.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a first length of said outer member is enclosed by said handle when said outer member is in the extended position and a second length of said outer member is enclosed by said handle when said outer member is in the retracted position, said second length of said outer member being longer than said first length of said outer member.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said handle has a leading end portion, said outer member extends a first distance outward from said leading end portion of said handle when said outer member is in the extended position, said outer member extends a second distance outward from said leading end portion of said handle when said outer member is in the retracted position, said second distance being less than said first distance.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said inner member extends outward from said leading end portion of said handle for a third distance, said third distance being less than said first distance and greater than said second distance.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second end portion of said inner member has surface means for applying force transmitted from said handle through said inner member to a trailing end of the suture anchor to move the suture anchor into body tissue as said outer member slides along said inner member into said handle.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inner member has surface means for defining a passage which receives a suture which extends through the anchor, said passage in said inner member extends between said first and second end portions of said inner member.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including surface means connected with said tubular outer member for engaging body tissue and transmitting force between the body tissue and said tubular outer member to effect movement of said tubular outer member into said handle.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including means connected with said outer member for limiting the extent of movement of said outer member into said handle.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including a retainer member disposed on said handle and movable relative to said handle between a retaining position in which said retainer member is effective to retain said outer member in the extended position and a release position in which said retainer member is ineffective to retain said outer member in the extended position.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said retainer member includes surface means which is engageable with a portion of a suture connected with the anchor to retain the engaged portion of the suture against movement relative to said handle when said retainer member is in the retaining position.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said handle includes a guide surface along which said retainer member is movable between the retaining and release positions, said guide surface being effective to guide movement of the retainer member along a path having a central axis which extends transverse to a central axis of said outer member.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said retainer member has a manually engageable end portion against which force is manually applied to move said retainer member from the retaining position to the release position.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 further including first and second stop surfaces connected with said outer member, said first and second stop surfaces being spaced from each other along a central axis of said outer member, said retainer member being disposed adjacent to said first stop surface when said outer member is in the extended position, said retainer member being disposed adjacent to said second stop surface when said outer member is in the retracted position.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said retainer member includes an opening through which a central axis of said outer member extends, said opening being movable transversely to the central axis of said outer member upon movement of said retainer member between the retaining and release positions, the central axis of said outer member extends through a first portion of the opening in said retainer member when said retainer member is in the retaining position, the central axis of said outer member extends through a second portion of the opening in said retainer member when said retainer member is in the release position.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said handle includes three longitudinally extending sides disposed in a triangular array with longitudinal axes of said sides extending parallel to a central axis of said inner member, said retainer member projects from one of said sides of said handle when said retainer member is in the retaining position.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said handle includes three longitudinally extending sides disposed in a triangular array having a central axis which is parallel to central axes of said inner and outer members.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein a first one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle includes surface means for defining a slot which receives a portion of a suture, said slot having a longitudinal central axis which extends parallel to a longitudinal central axis of said outer member.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein a second one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle includes surface means for defining a recess which receives a needle connected with the suture.

20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein a third one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle includes surface means for defining a recess for receiving a portion of the suture.

21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said longitudinally extending sides of said handle are interconnected by a plurality of longitudinally extending corner portions having axes which extend parallel to the longitudinal central axis of said inner member, said longitudinally extending sides of said handle intersect at said corner portions of said handle, a first one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle including a first plurality of ribs which extend between a first one of said corner portions and a second one of said corner portions, a second one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle including a second plurality of ribs which extend between said second one of said corner portions and a third one of said corner portions.

22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said chamber has a maximum axial extent when said outer member is in the extended position, said chamber having an axial extent which is less than the axial extent of the suture anchor when said outer member is in the extended position, said second end portion of said inner member cooperates with said outer member to form an end of said chamber which is engageable by a trailing end of the suture anchor when the suture anchor is in said chamber with a leading end of the suture anchor outside of said chamber and with said outer member in the extended position.

23. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer member extends a first distance into said handle when said outer member is in the extended position, said outer member extends a second distance into said handle when said outer member is in the retracted position, said second distance being greater than said first distance.

24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including means for limiting the depth to which an anchor is to be inserted into body tissue to a selected one of a plurality of depths, said means for limiting the depth to which an anchor is to be inserted into body tissue includes means for limiting the distance which said outer member moves along said inner member from the extended position to the retracted position to a selected one of a plurality of distances.

25. An apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein said means for limiting the depth to which an anchor is inserted into body tissue includes depth indicator means disposed on said handle for indicating the depth to which an anchor is to be inserted into body tissue.

26. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inner and outer members have a nonlinear longitudinal configuration, at least a portion of said outer member being flexible to accommodate movement of said outer member along a nonlinear portion of said inner member.

27. An apparatus comprising a handle, an inner member having a first end portion connected with said handle and a second end portion spaced from said handle, an outer member which at least partially encloses said inner member, a suture anchor partially enclosed by said outer member, said suture anchor having a trailing end which is disposed in engagement with said second end portion of said inner member and which is enclosed by said outer member, said suture anchor having a leading end opposite from said trailing end, said leading end of said suture anchor being disposed outward of an outer end of said outer member, and a suture having a first portion extending axially through said handle, inner and outer members and suture anchor, said suture having a second portion which extends along an outer side surface of said outer member, said first and second portions of said suture being effective to transmit force which is applied against the leading end of said suture anchor to press the trailing end of said suture anchor against said second end portion of said inner member.

28. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said first end portion of said inner member is fixedly connected with said handle, said outer member being slidable along said inner member into said handle.

29. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said anchor projects from said second end portion of said outer member.

30. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 further including a needle connected with said second portion of said suture, said handle including surface means for defining a recess for receiving said needle.

31. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said handle includes three longitudinally extending sides disposed in a triangular array, said second portion of said suture extends into said handle through an opening formed in one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle.

32. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein one of said inner and outer members is movable relative to said handle, said apparatus further including a retainer connected with said handle, said retainer being movable relative to said handle between a first position in which said retainer is effective to retain said one of said inner and outer members against movement relative to said handle and a second position in which said retainer is ineffective to retain said one of said inner and outer members against movement relative to said handle.

33. An apparatus as set forth in claim 32 further including first and second stop surfaces which are spaced from each other and are connected with said one of said inner and outer members, said retainer being engageable with said first stop surface to limit movement of said one of said inner and outer members in a first direction relative to said handle, said retainer engageable with said second stop surface to limit movement of said one of said inner and outer members in a second direction relative to said handle.

34. An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said apparatus comprising a handle, an inner member having a first end portion connected with said handle and a second end portion which is spaced from said handle, said second end portion of said inner member being engageable with the anchor, an outer member at least partially enclosing said inner member, said outer member having a first end portion connected with said handle and a second end portion which is spaced from said handle, said outer member having an inner surface which at least partially encloses the anchor prior to positioning of the anchor in body tissue, one of said inner and outer members being movable relative to the other of said inner and outer members during positioning of the anchor in body tissue, and an actuator connected with said handle, said actuator being movable relative to said handle between a first position in which said one of said inner and outer members is retained against movement relative to the other of said inner and outer members and a second position in which said one of said inner and outer members is movable relative to the other of said inner and outer members during positioning of the anchor in body tissue.

35. An apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein said actuator has a surface which is manually engageable to move said actuator from the first position to the second position.

36. An apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein said inner and outer members cooperate to at least partially define a chamber which receives a trailing end portion of the anchor and from which a leading end portion of the anchor extends when said actuator is in the first position.

37. An apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein said second end portion of said inner member is enclosed by said outer member when said actuator is in the first position, said inner member and said outer member being movable relative to each other to a position in which said second end portion of said inner member extends from said second end portion of said outer member when said actuator is in the second position.

38. An apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein said actuator has an opening with a first portion having a first configuration and a second portion having a second configuration, said actuator being manually movable from the first position in which a central axis of said one of said inner and outer members extends through the first portion of the opening in said actuator to the second position in which the central axis of said one of said inner and outer members extends through the second portion of the opening in said actuator to release said one of said inner and outer members for movement relative to the other of said inner and outer members.

39. An apparatus as set forth in claim 34 further including a guide surface disposed on said handle for guiding movement of said actuator between the first and second positions, said actuator having a manually engageable surface against which force is manually applied to move said actuator along said guide surface from the first position to the second position.

40. An apparatus as set forth in claim 34 further including first and second stop surfaces connected with said one of said inner and outer members, said actuator being disposed adjacent to said first stop surface when said one of said inner and outer members is in a first position relative to said other of said inner and outer members, said second stop surface being spaced from said actuator when said one of said inner and outer members is in the first position relative to said other of said inner and outer members, said actuator being disposed adjacent to said second stop surface when said one of said one of said inner and outer members is in a second position relative to said other of said inner and outer members, said first stop surface being spaced from said actuator when said one of said inner and outer members is in the second position relative to said other of said inner and outer members.

41. An apparatus as set forth in claim 40 wherein said second end portion of said inner member has surface means for applying force transmitted through said inner member to a trailing end of the anchor to move the anchor into body tissue upon movement of said one of said inner and outer members from the first position to the second position.

42. An apparatus as set forth in claim 40 wherein said actuator has an opening with first and second portions, said actuator being manually movable from the first position to the second position while said one of said inner and outer members is in the first position of said one of said inner and outer members relative to said other of said inner and outer members and while said actuator is adjacent to said first stop surface, said one of said inner and outer members having a central axis which extends through the first portion of the opening in said actuator when said actuator is in the first position of said actuator, said central axis of said one of said inner and outer members extends through the second portion of the opening in said actuator when said actuator is in the second position of said actuator.

43. An apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein said first end portion of said inner member is fixedly connected with said handle, said outer member is said one of said inner and outer members and is slidable along said inner member to move said outer member from an extended position in which said outer member extends beyond said second end portion of said inner member to a retracted position in which said second end portion of said inner member extends beyond said second end portion of said outer member.

44. An apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein said inner member has surface means for defining a passage which receives a suture which extends through the anchor, said passage in said inner member extends between said first and second end portions of said inner member.

