# US 10,441,408 B2 · Soft anchor assembly with non-sliding flexible strand and techniques for use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,408 B2 - Document ID: US10441408B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/428,281 - Filed: 2017-02-09 - Published: 2017-06-01 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-11 - Assignees: Arthrex, Inc. - Applicants: Arthrex, Inc. - Inventors: Peter J. Dreyfuss; John A. Sodeika; Laurence Higgins - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441408B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/0811: {Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments} - 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)} - A61B 17/0466: {Suture bridges} - A61B 2017/0403: {Dowels} - A61B 2017/0406: {Pledgets} - A61B 2017/0411: {Instruments for removing suture anchors} - A61B 2017/0414: {having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening} - A61B 2017/042: {plastically deformed during insertion} - A61B 2017/0448: {Additional elements on or within the anchor} - A61B 2017/0464: {for soft tissue} - A61B 2017/0496: {for tensioning sutures} - A61B 2017/06185: {hollow or tubular} - A61F 2002/0817: {Structure of the anchor} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A soft anchor assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a sheath, a first flexible strand affixed as non-sliding relative to the sheath and a second flexible strand slidable relative to the sheath. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: attaching tissue to a bone including the use of a soft anchor assembly that includes a sheath and a first flexible strand fixated as non-sliding to the sheath, wherein the sheath is formed of a bunching material and the first flexible strand has first and second opposite free ends; inserting the soft anchor assembly into the bone; bunching the sheath by tensioning the first flexible strand; passing the first and second free ends of the first flexible strand through tissue; and approximating the tissue to the bone by individually tensioning each of the first and second free ends of the first flexible strand. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of attaching tissue includes: inserting a knotless anchor into the bone laterally from the soft anchor assembly; and connecting the first flexible strand of the soft anchor assembly to the knotless anchor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the step of inserting the soft anchoring assembly into the bone includes inserting the soft anchor assembly through the tissue as part of a trans-tendon technique. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the step of connecting the first flexible strand includes loading at least one of the first and second free ends of the first flexible strand through an eyelet of the knotless anchor; tensioning the at least one of the first and second free ends of the first flexible strand to achieve a desired tension on a tissue; and inserting the knotless anchor into the bone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first flexible strand is fixed to the sheath at one or more locations that is spaced from both ends of the sheath. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method as recited in claim 5, wherein further the first flexible strand is fixed to the sheath by stitching or adhering the first flexible strand to the sheath at the one or more locations. ### Claim 7 A method of attaching tissue to bone, comprising: inserting a first medial row of fixation devices into a bone, the first medial row of fixation devices including at least one soft anchor assembly that includes a sheath and a first flexible strand fixated as non-sliding relative to the sheath; bunching the sheath of the at least one soft anchor assembly by tensioning the first flexible strand; inserting a second lateral row of fixation devices into the bone, the second lateral row of fixation devices including at least one knotless anchor; and connecting the first flexible strand of the at least one soft anchor assembly to the at least one knotless anchor by loading a free end of the first flexible strand through a portion of the at least one knotless anchor; tensioning the free end of the first flexible strand to achieve a desired tension on a tissue; and inserting the at least one knotless anchor into the bone. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one soft anchor assembly is inserted through a tissue and into the bone. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one soft anchor assembly includes a second flexible strand that is slidable relative to the sheath, and comprising tying a knot in the second flexible strand to attach a tissue to the bone. ### Claim 10 A method of attaching tissue to bone, comprising the steps of: inserting a first medial row of fixation devices into a bone, the first medial row of fixation devices including at least one soft anchor assembly that includes a sheath and a first flexible strand fixated as non-sliding relative to the sheath; inserting a second lateral row of fixation devices into the bone, the second lateral row of fixation devices including at least one knotless anchor; and connecting the first flexible strand of the at least one soft anchor assembly to the at least one knotless anchor, wherein the at least one soft anchor assembly includes a second flexible strand that is slidable relative to the sheath, and comprising tying a knot in the second flexible strand to attach a tissue to the bone. ### Claim 11 A method, comprising: attaching tissue to a bone including the use of a soft anchor assembly that includes a sheath and a first flexible strand fixated as non-sliding to the sheath, wherein the sheath is formed of a bunching material, wherein the soft anchor assembly includes a second flexible strand, and the step of attaching tissue includes tying a knot in the second flexible strand.