Arthroscopic tunnel guide for rotator cuff repair

A guide assembly for forming a tunnel within a bone, the guide assembly comprising:

• a housing having a substantially linear proximal portion, including a handle, that transitions to a curved distal portion having a distal end, the curved distal portion having a radius of curvature;
• a passage formed within the housing, wherein the passage is substantially linear along a length of the substantially linear proximal portion of the housing, and wherein the passage is curved within the curved distal portion of the housing and extends through the distal portion and terminates at the distal end;
• a piercing member configured to be disposed in the passage at the distal portion of the housing and to move relative to the passage such that it moves away from the proximal portion and extends from the distal end of the housing while it maintains the radius of curvature;
• and
• a sleeve configured to be disposed in and to move relative to the passage, wherein the piercing member is configured to be slidingly disposed within the sleeve.

A guide assembly for forming a tunnel within a bone, the guide assembly comprising:

• a housing having a substantially linear proximal portion including an elongate handle and a curved distal portion having a distal end, wherein the curved distal portion has a radius of curvature;
• a passage formed within the housing, wherein the passage is substantially linear along a length of the substantially linear proximal portion of the housing, and wherein the passage is curved within the curved distal portion of the housing and terminates at the distal end;
• a flexible shaft having a distal end comprising a piercing member, wherein the flexible shaft is configured to be disposed in and to move relative to the passage;
• and
• a sleeve configured to be disposed in and to move relative to the passage, wherein the piercing member is configured to be slidingly disposed within the sleeve;
• where in a first position at least a portion of the sleeve and the piercing member are disposed within the passage of the distal portion of the housing, and the distal end of the housing is configured to abut against an external surface of the bone to maintain the first position;
• and
• where in a second position at least a portion of the piercing member is moved in a direction away from the proximal portion and extends from the distal end of the housing into the bone while maintaining the radius of curvature, such that the piercing member forms the tunnel within the bone, and where the distal end of the housing is configured to abut against the external surface of the bone.

A guide assembly for forming a tunnel within a bone, the guide assembly comprising:

• a housing having a substantially linear proximal portion including an elongate handle and having a longitudinal axis, and a distal portion having a distal opening, wherein the distal opening forms a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the proximal portion of the housing;
• a passage extending through the proximal portion to the distal portion and terminating at the distal opening;
• a flexible shaft having a distal end comprising a piercing member, wherein the flexible shaft is configured to be disposed in and to move relative to the passage and extend from the distal opening of the housing;
• a sleeve configured to be disposed in and to move relative to the passage, wherein the flexible shaft is configured to be slidingly disposed within the sleeve;
• where in a first position at least a portion of the sleeve and the piercing member are disposed within the passage of the distal portion of the housing, and a distal end of the housing is configured to abut against an external surface of the bone to maintain the first position;
• and
• where in a second position at least a portion of the piercing member is moved in a direction away from the proximal portion and extends from the distal opening of the housing into the bone, such that the piercing member forms the tunnel within the bone, and where the distal end of the housing is configured to abut against the external surface of the bone.