45. An apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein said second end portion of said one of said inner and outer members has surface means for engaging body tissue and transmitting force between the body tissue and said one of said inner and outer members to effect movement of said one of said inner and outer members relative to said other of said inner and outer members.

46. An apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein said handle includes three longitudinally extending sides disposed in a triangular array having a central axis which is parallel to central axes of said inner and outer members.

47. An apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein said handle includes surface means for defining a slot which extends between axially opposite end portions of said handle and which receives a portion of a suture which extends through the slot between said axially opposite end portions of said handle, said slot having a longitudinal central axis which extends parallel to a longitudinal central axis of said outer member.

48. An apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein said actuator includes surface means for engaging a portion of a suture connected with the anchor when said actuator is in the first position to retain at least the portion of the suture engaged by the actuator against movement relative to said handle.

49. An apparatus as set forth in claim 34 further including a stop member disposed on said handle and movable between a first stop position and a second stop position, said stop member being effective to limit movement of said one of said inner and outer members to a first distance when said actuator is in the second position of said actuator and said stop member is in the first stop position of said stop member, said stop member being effective to limit movement of said one of said inner and outer members to a second distance when said actuator is in the second position of said actuator and said stop member is in the second stop position of said stop member, said second distance being greater than said first distance.

50. An apparatus as set forth in claim 49 further including means movable relative to said handle to move said stop member between said first and second stop positions.

51. An apparatus as set forth in claim 49 further including indicia disposed on said handle for indicating when said stop member is in the first stop position and for indicating when said stop member is in the second stop position.

52. An apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein said second end portion of said inner member has a curving configuration and said first end portion of said inner member has a linear configuration, said second end portion of said outer member has a curving configuration corresponding to the curving configuration of said second end portion of said inner member and said first end portion of said outer member has a linear configuration, at least a portion of the second portion of said one of said inner and outer members being flexible to facilitate movement of said one of said inner and outer members relative to the other of said inner and outer members.

53. A method of positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said method comprising the steps of moving the anchor into engagement with body tissue by transmitting force from a handle through an inner member to the anchor while the inner member and anchor are at least partially enclosed by an outer member, and, thereafter, retracting the outer member into the handle while maintaining the inner member stationary relative to the handle.

54. A method as set forth in claim 53 further including the step of moving the anchor and inner member into the body tissue under the influence of force transmitted from the handle through the inner member to a trailing end of the anchor while retracting the outer member into the handle and maintaining the inner member stationary relative to the handle.

55. A method as set forth in claim 53 wherein said step of retracting the outer member into the handle is performed under the influence of force applied against the outer member by the body tissue and includes sliding the outer member along an outer side surface of the inner member.

56. A method as set forth in claim 53 wherein said step of moving the anchor into engagement with body tissue is performed with a portion of the outer member enclosed by the handle and a portion of the outer member extending from the handle, said step of retracting the outer member into the handle includes increasing the axial extent of the portion of the outer member enclosed by the handle and decreasing the axial extent of the portion of the outer member extending from the handle.

57. A method as set forth in claim 53 wherein said step of moving the anchor into engagement with body tissue is performed with a leading end portion of the anchor extending ahead of a leading end of the outer member and with a trailing end portion of the anchor enclosed by the outer member and while maintaining the anchor stationary relative to the inner and outer members.

58. A method as set forth in claim 53 wherein said step of moving the anchor into engagement with body tissue is performed with a portion of a suture extending through the anchor, inner member and handle.

59. A method as set forth in claim 53 further including the steps of selecting a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue and interrupting said step of retracting the outer member into the handle upon insertion of the anchor to the desired depth in body tissue.

60. A method as set forth in claim 53 further including the step of moving a depth control member along the handle to a position which corresponds to a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue and interrupting said step of retracting the outer member into the handle upon retraction of the outer member into the handle through a distance which corresponds to the position of the depth control member.

61. A method as set forth in claim 53 further including the steps of moving a step member along the inner member to a position which corresponds to a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue prior to moving the anchor into engagement with body tissue, and blocking retraction of said outer member into the handle with the stop member upon insertion of the anchor to the desired depth into body tissue.

62. A method of positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said method comprising the steps of manually gripping a handle having an inner member extending from the handle and having an outer member enclosing at least a portion of the inner member and at least a portion of the anchor, moving the outer member into engagement with body tissue while retaining the inner and outer members against movement relative to each other and to the handle, enabling relative movement to occur between the inner and outer members by manually moving an actuator member relative to the handle, and, thereafter, moving the anchor relative to the body tissue by moving one of the inner and outer members relative to the other of the inner and outer members.

63. A method as set forth in claim 62 wherein said step of enabling relative movement to occur between the inner and outer members by manually moving the actuator member relative to the handle includes disengaging the actuator member from a stop surface connected with said one of said inner and outer members to enable said one of said inner and outer members to move relative to said other of the inner and outer members.

64. A method as set forth in claim 62 wherein said step of moving the outer member into engagement with body tissue includes gripping a portion of a suture which engages the anchor with said actuator member to hold the gripped portion of the suture against movement relative to the handle.

65. A method as set forth in claim 62 wherein said step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue by moving one of the inner and outer members relative to the other of said inner and outer members includes moving said one of said inner and outer members along a path which extends through the actuator member.

66. A method as set forth in claim 62 wherein said step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue by moving one of the inner and outer members relative to the other of said inner and outer members includes decreasing a distance between an outer end of the outer member and the handle while maintaining a distance between an outer end of the inner member and the handle constant.

67. A method as set forth in claim 66 wherein said step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue by moving one of the inner and outer members relative to the other of the inner and outer members includes moving the outer member relative to the inner member under the influence of force applied against the outer member by the body tissue.

68. A method as set forth in claim 62 wherein said step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue by moving one of the inner and outer members relative to the other of the inner and outer members includes moving a portion of the outer member into the handle while maintaining the inner member stationary relative to the handle.

69. A method of positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said method comprising the steps of selecting a depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue, said step of selecting a depth of insertion of an anchor into body tissue includes positioning a depth control member relative to at least one of an inner member and an outer member which at least partially encloses the inner member, moving the anchor into body tissue by applying force against the anchor with the inner member and effecting relative movement between the inner and outer members, and blocking relative movement between the inner and outer members with the depth control member upon movement of the anchor into the body tissue through a distance corresponding to the selected depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue.

70. A method as set forth in claim 69 wherein said step of positioning a depth control member relative to at least one of an inner member and an outer member which at least partially encloses the inner member includes sliding the depth control member along the one of the inner and outer members to a selected position relative to the one of the inner and outer members.

71. A method as set forth in claim 69 wherein said step of applying force against the anchor with the inner member includes transmitting force from a handle to the inner member, said step of positioning a depth control member relative to at least one of an inner member and an outer member which at least partially encloses the inner member includes moving the depth control member relative to the handle.

72. A method as set forth in claim 71 wherein said step of effecting relative movement between the inner and outer members includes retracting the outer member into the handle while maintaining the inner member stationary relative to the handle.

73. An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said apparatus comprising a handle, and an elongated shaft portion extending axially outward from said handle, said handle having a first longitudinally extending side, said first longitudinally extending side of said handle having first and second longitudinally extending edge portions, said handle having a second longitudinally extending side, said second longitudinally extending side of said handle having first and second longitudinally extending edge portions, said first longitudinally extending edge portion of said second side of said handle being connected with said second longitudinally extending edge portion of said first side of said handle to form a first corner portion of said handle, said handle having a third longitudinally extending side, said third longitudinally extending side of said handle having first and second longitudinally extending edge portions, said first longitudinally extending edge portion of said third side of said handle being connected with said second longitudinally extending edge portion of said second side of said handle to form a second corner portion of said handle, said second longitudinally extending edge portion of said third side of said handle being connected with said first longitudinally extending edge portion of said first side of said handle to form a third corner portion of said handle, said handle having a central axis which is parallel to a central axis of said shaft portion, said shaft portion being partially disposed in said handle.

74. An apparatus as set forth in claim 73 wherein said shaft portion has a longitudinally extending central passage which extends through said shaft portion and is axially aligned with a passage which extends through said handle, said passage in said shaft portion having an enlarged portion in which the anchor is disposed with a suture extending through a central passage in the anchor, through the passage in said shaft portion and through the passage in said handle.

75. An apparatus as set forth in claim 74 wherein said first longitudinally extending side of said handle includes surface means for defining a first plurality of ribs which extend across said first longitudinally extending side of said handle between said first and third corner portions in a direction transverse to a longitudinal central axis of said first longitudinally extending side of said handle, said first plurality of ribs being engageable by a thumb on a hand of a person manually gripping said handle, said third longitudinally extending side of said handle includes surface means for defining a second plurality of ribs which extend across said third longitudinally extending side of said handle between said second and third corner portions in a direction transverse to a longitudinal central axis of said third longitudinally extending side of said handle, said second plurality of ribs being engageable by a finger on the hand of the person manually gripping said handle.

76. An apparatus as set forth in claim 75 wherein said second longitudinally extending side of said handle includes surface means for defining an elongated recess having a central axis which extends parallel to a longitudinal central axis of said second longitudinally extending side of said handle, said elongated recess being engageable by a finger on the hand of the person manually gripping said handle.

77. An apparatus as set forth in claim 76 wherein said second longitudinally extending side of said handle includes surface means for defining a third plurality of ribs which extend across said second longitudinally extending side of said handle between said first and second corner portions in a direction transverse to the longitudinal central axis of said second longitudinally extending side of said handle, said elongated recess having a first and second end portions, said first end portion of said elongated recess being disposed closer to an end of said handle from which said shaft portion extends than said second end portion of said elongated recess, said third plurality of ribs being disposed adjacent to said first end portion of said elongated recess.

