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Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to bone

  • US 9,936,940 B2
  • Filed: 09/06/2013
  • Issued: 04/10/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for securing a suture to bone, comprising:

  • loading the suture in a slot of an openable eyelet, wherein the slot includes an opening proximate a distal end of an inserter of a flexible member securing assembly, the assembly including the inserter, a suture anchor carried by the inserter, a distal tip removably coupled to a distal end of the inserter and a driver coupled to the inserter, the suture being positioned between the suture anchor and the distal tip within the slot while extending neither through the suture anchor nor the distal tip, a combination of the slot and the distal tip forming the openable eyelet;

    piercing an outer surface of the bone with the distal tip;

    advancing the inserter relative to the bone to form a pilot hole in the bone and position a distal end of the suture anchor relative to the outer surface of the bone, the distal tip, the opening of the slot and a portion of the suture loaded therein being positioned in the pilot hole;

    actuating the driver to allow movement of the driver relative to the inserter;

    advancing the driver relative to the inserter in a first direction to drive the suture anchor about the inserter into the pilot hole and compress a portion of the suture between the distal end of the suture anchor and the distal tip and secure the suture anchor and the suture to the bone without forming a knot in the suture; and

    moving the driver in a second direction opposite the first direction to remove the inserter from the pilot hole and the distal tip, suture anchor and suture, the moving step uncoupling the distal tip from the inserter, opening the openable eyelet, and causing the suture to move through the opening of the slot of the openable eyelet as the inserter is removed from the pilot hole.

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