78. An apparatus as set forth in claim 73 wherein said shaft portion includes an inner member, an outer member which at least partially encloses said inner member, said inner and outer members being relatively movable to move the anchor relative to body tissue, said apparatus further including an actuator disposed on said handle, said actuator being movable relative to said handle by a finger on the hand of a person manually gripping the handle, said actuator being movable between a first position in which said inner and outer members are held against relative movement and a second position in which said inner and outer members are relatively movable.

79. An apparatus as set forth in claim 73 wherein said handle includes surface means for defining a slot which extends into said handle from one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle to enclose a portion of a length of a suture extending from the anchor, said slot having a central axis which extends parallel to the central axis of said shaft portion.

80. An apparatus as set forth in claim 73 wherein said longitudinally extending sides includes surface means for defining a recess to receive a needle connected with a suture, said apparatus further including a member which partially encloses said handle and is movable relative to said handle between a closed position at least partially blocking said recess and an open position in which said member is ineffective to block said recess, said member having a first side wall which overlies a portion of said first longitudinally extending side of said handle, a second side wall which overlies a portion of said second longitudinally extending side of said handle, a first corner portion which interconnects said first and second side walls of said member and extends along said first corner portion of said handle, a third side wall which overlies a portion of said third longitudinally extending side of said handle, a second corner portion which interconnects said second and third side walls of said member and extends along said second corner portion of said handle, one of said side walls of said member being disposed across said recess when said member is in the closed position.

81. An apparatus as set forth in claim 80 wherein said member further includes a third corner portion which interconnects said first and third side walls of said member and extends along said third corner portion of said handle.

82. An apparatus as set forth in claim 80 wherein said handle includes surface means for defining a slot which extends into said handle from to enclose a portion of a length of a suture extending from the anchor, said slot having a central axis which extends parallel to the central axis of said shaft portion, said member having surface means for defining an opening which extends through said member and extends between opposite ends of said member, said opening being aligned with said slot to enable a portion of the suture to move through said opening into said slot.

83. An apparatus as set forth in claim 80 wherein said member has an end surface which extends across one end of said handle to enable force to be applied against said member by a palm on a hand of a person manually gripping said handle.

84. An apparatus as set forth in claim 73 wherein said handle has a triangular cross sectional configuration as viewed in a plane extending perpendicular to the central axis of said shaft portion, said handle having a longitudinal central axis which is coincident with the central axis of said shaft portion.

85. An apparatus as set forth in claim 73 wherein said handle has an equilateral triangular cross sectional configuration as viewed in a plane extending perpendicular to the central axis of said shaft portion.

86. An apparatus as set forth in claim 73 wherein said first, second and third longitudinally extending sides of said handle are disposed in a triangular array.

87. An apparatus as set forth in claim 73 wherein at least a portion of said shaft portion is movable relative to said handle between an extended position in which said portion of said shaft portion extends outward from said handle and a retracted position in which said portion of said shaft portion is disposed in said handle.

88. A method comprising the steps of providing a suture anchor inserter having a handle with a shaft portion extending outward from the handle and an anchor disposed in the shaft portion with a suture extending through the anchor, moving the shaft portion of the inserter into body tissue along an insertion path, thereafter, displacing first body tissue in a direction transverse to a longitudinal central axis of the insertion path, said step of displacing the first body tissue includes moving the first body tissue after having performed said step of moving the shaft portion of the inserter into body tissue, said step of moving the first body tissue includes moving the first body tissue from a first position to a second position relative to second body tissue by applying force against the first body tissue with the shaft portion of the inserter, said step of applying force against the first body tissue includes manually applying force to the handle of the inserter in a direction transverse to a central axis of the inserter and transmitting the manually applied force from the handle of the inserter to the shaft portion of the inserter, and, thereafter, moving the anchor into the second body tissue under the influence of force applied against the anchor by the shaft portion of the inserter, said step of moving the anchor into the second body tissue being performed while the first body tissue is blocked against movement back to the first position by the shaft portion of the inserter.

89. A method as set forth in claim 88 wherein said step of applying force against the first body tissue includes pressing an outer side surface on an outer member which is part of the shaft portion against the first body tissue, said step of moving the anchor into the second body tissue includes moving an inner member which is part of the shaft portion relative to the outer member to thereby tend to minimize relative movement between the outer member and the first body tissue as the anchor is moved into the second body tissue.

90. A method as set forth in claim 88 further including applying force to the first body tissue with the suture after having performed said step of moving the anchor into the second body tissue.

91. A method as set forth in claim 88 wherein said step of moving the anchor into the second body tissue includes perforating an imperforate surface on the second body tissue with a leading end of the anchor.

92. A method as set forth in claim 88 wherein said step of displacing the first body tissue is performed with a trailing end portion of the anchor enclosed by the shaft portion of the inserter and with a leading end portion of the anchor extending from the shaft portion of the inserter, said step of moving the anchor into the second body tissue includes engaging the second body tissue with the leading end portion of the anchor while the trailing end portion of the anchor is enclosed by the shaft portion of the inserter.

93. A method as set forth in claim 88 wherein the shaft portion of the inserter includes inner and outer members which cooperate to form a chamber in which at least a portion of the anchor is disposed, said method further including the steps of retaining the inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle of the inserter while performing said step of applying force against the first body tissue, and manually moving an actuator member relative to the handle to release one of the inner and outer members for movement relative to the handle during performance of said step of moving the anchor into the second body tissue, said step of moving the anchor into the second body tissue includes moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle.

94. A method as set forth in claim 93 wherein said step of moving the anchor into the second body tissue includes moving the outer member into the handle under the influence of force applied against the outer member by the second body tissue.

95. An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor in body tissue, said apparatus comprising a handle, said handle including surface means for at least partially defining a passage extending through said handle, a tubular inner member having a first end portion disposed in the passage in said handle and a second end portion spaced from said handle, said inner member having surface means defining a passage which extends axially through said inner member and is coaxial with the passage in said handle, a tubular outer member at least partially enclosing said inner member, said inner and outer members cooperating to form a chamber for receiving the anchor with a suture extending from the anchor through the passages in said handle and said inner member, said inner and outer members being relatively movable to eliminate the chamber and effect movement of the anchor into body tissue with the suture extending through the passages in said handle and said inner member, and a sleeve which extends around and is axially movable along said handle, said sleeve having an inner side surface which engages said handle and an outer side surface opposite from said inner side surface, said sleeve having a first end surface which faces toward said second end portion of said tubular inner member and a second end surface which faces away from said second end portion of said tubular inner member, said inner and outer side surfaces on said sleeve extend between said first and second end surfaces on said sleeve, said sleeve includes surface means for defining a first opening which extends along said sleeve between said first and second end surfaces on said sleeve and extends between said inner and outer side surfaces on said sleeve, said handle including surface means for defining a second opening into which a portion of the suture is movable through the first opening in said sleeve.

96. An apparatus as set forth in claim 95 wherein said handle has a first longitudinally extending side, said first longitudinally extending side of said handle having first and second longitudinally extending edge portions, said handle having a second longitudinally extending side, said second longitudinally extending side of said handle having first and second longitudinally extending edge portions, said first longitudinally extending edge portion of said second side of said handle being connected with said second longitudinally extending edge portion of said first side of said handle to form a first corner portion of said handle, said handle having a third longitudinally extending side, said third longitudinally extending side of said handle having first and second longitudinally extending edge portions, said first longitudinally extending edge portion of said third side of said handle being connected with said second longitudinally extending edge portion of said second side of said handle to form a second corner portion of said handle, said second longitudinally extending edge portion of said third side of said handle being connected with said first longitudinally extending edge portion of said first side of said handle to form a third corner portion of said handle, said sleeve having a first side wall which overlies a portion of said first longitudinally extending side of said handle, a second side wall which overlies a portion of said second longitudinally extending side of said handle, a first corner portion which interconnects said first and second side walls of said sleeve and extends along said first corner portion of said handle, a third side wall which overlies a portion of said third longitudinally extending side of said handle, a second corner portion which interconnects said second and third side walls of said sleeve and extends along said second corner portion of said handle.

97. An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor in body tissue, said apparatus comprising a handle, said handle including surface means for at least partially defining a passage extending through said handle, a tubular inner member having a first end portion disposed in the passage in said handle and a second end portion spaced from said handle, said inner member having surface means defining a passage which extends axially through said inner member and is coaxial with the passage in said handle, a tubular outer member at least partially enclosing said inner member, said inner and outer members cooperating to form a chamber for receiving the anchor with a suture extending from the anchor through the passages in said handle and said inner member, said inner and outer members being relatively movable to eliminate the chamber and effect movement of the anchor into body tissue with the suture extending through the passages in said handle and said inner member, and an end cap which encloses an end portion of said handle, said end cap having an end surface which faces away from said second end portion of said inner member and is manually engageable to receive force which is transmitted through said handle to the anchor.

98. An apparatus as set forth in claim 97 wherein said end surface on said end cap has a configuration corresponding to the configuration of a portion of a sphere.

99. An apparatus as set forth in claim 97 wherein said handle has a triangular cross sectional configuration as viewed in a first plane extending through said handle in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal central axis of said handle, said end surface on said end cap has a circular cross sectional configuration as viewed in a second plane extending through said end cap in a direction parallel to said first plane.

100. An apparatus as set forth in claim 97 wherein said handle has a first longitudinally extending side, said first longitudinally extending side of said handle having first and second longitudinally extending edge portions, said handle having a second longitudinally extending side, said second longitudinally extending side of said handle having first and second longitudinally extending edge portions, said first longitudinally extending edge portion of said second side of said handle being connected with said second longitudinally extending edge portion of said first side of said handle to form a first corner portion of said handle, said handle having a third longitudinally extending side, said third longitudinally extending side of said handle having first and second longitudinally extending edge portions, said first longitudinally extending edge portion of said third side of said handle being connected with said second longitudinally extending edge portion of said second side of said handle to form a second corner portion of said handle, said second longitudinally extending edge portion of said third side of said handle being connected with said first longitudinally extending edge portion of said first side of said handle to form a third corner portion of said handle, said first, second and third sides of said handle being at least partially enclosed by said end cap.

101. An apparatus as set forth in claim 100 wherein said first longitudinally extending side of said handle includes surface means for defining a first plurality of ribs which extend across said first longitudinally extending side of said handle between said first and third corner portions of said first longitudinally extending side of said handle, said first plurality of ribs being engageable by a thumb on a hand of a person manually gripping said handle, said third longitudinally extending side of said handle includes surface means for defining a second plurality of ribs which extend across said third longitudinally extending side of said handle between said second and third corner portions of said third longitudinally extending side of said handle, said second plurality of ribs being engageable by a finger on the hand of the person manually gripping said handle.

102. An apparatus as set forth in claim 101 wherein said second longitudinally extending side of said handle includes surface means for defining an elongated recess having a central axis which extends parallel to a longitudinal central axis of said second longitudinally extending side of said handle, said elongated recess being engageable by a finger on the hand of the person manually gripping said handle.

103. An apparatus as set forth in claim 102 wherein said second longitudinally extending side of said handle includes surface means for defining a third plurality of ribs which extend across said second longitudinally extending side of said handle between said first and second corner portions in a direction transverse to the longitudinal central axis of said second longitudinally extending side of said handle, said elongated recess having a first and second end portions, said first end portion of said elongated recess being disposed closer to an end of said handle from which said shaft portion extends than said second end port ion of said elongated recess, said third plurality of ribs being disposed adjacent to said first end portion of said elongated recess.

104. An apparatus as set forth in claim 97 further including an actuator disposed on said handle, said actuator being movable relative to said handle by a finger on the hand of a person manually gripping the handle, said actuator being movable between a first position in which said inner and outer members are held against relative movement and a second position in which said inner and outer members are relatively movable.

105. An apparatus as set forth in claim 97 wherein said end cap includes surface means for defining an annular recess which receives a portion of the suture.

106. An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor in body tissue, said apparatus comprising a handle, said handle including surface means for at least partially defining a passage extending through said handle, a tubular inner member having a first end portion disposed in the passage in said handle and a second end portion spaced from said handle, said inner member having surface means defining a passage which extends axially through said inner member and is coaxial with the passage in said handle, and a tubular outer member at least partially enclosing said inner member, said inner and outer members cooperating to form a chamber for receiving the anchor with a suture extending from the anchor through the passages in said handle and said inner member, said inner and outer members being relatively movable to eliminate the chamber and effect movement of the anchor into body tissue with the suture extending through the passages in said handle and said inner member, said handle includes three longitudinally extending sides disposed in a triangular array, said three longitudinally extending sides of said handle being generally parallel to a central axis of the passage in said handle.

107. An apparatus as set forth in claim 106 wherein a first side of said three longitudinally extending sides includes surface means for defining a first plurality of ribs which extend across said first side of said handle in a direction transverse to a longitudinal central axis of said first side of said handle, a second side of said three longitudinally extending sides includes surface means for defining a second plurality of ribs which extend across said second side of said handle in a direction transverse to a longitudinal central axis of said second side of said handle.

108. An apparatus as set forth in claim 106 further including an actuator disposed on said handle, said actuator being movable relative to said handle by a person manually gripping the handle, said actuator being movable between a first position in which said inner and outer members are held against relative movement and a second position in which said inner and outer members are relatively movable.

109. An apparatus as set forth in claim 106 wherein an axially inner end portion of said inner member is fixedly connected with said handle, said outer member is slidable along said inner member to move said outer member between an extended position in which an axially outer end portion of said outer member extends beyond an axially outer end portion of said inner member and a retracted position in which said axially outer end portion of said inner member extends beyond said axially outer end portion of said outer member.

110. An apparatus as set forth in claim 106 wherein an axially outer end portion of said one of said inner and outer members has surface means for engaging body tissue and transmitting force between the body tissue and said one of said inner and outer members to effect movement of said one of said inner and outer members relative to said other of said inner and outer members.

111. An apparatus as set forth in claim 106 further including a stop member disposed on said handle and movable between a first stop position and a second stop position, said stop member being effective to limit movement of one of said inner and outer members relative to the other of said inner and outer members to a first distance when said stop member is in the first stop position of said stop member, said stop member being effective to limit movement of said one of said inner and outer members to a second distance when said stop member is in the second stop position of said stop member, said second distance being greater than said first distance.

112. An apparatus as set forth in claim 111 further including means movable relative to said handle to move said stop member between said first and second stop positions.

113. An apparatus as set forth in claim 111 further including indicia disposed on said handle for indicating when said stop member is in the first stop position and for indicating when said stop member is in the second stop position.

114. An apparatus as set forth in claim 106 wherein an axially outer end portion of said inner member has a curving configuration, said outer member having an axially outer end portion with a curving configuration corresponding to the curving configuration of said axially outer end portion of said inner member, at least a portion of the axially outer portion of said outer member being flexible to facilitate movement of said inner member relative to said outer member.

115. An apparatus as set forth in claim 106 wherein a first one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle includes a slot which receives a portion of the suture, said slot in said handle being spaced from and extending parallel to the passage in said handle.

116. An apparatus as set forth in claim 115 wherein a second one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle includes surface means for defining a recess for receiving a portion of the suture.

117. An apparatus as set forth in claim 116 wherein a third one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle includes surface means for defining a recess which receives a needle connected with the suture.

118. An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor in body tissue, said apparatus comprising a handle, said handle including surface means for at least partially defining a passage extending through said handle, a tubular inner member having a first end portion disposed in the passage in said handle and a second end portion spaced from said handle, said inner member having surface means defining a passage which extends axially through said inner member and is coaxial with the passage in said handle, a tubular outer member at least partially enclosing said inner member, said inner and outer members cooperating to form a chamber for receiving the anchor with a suture extending from the anchor through the passages in said handle and said inner member, said inner and outer members being relatively movable to eliminate the chamber and effect movement of the anchor into body tissue with the suture extending through the passages in said handle and said inner member, and a retainer member disposed on said handle and movable relative to said handle between a retaining position in which said retainer member is effective to retain one of said inner and outer members against movement relative to the other of said inner and outer members and a release position in which said retainer member is ineffective to retain said one member against movement relative to said other member.

119. An apparatus as set forth in claim 118 wherein said retainer member has a surface which is manually engageable to move said retainer member from the retainer position to the release position with the anchor in the chamber formed by said inner and outer members and with the suture extending through the passages in said handle and said inner member.

120. An apparatus as set forth in claim 118 wherein the chamber defined by said inner and outer members receives only a trailing end portion of the anchor and a leading end portion of the anchor extends from the chamber when said retainer member is in the retaining position.

121. An apparatus as set forth in claim 118 wherein an axially outer end portion of said inner member is enclosed by said outer member when said retainer member is in the retaining position, said inner member and said outer member being movable relative to each other to a position in which said axially outer end portion of said inner member extends from said outer member when said retainer member is in the release position.

122. An apparatus as set forth in claim 118 wherein said retainer member has an opening with a first portion having a first configuration and a second portion having a second configuration, said retainer member being manually movable from the retaining position in which a central axis of said one of said inner and outer members extends through the first portion of the opening in said retainer member to the release position in which the central axis of said one of said inner and outer members extends through the second portion of the opening in said actuator to release said one of said inner and outer members for movement relative to the other of said inner and outer members.

123. An apparatus as set forth in claim 118 further including a guide surface disposed on said handle for guiding movement of said retainer member between the retaining position and the release position, said retainer member having a manually engageable surface against which force is manually applied to move said retainer member along said guide surface from the retaining position to the release position.

124. A n apparatus as set forth in claim 118 wherein said first end portion of said inner member is fixedly connected with said handle, said outer member is said one of said inner and outer members and is slidable along said inner member to move said outer member from an extended position in which said outer member extends beyond said second end portion of said inner member to a retracted position in which said second end portion of said inner member extends beyond said outer member.

125. An apparatus as set forth in claim 118 wherein said one of said inner and outer members has surface means for engaging body tissue and transmitting force between the body tissue and said one of said inner and outer members to effect movement of said one of said inner and outer members relative to said other of said inner and outer members.

126. An apparatus as set forth in claim 118 wherein said handle includes surface means for defining a slot which extends between axially opposite end portions of said handle and which receives a portion of the suture.

127. An apparatus as set forth in claim 118 wherein said retainer member includes surface means for engaging a portion of a suture when said retainer member is in the retaining position to retain at least the portion of the suture engaged by said retainer member against movement relative to said handle.

128. An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor in body tissue, said apparatus comprising a handle, said handle including surface means for at least partially defining a passage extending through said handle, a tubular inner member having a first end portion disposed in the passage in said handle and a second end portion spaced from said handle, said inner member having surface means defining a passage which extends axially through said inner member and is coaxial with the passage in said handle, and a tubular outer member at least partially enclosing said inner member, said inner and outer members cooperating to form a chamber for receiving the anchor with a suture extending from the anchor through the passages in said handle and said inner member, said inner and outer members being relatively movable to eliminate the chamber and effect movement of the anchor into body tissue with the suture extending through the passages in said handle and said inner member, said first end portion of said tubular inner member is fixedly connected with said handle, said tubular outer member being movable axially along said tubular inner member between an extended position in which said tubular outer member extends axially into said handle for a first distance and a retracted position in which said tubular outer member extends axially into said handle for a second distance which is greater than said first distance.

129. An apparatus as set forth in claim 128 further including surface means connected with said tubular outer member for engaging body tissue and transmitting force between the body tissue and said tubular outer member to effect movement of said tubular outer member into said handle.

130. An apparatus as set forth in claim 128 further including means connected with said outer member for limiting the extent of movement of said outer member into said handle.

131. An apparatus as set forth in claim 128 further including a retainer member disposed on said handle and movable relative to said handle between a retaining position in which said retainer member is effective to retain said outer member in the extended position and a release position in which said retainer member is ineffective to retain said outer member in the extended position.

132. An apparatus as set forth in claim 131 wherein said retainer member includes surface means which is engageable with a portion of a suture connected with the anchor to retain the engaged portion of the suture against movement relative to said handle when said retainer member is in the retaining position.

133. An apparatus as set forth in claim 131 wherein said handle includes a guide surface along which said retainer member is movable between the retaining and release positions, said guide surface being effective to guide movement of the retainer member along a path having a central axis which extends transverse to a central axis of said outer member.

134. An apparatus as set forth in claim 131 wherein said retainer member has a manually engageable end portion against which force is manually applied to move said retainer member from the retaining position to the release position.

135. An apparatus as set forth in claim 131 further including first and second stop surfaces connected with said outer member, said first and second stop surfaces being spaced from each other along a central axis of said outer member, said retainer member being disposed adjacent to said first stop surface when said outer member is in the extended position, said retainer member being disposed adjacent to said second stop surface when said outer member is in the retracted position.

136. An apparatus as set forth in claim 131 wherein said retainer member includes an opening through which a central axis of said outer member extends, said opening being movable transversely to the central axis of said outer member upon movement of said retainer member between the retaining and release positions, the central axis of said outer member extends through a first portion of the opening in said retainer member when said retainer member is in the retaining position, the central axis of said outer member extends through a second portion of the opening in said retainer member when said retainer member is in the release position.

137. An apparatus as set forth in claim 131 wherein said handle includes three longitudinally extending sides disposed in a triangular array with longitudinal axes of said sides extending parallel to a central axis of said inner member, said retainer member projects from one of said sides of said handle when said retainer member is in the retaining position.

138. An apparatus as set forth in claim 128 wherein said handle includes three longitudinally extending sides disposed in a triangular array having a central axis which is parallel to central axes of said inner and outer members.

139. An apparatus as set forth in claim 128 wherein said chamber has a maximum axial extent when said outer member is in the extended position, said chamber having an axial extent which is less than the axial extent of the suture anchor when said outer member is in the extended position, said second end portion of said inner member cooperates with said outer member to form an end of said chamber which is engageable by a trailing end of the suture anchor when the suture anchor is in said chamber with a leading end of the suture anchor outside of said chamber and with said outer member in the extended position.

140. An apparatus as set forth in claim 128 further including means for limiting the depth to which an anchor is to be inserted into body tissue to a selected one of a plurality of depths, said means for limiting the depth to which an anchor is to be inserted into body tissue includes means for limiting the distance which said outer member moves along said inner member from the extended position to the retracted position to a selected one of a plurality of distances.

141. An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said apparatus comprising a handle, an inner member having a first end portion connected with said handle and a second end portion which is spaced from said handle, an outer member at least partially enclosing said inner member, said outer member having a first end portion connected with said handle and a second end portion which is spaced from said handle, one of said inner and outer members being movable relative to the other of said inner and outer members to insert the anchor into body tissue, means for limiting the depth to which the anchor is inserted into body tissue upon relative movement between said inner and outer members, said means for limiting the depth to which the anchor is inserted into body tissue includes means for limiting the distance which said inner and outer members are movable relative to each other to a selected one of a plurality of distances, and surface means connected with said outer member for engaging body tissue and transmitting force between the body tissue and said outer member to effect movement of said outer member along said inner member through the selected one of the plurality of distances.

142. An apparatus as set forth in claim 141 wherein said outer member is movable into said handle under the influence of force applied against said surface means by the body tissue, said means for limiting the distance which said inner and outer members are movable relative to each other is disposed on said handle and is effective to block movement of said outer member into said handle upon movement of said outer member along said inner member through the selected one of the plurality of distances.

143. An apparatus as set forth in claim 141 wherein said inner member is fixedly connected with said handle, said means for limiting the distance which said inner and outer members are movable relative to each other includes means for limiting movement of said outer member relative to said inner member and said handle.

144. An apparatus as set forth in claim 141 further including a retainer member movable relative to said handle and inner member between a retaining position in which said retainer member is effective to retain said inner and outer members against relative movement and a release position in which said retainer member is ineffective to retain said outer member against movement relative to said inner member under the influence of force applied against said surface means by the body tissue.

145. An apparatus as set forth in claim 141 wherein said surface means is disposed on an end of said outer member.

146. An apparatus as set forth in claim 141 wherein said handle includes three longitudinally extending sides disposed in a triangular array having a central axis which is parallel to a central axis of said inner member.

147. An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said apparatus comprising a handle, an inner member having a first end portion connected with said handle and a second end portion which is spaced from said handle, an outer member at least partially enclosing said inner member, said outer member having a first end portion connected with said handle and a second end portion which is spaced from said handle, one of said inner and outer members being movable relative to the other of said inner and outer members to insert the anchor into body tissue, and means for limiting the depth to which the anchor is inserted into body tissue upon relative movement between said inner and outer members, said means for limiting the depth to which the anchor is inserted into body tissue includes means for limiting the distance which said inner and outer members are movable relative to each other to a selected one of a plurality of distances, said means for limiting the depth to which the suture anchor is inserted into body tissue includes a stop member which is movable relative to said handle to a selected one of a plurality of positions which are located at different distances from said second end portions of said inner and outer members, said stop member being effective to block relative movement between said inner and outer members when said inner and outer members have moved relative to each other through the selected one of the plurality of distances.

148. An apparatus as set forth in claim 147 wherein said means for limiting the distance which said inner and outer members are movable relative to each other includes a stop surface which is fixedly connected with said one of said inner and outer members and is movable relative to the other of said inner and outer members, said stop member being engageable with said stop surface to limit movement of said one of said inner and outer members relative to the other of said inner and outer members.

149. An apparatus as set forth in claim 147 further including a retainer member movable relative to said handle between a retaining position in which said retainer member is effective to retain said inner and outer members against relative movement and a release position in which said retainer member is ineffective to retain said one of said inner and outer members against movement relative to the other of said inner and outer members.

150. An apparatus as set forth in claim 147 wherein said handle includes three longitudinally extending sides disposed in a triangular array having a central axis which is parallel to central axes of said inner and outer members, said stop member being movable along the central axis of the triangular array of longitudinally extending sides to vary the depth to which the suture anchor is inserted into the body tissue.

151. An apparatus as set forth in claim 147 further including indicator means connected with said stop member for indicating which one of the plurality of positions said stop member is located.

152. An apparatus as set forth in claim 147 further including an array of indications disposed on said handle with each of said indications corresponding to one of said plurality of positions of said stop member, and manually operable actuator means connected with said stop member and movable along said array of indications to move said stop member to the selected one of the plurality of positions.

153. An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said apparatus comprising a handle, an inner member having a first end portion connected with said handle and a second end portion which is spaced from said handle, an outer member at least partially enclosing said inner member, said outer member having a first end portion connected with said handle and a second end portion which is spaced from said handle, one of said inner and outer members being movable relative to the other of said inner and outer members to insert the anchor into body tissue, and means for limiting the depth to which the anchor is inserted into body tissue upon relative movement between said inner and outer members, said means for limiting the depth to which the anchor is inserted into body tissue includes means for limiting the distance which said inner and outer members are movable relative to each other to a selected one of a plurality of distances, said means for limiting the depth to which the anchor is inserted into body tissue is at least partially disposed in said handle and includes a member which is manually movable along said handle to select a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue.

154. An apparatus as set forth in claim 153 further including a retainer member at least partially disposed in said handle, said retainer member being manually movable relative to said handle between a first position in which said one of said inner and outer members is retained against movement relative to the other of said inner and outer members and a second position in which said one of said inner and outer members is movable relative to the other of said inner and outer members.

155. An apparatus as set forth in claim 153 wherein said handle includes three longitudinally extending sides disposed in a triangular array having a central axis, said member being movable along the central axis of said triangular array of longitudinally extending sides to select a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue.

156. An apparatus as set forth in claim 153 further including indicator means for indicating the selected depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue, said indicator means includes indicia disposed on said handle to indicate various depths of insertion of the anchor into body tissue and means connected with said member and movable with said member relative to said handle for cooperating with said indicia to indicate the position of said member relative to said handle.

157. An apparatus as set forth in claim 153 wherein said means for limiting the distance which said inner and outer members are movable relative to each other includes a stop surface which is fixedly connected with said one of said inner and outer members and is movable relative to the other of said inner and outer members.

158. An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said apparatus comprising a handle, an inner member having a first end portion connected with said handle and a second end portion which is spaced from said handle, an outer member at least partially enclosing said inner member, said outer member having a first end portion connected with said handle and a second end portion which is spaced from said handle, one of said inner and outer members being movable relative to the other of said inner and outer members to insert the anchor into body tissue, and means for limiting the depth to which the anchor is inserted into body tissue upon relative movement between said inner and outer members, said means for limiting the depth to which the anchor is inserted into body tissue includes means for limiting the distance which said inner and outer members are movable relative to each other to a selected one of a plurality of distances, and said means for limiting the depth to which the anchor is inserted into body tissue includes a depth control member which is movable along one of said inner and outer members to a selected one of a plurality of positions which correspond to different depths of insertion of the anchor into body tissue.

159. An apparatus as set forth in claim 158 wherein said inner member is fixedly connected to said handle and said outer member is movable relative to said inner member, said depth control member being movable relative to said handle to a selected one of a plurality of positions, said depth control member being effective to block movement of said outer member relative to said inner member when said outer member has moved relative to said inner member through a distance corresponding to a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue.

160. An apparatus as set forth in claim 158 further including indicator means connected with said depth control member for indicating which one of the plurality of positions said depth control member is located.

161. An apparatus as set forth in claim 158 further including an array of indications disposed on said handle with each of said indications corresponding to one of said plurality of positions of said depth control member, and manually operable actuator means connected with said depth control member and movable along said array of indications to move said depth control member to the selected one of the plurality of positions.

162. An apparatus as set forth in claim 158 wherein said depth control member is at least partially disposed in said handle and is manually movable along said handle.

163. An apparatus as set forth in claim 162 further including an retainer member connected with said handle, said retainer member being movable relative to said handle between a first position in which said one of said inner and outer members is retained against movement relative to the other of said inner and outer members and a second position in which said one of said inner and outer members is movable relative to the other of said inner and outer members.

164. An apparatus as set forth in claim 158 wherein said inner and outer members cooperate to at least partially define a chamber which receives at least a portion of the anchor when said inner and outer members are in an initial position relative to each other, said inner member extends from said outer member for a distance which corresponds a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue when said one of said inner and outer members has been moved relative to the other of said inner and outer members through the selected one of the plurality of distances.

165. An apparatus as set forth in claim 158 wherein said first end portion of said inner member is fixedly connected with said handle, said outer member is said one of said inner and outer members, said means for limiting the distance which said inner and outer members are movable relative to each other to a selected one of a plurality of distances is effective to limit the distance which said outer member is movable relative to said inner member to the selected one of the plurality of distances.

166. An apparatus as set forth in claim 165 wherein said means for limiting the distance which said inner and outer members are movable relative to each other includes a stop surface which is fixedly connected with said outer member, said stop surface being disposed in engagement with said depth control member when said outer member has moved relative to said inner member through a distance corresponding to a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue.

167. An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said apparatus comprising a handle, an inner member having a first end portion connected with said handle and a second end portion which is spaced from said handle, an outer member at least partially enclosing said inner member, said outer member having a first end portion connected with said handle and a second end portion which is spaced from said handle, one of said inner and outer members being movable relative to the other of said inner and outer members to insert the anchor into body tissue, means for limiting the depth to which the anchor is inserted into body tissue upon relative movement between said inner and outer members, said means for limiting the depth to which the anchor is inserted into body tissue includes means for limiting the distance which said inner and outer members are movable relative to each other to a selected one of a plurality of distances, and an actuator connected with said handle, said actuator being movable relative to said handle between a first position in which said one of said inner and outer members is retained against movement relative to the other of said inner and outer members and a second position in which said one of said inner and outer members is movable relative to the other of said inner and outer members.

168. An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said apparatus comprising a handle, an inner member having a first end portion connected with said handle and a second end portion which is spaced from said handle, an outer member at least partially enclosing said inner member, said outer member having a first end portion connected with said handle and a second end portion which is spaced from said handle, one of said inner and outer members being movable relative to the other of said inner and outer members to insert the anchor into body tissue, and means for limiting the depth to which the anchor is inserted into body tissue upon relative movement between said inner and outer members, said means for limiting the depth to which the anchor is inserted into body tissue includes means for limiting the distance which said inner and outer members are movable relative to each other to a selected one of a plurality of distances, said inner and outer members cooperate to at least partially define a chamber which receives at least a portion of the anchor when said inner and outer members are in an initial position relative to each other, said inner member extends from said outer member for a distance which corresponds a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue when said one of said inner and outer members has been moved relative to the other of said inner and outer members through the selected one of the plurality of distances.

169. An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said apparatus comprising a handle, an inner member having a first end portion connected with said handle and a second end portion which is spaced from said handle, an outer member at least partially enclosing said inner member, said outer member having a first end portion connected with said handle and a second end portion which is spaced from said handle, one of said inner and outer members being movable relative to the other of said inner and outer members to insert the anchor into body tissue, and means for limiting the depth to which the anchor is inserted into body tissue upon relative movement between said inner and outer members, said means for limiting the depth to which the anchor is inserted into body tissue includes means for limiting the distance which said inner and outer members are movable relative to each other to a selected one of a plurality of distances, said first end portion of said inner member is fixedly connected with said handle, said outer member is said one of said inner and outer members, said means for limiting the distance which said inner and outer members are movable relative to each other to a selected one of a plurality of distances is effective to limit the distance which said outer member is movable relative to said inner member to the selected one of the plurality of distances.

170. A method of positioning a suture anchor in body tissue, said method comprising the steps of positioning the anchor in a chamber formed between inner and outer members connected with a handle, retaining said inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle, manually moving an actuator member relative to the handle to release one of the inner and outer members for movement relative to the handle, and thereafter, moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle, said step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle includes moving the outer member into the handle.

171. A method as set forth in claim 170 wherein said step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle further includes moving the anchor under the influence of force transmitted from the handle through the inner member to the anchor.

172. A method as set forth in claim 170 further including the step of moving a leading end portion of the anchor into engagement with body tissue prior to performance of said step of manually moving an actuator member relative to the handle and while performing said step of retaining said inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle.

173. A method as set forth in claim 170 further including the said step of tensioning a suture extending through the anchor while retaining the inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle.

174. A method as set forth in claim 173 wherein said step of tensioning the suture includes gripping a portion of the suture with the actuator member.

175. A method as set forth in claim 170 wherein said step of moving the outer member into the handle includes moving the outer member relative to the handle from a first position in which the outer member extends a first distance into the handle to a second position in which the outer member extends a second distance into the handle, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

176. A method as set forth in claim 170 wherein said step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle includes maintaining a suture which extends through the anchor stationary relative to the handle.

177. A method as set forth in claim 170 further including pressing a trailing end of the anchor against an outer end of the inner member under the influence of force transmitted to the anchor through a suture while retaining the inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle.

178. A method as set forth in claim 170 further including th e steps of selecting a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue and interrupting said step of moving one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle upon insertion of the anchor to the desired depth in body tissue.

179. A method as set forth in claim 170 further including the step of moving a depth control member along the handle to a position which corresponds to a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue, said step of moving a depth control member along the handle being performed while retaining said inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle and prior to performance of said step of manually moving the actuator member relative to the handle.

180. An apparatus as set forth in claim 170 wherein said step of moving the outer member into the handle is performed while maintaining the inner member stationary relative to the handle.

181. An apparatus as set forth in claim 170 wherein said step of moving the outer member into the handle is performed under the influence of force applied against the outer member by the body tissue.

182. An apparatus as set forth in claim 170 wherein said step of moving the outer member into the handle includes sliding a surface on the outer member along a surface on the inner member.

183. A method of positioning a suture anchor in body tissue, said method comprising the steps of positioning the anchor in a chamber formed between inner and outer members connected with a handle, retaining said inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle, manually moving an actuator member relative to the handle to release one of the inner and outer members for movement relative to the handle, thereafter, moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle, and tensioning a suture extending through the anchor while retaining the inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle.

184. An apparatus as set forth in claim 183 further including the step of pressing an end portion of the anchor against an end portion of the inner member under the influence of force transmitted through the suture to the anchor during performance of said step of tensioning the suture.

185. A method as set forth in claim 183 wherein said step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle includes moving the outer member relative to the inner member in a direction toward the handle.

186. A method as set forth in claim 183 wherein said step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle includes moving the anchor under the influence of force transmitted from the handle through the inner member to the anchor.

187. A method as set forth in claim 183 further including the step of moving a leading end portion of the anchor into engagement with body tissue prior to performance of said step of manually moving an actuator member relative to the handle and while performing said step of retaining said inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle.

188. A method as set forth in claim 183 wherein said step of tensioning a suture extending through the anchor while retaining the inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle includes tensioning a first portion of the suture which extends away from the anchor through the handle and tensioning a second portion of the suture which extends along an outer side surface of the outer member.

189. A method as set forth in claim 183 wherein said step of tensioning the suture includes gripping a portion of the suture with the actuator member.

190. A method as set forth in claim 183 wherein said step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle includes moving the outer member relative to the handle from a first position in which the outer member extends a first distance into the handle to a second position in which the outer member extends a second distance into the handle, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

191. A method as set forth in claim 183 wherein said step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle includes maintaining the suture which extends through the anchor stationary relative to the handle.

192. A method as set forth in claim 183 further including pressing a trailing end of the anchor against an outer end of the inner member under the influence of force transmitted to the anchor through a suture while retaining the inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle.

193. A method as set forth in claim 183 further including the steps of selecting a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue and interrupting said step of moving one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle upon insertion of the anchor to the desired depth in body tissue.

194. A method as set forth in claim 183 further including the step of moving a depth control member along the handle to a position which corresponds to a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue, said step of moving a depth control member along the handle being performed while retaining said inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle and prior to performance of said step of manually moving the actuator member relative to the handle.

195. A method of positioning a suture anchor in body tissue, said method comprising the steps of positioning the anchor in a chamber formed between inner and outer members connected with a handle, retaining said inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle, manually moving an actuator member relative to the handle to release one of the inner and outer members for movement relative to the handle, and thereafter, moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle, said step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle includes moving the outer member relative to the handle from a first position in which the outer member extends a first distance into the handle to a second position in which the outer member extends a second distance into the handle, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

196. A method of positioning a suture anchor in body tissue, said method comprising the steps of positioning the anchor in a chamber formed between inner and outer members connected with a handle, retaining said inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle, manually moving an actuator member relative to the handle to release one of the inner and outer members for movement relative to the handle, and thereafter, moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle, step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle includes maintaining a suture which extends through the anchor stationary relative to the handle.

197. A method as set forth in claim 196 further including pressing a trailing end of the anchor against an outer end of the inner member under the influence of force transmitted to the anchor through a suture while retaining the inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle.

198. A method as set forth in claim 196 wherein said step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle includes moving the outer member relative to the inner member and the suture in a direction toward the handle.

199. A method as set forth in claim 196 wherein said step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle includes moving the anchor under the influence of force transmitted from the handle through the inner member to the anchor.

200. A method as set forth in claim 196 further including the step of moving a leading end portion of the anchor into engagement with body tissue prior to performance of said step of manually moving an actuator member relative to the handle and while performing said steps of retaining said inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle and maintaining the suture stationary relative to the handle.

201. A method as set forth in claim 196 further including the step of tensioning a suture extending through the anchor while retaining the inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle.

202. A method as set forth in claim 196 wherein said step of maintaining the suture stationary relative to the handle includes gripping a portion of the suture with the actuator member.

203. A method as set forth in claim 196 wherein said step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle includes moving the outer member relative to the handle from a first position in which the outer member extends a first distance into the handle to a second position in which the outer member extends a second distance into the handle, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

204. A method of positioning a suture anchor in body tissue, said method comprising the steps of positioning the anchor in a chamber formed between inner and outer members connected with a handle, retaining said inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle, manually moving an actuator member relative to the handle to release one of the inner and outer members for movement relative to the handle, thereafter, moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle, and pressing a trailing end of the anchor against an outer end of the inner member under the influence of force transmitted to the anchor through a suture while retaining the inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle.

205. A method as set forth in claim 204 wherein said step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle includes moving the outer member relative to the inner member while continuing to press the trailing end of the anchor against the outer end of the inner member.

206. A method as set forth in claim 204 wherein said step of moving the anchor relative to the body tissue while moving the one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle includes moving the anchor relative to the body tissue under the influence of force transmitted from the handle through the inner member to the anchor.

207. A method as set forth in claim 204 further including the steps of selecting a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue and interrupting said step of moving one of the inner and outer members relative to the handle upon insertion of the anchor to the desired depth in body tissue.

208. A method as set forth in claim 204 further including the step of moving a depth control member along the handle to a position which corresponds to a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue, said step of moving a depth control member along the handle being performed while retaining said inner and outer members against movement relative to the handle and prior to performance of said step of manually moving the actuator member relative to the handle.

209. A method of positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said method comprising the steps of moving an inner member and a tubular outer member toward body tissue with a leading end portion of the anchor extending from the outer member and with the outer member enclosing a trailing end portion of the anchor and a portion of inner member, engaging body tissue with the leading end portion of the anchor while the trailing end portion of the anchor is enclosed by the outer member, said step of moving an inner member and an outer member toward body tissue and said step of engaging body tissue with the leading end portion of the anchor being performed with the anchor stationary relative to the inner and outer members, thereafter, moving the anchor and inner member relative to the outer member to position the anchor relative to the body tissue, said step of moving an inner member and an outer member toward body tissue and said step of engaging body tissue with the leading end portion of the anchor are performed with a retainer member in a first position in which the retainer member is effective to retain said inner member and said outer member against movement relative to each other, and moving the retainer member from the first position to a second position in which the retainer member is ineffective to retain said inner member and said outer member against movement relative to each other, said step of moving the anchor and inner member relative to the outer member being performed with the retainer member in the second position.

210. A method as set forth in claim 209 further including the steps of selecting a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue and interrupting said step of moving the anchor and inner member relative to the outer member upon insertion of the anchor to the desired depth in the body tissue.

211. A method as set forth in claim 209 further including the steps of moving a stop member along the inner member to a position which corresponds to a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue, and blocking movement of the anchor and inner member relative to the outer member with the stop member upon insertion of the anchor to the desired depth into body tissue.

212. A method of positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said method comprising the steps of moving an inner member and a tubular outer member toward body tissue with a leading end portion of the anchor extending from the outer member and with the outer member enclosing a trailing end portion of the anchor and a portion of inner member, engaging body tissue with the leading end portion of the anchor while the trailing end portion of the anchor is enclosed by the outer member, said step of moving an inner member and an outer member toward body tissue and said step of engaging body tissue with the leading end portion of the anchor being performed with the anchor stationary relative to the inner and outer members, thereafter, moving the anchor and inner member relative to the outer member to position the anchor relative to the body tissue, moving a stop member along the inner member to a position which corresponds to a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue, and blocking movement of the anchor and inner member relative to the outer member with the stop member upon insertion of the anchor to the desired depth into body tissue.

213. A method positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said method comprising the steps of manually positioning a depth control member relative to a handle to select an anchor insertion depth, said step of manually positioning a depth control member relative to a handle includes moving the depth control member along an opening in the handle to a position corresponding to a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue, moving the anchor into body tissue by transmitting force from the handle through an inner member to the anchor while the inner member is at least partially enclosed by an outer member, said step of moving the anchor into body tissue includes moving the outer member relative to the inner member under the influence of force applied against the outer member by the body tissue, and blocking movement of the outer member relative to the inner member upon insertion of the anchor into the body tissue to a depth corresponding to the position of the depth control member relative to the handle.

214. A method positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said method comprising the steps of manually positioning a depth control member relative to a handle to select an anchor insertion depth, said step of manually positioning control member relative to a handle includes sliding the depth control member along the inner member to a position corresponding to a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue, moving the anchor into body tissue by transmitting force from the handle through an inner member to the anchor while the inner member is at least partially enclosed by an outer member, said step of moving the anchor into body tissue includes moving the outer member relative to the inner member under the influence of force applied against the outer member by the body tissue, and blocking movement of the outer member relative to the inner member upon insertion of the anchor into the body tissue to a depth corresponding to the position of the depth control member relative to the handle.

215. A method as set forth in claim 214 wherein said step of sliding the depth control member along the inner member is performed with the depth control member at least partially enclosed by the handle.

216. A method as set forth in claim 214 wherein said step of blocking movement of the outer member relative to the inner member includes blocking movement of the outer member with the depth control member.

217. A method as set forth in claim 214 wherein said step of moving the outer member relative to the inner member includes retracting the outer member into the handle.

218. A method positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said method comprising the steps of manually positioning a depth control member relative to a handle to select an anchor insertion depth, moving the anchor into body tissue by transmitting force from the handle through an inner member to the anchor while the inner member is at least partially enclosed by an outer member, said step of moving the anchor into body tissue includes moving the outer member relative to the inner member under the influence of force applied against the outer member by the body tissue, and blocking movement of the outer member relative to the inner member upon insertion of the anchor into the body tissue to a depth corresponding to the position of the depth control member relative to the handle, said step of blocking movement of the outer member relative to the inner member includes blocking movement of the outer member with the depth control member.

219. A method as set forth in claim 218 wherein said step of manually positioning a depth control member relative to a handle includes moving the depth control member along an opening in the handle to a position corresponding to a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue.

220. A method as set forth in claim 218 wherein said step of manually positioning control member relative to a handle includes sliding the depth control member along the inner member to a position corresponding to a desired depth of insertion of the anchor into body tissue.

221. A method as set forth in claim 220 wherein said step of sliding the depth control member along the inner member is performed with the depth control member at least partially enclosed by the handle.

222. A method as set forth in claim 218 wherein said step of moving the outer member relative to the inner member includes retracting the outer member into the handle.

223. A method positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said method comprising the steps of manually positioning a depth control member relative to a handle to select an anchor insertion depth, moving the anchor into body tissue by transmitting force from the handle through an inner member to the anchor while the inner member is at least partially enclosed by an outer member, said step of moving the anchor into body tissue includes moving the outer member relative to the inner member under the influence of force applied against the outer member by the body tissue, said step of moving the outer member relative to the inner member includes retracting the outer member into the handle, and blocking movement of the outer member relative to the inner member upon insertion of the anchor into the body tissue to a depth corresponding to the position of the depth control member relative to the handle.

224. A method of positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said method comprising the steps of moving an anchor toward an imperforate surface on body tissue, perforating the imperforate surface on the body tissue with a leading end portion of the anchor to form an opening in the surface of the body tissue, said step of perforating an imperforate surface on the body tissue with a leading end portion of the anchor being performed with a suture extending through a central passage in the anchor and across the leading end portion of the anchor, and thereafter, moving the anchor through the opening into the body tissue.

225. A method as set forth in claim 224 wherein said step of moving an inner member and a tubular outer member toward the body tissue and perforating the imperforate surface on the body tissue are performed with a retainer member in a first position in which the retainer member is effective to retain said inner member and said tubular outer member against movement relative to each other, said method further including moving the retainer member from the first position to a second position in which the retainer member is ineffective to retain said inner member and said tubular outer member against movement relative to each other, and positioning the anchor relative to the body tissue while the retainer member is in the second position.

226. A method as set forth in claim 224 further wherein said step of perforating the imperforate surface on the body tissue includes moving the anchor and an inner member into the body tissue under the influence of force transmitted from a handle through the inner member to a trailing end of the anchor while retracting an outer member toward the handle and maintaining the inner member stationary relative to the handle.

227. A method as set forth in claim 224 wherein said step of perforating the imperforate surface on the body tissue includes retracting an outer member under the influence of force applied against the outer member by the body tissue by sliding the outer member along an outer side surface of an inner member which is at least partially enclosed by the outer member.

228. A method of positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said method comprising the steps of moving an anchor toward an imperforate surface on body tissue, perforating the imperforate surface on the body tissue with a leading end portion of the anchor to form an opening in the surface of the body tissue, and thereafter, moving the anchor through the opening into the body tissue, said step of moving the anchor toward an imperforate surface on body tissue includes moving an inner member and a tubular outer member toward the body tissue with the leading end portion of the anchor extending from the outer member and with the inner member disposed in engagement with a trailing end of the anchor, said steps of moving an inner member and a tubular outer member toward the body tissue and perforating the imperforate surface on the body tissue being performed with the anchor stationary relative to the inner member and tubular outer member, said method further including the step of moving the anchor and inner member relative to the tubular outer member to position the anchor relative to body tissue, said step of moving an inner member and a tubular outer member toward the body tissue and perforating the imperforate surface on the body tissue are performed with a retainer member in a first position in which the retainer member is effective to retain said inner member and said tubular outer member against movement relative to each other, said method further including moving the retainer member from the first position to a second position in which the retainer member is ineffective to retain said inner member and said tubular outer member against movement relative to each other, said step of moving the anchor and inner member relative to the tubular outer member being performed with the retainer member in the second position.

229. An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said apparatus comprising a handle, an inner member, an outer member at least partially enclosing said inner member, at least one of said inner and outer members being connected with said handle, said inner and outer members being relatively movable to move the anchor relative to the body tissue, and retainer means connected with said handle and at least one of said inner and outer members for retaining said inner and outer members against movement relative to each other, said retainer means being manually operable from an engaged condition to a release condition to enable relative movement to occur between said inner and outer members.

230. An apparatus as set forth in claim 229 wherein said retainer means includes surface means for retaining at least a portion of a suture connected with the anchor against movement when said retainer means is in the engaged condition.

231. An apparatus as set forth in claim 229 wherein said outer member is movable relative to said handle and said inner member when said retainer means is in the release condition.

232. An apparatus as set forth in claim 229 wherein said retainer means includes first and second spaced apart surfaces connected with one of said inner and outer members and a retainer member, said retainer member being disposed adjacent to said first surface when said retainer means is in the engaged condition, said retainer member being disposed adjacent to said second surface after relative movement between said inner and outer members through a range of movement with said retainer means in the release condition.

233. An apparatus as set forth in claim 229 wherein said retainer means includes a member which is manually movable in a direction transverse to central axes of said inner and outer members to effect operation of said retainer means from the engaged condition to the release condition.

234. An apparatus as set forth in claim 229 further including depth control means for limiting the extent of relative movement between said inner and outer members when said retainer means is in the release condition to control the depth to which the suture anchor is inserted into body tissue, said depth control means being manually adjustable to vary the extent of relative movement between said inner and outer members to thereby vary the depth to which a suture anchor is inserted into body tissue.

235. An apparatus as set forth in claim 229 wherein said inner member has surface means for applying force to a trailing end of the suture anchor to move the suture anchor into body tissue during relative movement between said inner and outer members with said retainer means in the release condition.

236. An apparatus as set forth in claim 229 wherein said inner member has surface means for defining a passage which receives a suture which extends through the anchor, said passage in said inner member extends between opposite end portions of said inner member.

237. An apparatus as set forth in claim 229 further including surface means connected with said outer member for engaging body tissue and transmitting force between the body tissue and said outer member to effect relative movement between said inner and outer members when said retainer means is in the release condition.

238. An apparatus as set forth in claim 229 further including means for limiting the extent of relative movement between said inner and outer members when said retainer means is in the release condition.

239. An apparatus as set forth in claim 229 wherein said retainer means includes a retainer member disposed on said handle and movable relative to said handle between a first position in which said retainer means is in the engaged condition and a second position in which said retainer means is in the release condition.

240. An apparatus as set forth in claim 239 wherein said retainer member includes surface means which is engageable with a portion of a suture connected with the anchor to retain the engaged portion of the suture against movement relative to said handle when said retainer member is in the first position.

241. An apparatus as set forth in claim 239 wherein said handle includes a guide surface along which said retainer member is movable between the first and second positions, said guide surface being effective to guide movement of the retainer member along a path having a central axis which extends transverse to a central axis of said handle.

242. An apparatus as set forth in claim 239 wherein said retainer member has a manually engageable end portion against which force is manually applied to move said retainer member from the first position to the second position.

243. An apparatus as set forth in claim 239 further including first and second stop surfaces connected with one of said inner and outer members, said first and second stop surfaces being spaced from each other along a central axis of said handle, said retainer member being disposed adjacent to said first stop surface when said retainer means is in the engaged condition, said retainer member being disposed adjacent to said second stop surface when said retainer means is in the release condition and relative movement has occurred between said inner and outer members.

244. An apparatus as set forth in claim 239 wherein said retainer member includes an opening through which a central axis of at least one of said inner and outer members extends, said opening being movable transversely to the central axis of said one of said inner and outer members upon movement of said retainer member between the first and second positions, the central axis of said one of said inner and outer members extends through a first portion of the opening in said retainer member when said retainer member is in the first position, the central axis of said one of said inner and outer members extends through a second portion of the opening in said retainer member when said retainer member is in the second position.

245. An apparatus as set forth in claim 239 wherein said handle includes three longitudinally extending sides disposed in a triangular array, said retainer member projects from one of said sides of said handle when said retainer member is in the first position.

246. An apparatus as set forth in claim 229 wherein said handle includes three longitudinally extending sides disposed in a triangular array having a central axis which is parallel to a central axis of at least one of said inner and outer members.

247. An apparatus as set forth in claim 246 wherein a first one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle includes surface means for defining a slot which receives a portion of a suture, said slot having a longitudinal central axis which extends parallel to a longitudinal central axis of at least one of said inner and outer members.

248. An apparatus as set forth in claim 247 wherein a second one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle includes surface means for defining a recess which receives a needle connected with the suture.

249. An apparatus as set forth in claim 248 wherein a third one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle includes surface means for defining a recess for receiving a portion of the suture.

250. An apparatus as set forth in claim 246 wherein said longitudinally extending sides of said handle are interconnected by a plurality of longitudinally extending corner portions having axes which extend parallel to the longitudinal central axis of said triangular array of longitudinally extending sides, a first one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle including a first plurality of ribs which extend between a first one of said corner portions and a second one of said corner portions, a second one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle including a second plurality of ribs which extend between said second one of said corner portions and a third one of said corner portions.

251. An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor relative to body tissue, said apparatus comprising a handle, a longitudinally extending inner member fixedly connected with and extending axially outward from said handle, a tubular outer member slidable along an axially extending outer side surface of said inner member, and a retainer member connected with said handle, said retainer member being manually movable relative to said handle between a first position in which said outer member is retained against movement in an axial direction along the outer side surface of said inner member and a second position in which said outer member is slidable in an axial direction along the outer side surface of said inner member, said inner and outer members cooperate to hold the suture anchor against movement relative to said handle when said retainer member is in the first position, at least one of said inner and outer members has a surface against which the suture anchor is pressed when said retainer member is in the first position.

252. An apparatus as set forth in claim 251 further including surface means connected with said handle for gripping at least a portion of the suture when said retainer member is in the first position and the suture anchor is pressed against the surface on one of said inner and outer members.

253. An apparatus as set forth in claim 251 further including first and second spaced apart surfaces connected with said outer member, said retainer member being disposed adjacent to said first surface when said retainer member is in the first position, said retainer member being disposed adjacent to said second surface after relative movement between said inner and outer members with said retainer member in the second position.

254. An apparatus as set forth in claim 251 wherein said retainer member is manually movable between the first and second positions in a direction transverse to a central axis of said inner member.

255. An apparatus as set forth in claim 251 further including depth control means for limiting the extent of relative movement between said inner and outer members when said retainer member is in the second position to control the depth to which the suture anchor is inserted into body tissue, said depth control means being manually adjustable to vary the extent of relative movement between said inner and outer members to thereby vary the depth to which a suture anchor is inserted into body tissue.

256. An apparatus as set forth in claim 251 wherein said inner member has surface means for defining a passage which receives a portion of the suture, said passage in said inner member extends between opposite end portions of said inner member.

257. An apparatus as set forth in claim 251 further including surface means connected with said outer member for engaging body tissue and transmitting force between the body tissue and said outer member to slide said outer member along the axially extending outer side surface of said inner member in a direction toward said handle when said retainer member is in the second position.

258. An apparatus as set forth in claim 251 further including means connected with said outer member for limiting the extent of sliding movement of said outer member along the outer side surface of said inner member when said retainer member is in the second position.

259. An apparatus as set forth in claim 251 wherein said retainer member includes surface means which is engageable with a portion of the suture to retain the engaged portion of the suture against movement relative to said handle when said retainer member is in the first position.

260. An apparatus as set forth in claim 251 further including a guide surface along which said retainer member is movable between the first and second positions, said guide surface being connected with said handle and being effective to guide movement of the retainer member along a path having a central axis which extends transverse to a central axis of said handle.

261. An apparatus as set forth in claim 251 wherein said retainer member has a manually engageable end portion against which force is manually applied to move said retainer member from the first position to the second position.

262. An apparatus as set forth in claim 251 further including first and second stop surfaces connected with said outer member, said first and second stop surfaces being spaced from each other along the central axis of said inner member, said retainer member being disposed adjacent to said first stop surface when said retainer member is in the first position, said retainer member being disposed adjacent to said second stop surface when said retainer member is in the second position.

263. An apparatus as set forth in claim 251 wherein said retainer member includes an opening through which a central axis of said outer member extends, said opening being movable transversely to the central axis of said outer member upon movement of said retainer member between the first and second positions, the central axis of said outer member extends through a first portion of the opening in said retainer member when said retainer member is in the first position, the central axis of said outer member extends through a second portion of the opening in said retainer member when said retainer member is in the second position.

264. An apparatus as set forth in claim 251 wherein said handle includes three longitudinally extending sides disposed in a triangular array with longitudinal axes of said sides extending parallel to a central axis of said inner member, said retainer member projects from one of said sides of said handle when said retainer member is in the first position.

265. An apparatus as set forth in claim 251 wherein said handle includes three longitudinally extending sides disposed in a triangular array having a central axis which is parallel to a central axis of said handle.

266. An apparatus as set forth in claim 265 wherein one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle includes surface means for defining a slot which receives a portion of the suture.

267. An apparatus as set forth in claim 265 wherein one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle includes surface means for defining a recess which receives a needle connected with the suture.

268. An apparatus as set forth in claim 265 wherein one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle includes surface means for defining a recess for receiving a portion of the suture.

269. An apparatus as set forth in claim 265 wherein said longitudinally extending sides of said handle are interconnected by a plurality of longitudinally extending corner portions having axes which extend parallel to a longitudinal central axis of said inner member, a first one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle including a first plurality of ribs which extend between a first one of said corner portions and a second one of said corner portions, a second one of said longitudinally extending sides of said handle including a second plurality of ribs which extend between said second one of said corner portions and a third one of said corner portions.

270. An apparatus as set forth in claim 251 further including means for limiting the depth to which an anchor is to be inserted into body tissue to a selected one of a plurality of depths, said means for limiting the depth to which an anchor is to be inserted into body tissue includes means for limiting the distance which said outer member slides along said outer side surface of said inner member to a selected one of a plurality of distances.

271. An apparatus as set forth in claim 270 wherein said means for limiting the depth to which an anchor is inserted into body tissue includes depth indicator means disposed on said handle for indicating the depth to which an anchor is to be inserted into body tissue.

272. An apparatus as set forth in claim 251 wherein said inner and outer members have a nonlinear longitudinal configuration, at least a portion of said outer member being flexible to accommodate movement of said outer member along a nonlinear portion of said inner member.