Tissue anchors, kits, and associated methods

A tissue anchor comprising:

• a screw having a lengthwise axis, a screw main body, and a thread extending from the screw main body and away from the lengthwise axis, the screw main body having a screw proximal end, a screw distal end, a distal portion extending from the screw distal end toward the screw proximal end, a first outside diameter at the screw proximal end, and defining a first opening, a second opening, and a lumen extending from the first opening to the second opening, the outside diameter of the screw main body of the screw tapering along the distal portion of the screw main body, the thread having a thread proximal end, a thread distal end, a thread length extending from the thread proximal end to the thread distal end, a first portion extending from the thread proximal end toward the thread distal end, a second portion extending from the first portion of the thread to the thread distal end, a pitch, and a height, the pitch being constant along the thread length, the height being constant along the first portion of the thread and tapering along the second portion of the thread;
• and
• a stem releasably attached to the screw and partially disposed within the lumen defined by the screw, the stem having a stem proximal end, a stem distal end, and a stem main body defining a first portion, a second portion, a first recess, a second recess, a first passageway, a second passageway, and a first continuous surface, the first portion of the stem having a first portion proximal end, a first portion distal end disposed between the stem proximal end and the stem distal end, a second outside diameter, a first side, and a second side, the second portion of the stem having a second portion proximal end disposed between the stem proximal end and the stem distal end, a second portion distal end, a second portion length extending from the second portion proximal end to the second portion distal end, and a third outside diameter that is greater than the second outside diameter, each of the first recess and the second recess defined on the first portion of the stem and extending from the first portion proximal end to the first portion distal end, the first recess positioned on the first side of the first portion of the stem and the second recess positioned on the second side of the first portion of the stem, each of the first passageway and the second passageway extending through the entire second portion length, each of the first and second passageways extending only through the second portion of the stem and in communication with the lumen defined by the screw, each of the first and second passageways having an opening defined on the second portion proximal end, the first continuous surface extending from the first portion proximal end to the first portion distal end and defining a portion of the first passageway and the first recess.

A tissue anchor comprising:

• a screw having a lengthwise axis, a screw main body, and a thread extending from the screw main body and away from the lengthwise axis, the screw main body having a screw proximal end, a screw distal end, a distal portion extending from the screw distal end toward the screw proximal end, a first outside diameter at the screw proximal end, and defining a first opening, a second opening, and a lumen extending from the first opening to the second opening, the outside diameter of the screw main body of the screw tapering along the distal portion of the screw main body, the thread having a thread proximal end, a thread distal end, a thread length extending from the thread proximal end to the thread distal end, a first portion extending from the thread proximal end toward the thread distal end, a second portion extending from the first portion of the thread to the thread distal end, a pitch, a height, a crest, a first side, a second side, and a thickness extending from the first side of the thread to the second side of the thread, the pitch being constant along the thread length, the height being constant along the first portion of the thread and tapering along the second portion of the thread, the crest being blunted along a portion of the thread, the thickness of the thread being constant along the first portion of the thread and tapering along the second portion of the thread;
• and
• a stem releasably attached to the screw and partially disposed within the lumen defined by the screw, the stem having a stem proximal end, a stem distal end, and a stem main body defining a first portion, a second portion, a first recess, a second recess, a first passageway, a second passageway, and a first continuous surface, the first portion of the stem having a first portion proximal end, a first portion distal end disposed between the stem proximal end and the stem distal end, a second outside diameter, a first side, and a second side, the second portion of the stem having a second portion proximal end disposed between the stem proximal end and the stem distal end, a second portion distal end, a second portion length extending from the second portion proximal end to the second portion distal end, and a third outside diameter that is greater than the second outside diameter, each of the first recess and the second recess defined on the first portion of the stem and extending from the first portion proximal end to the first portion distal end, the first recess positioned on the first side of the first portion of the stem and the second recess positioned on the second side of the first portion of the stem, each of the first passageway and the second passageway extending through the entire second portion length, each of the first and second passageways extending only through the second portion of the stem and in communication with the lumen defined by the screw, each of the first and second passageways having an opening defined on the second portion proximal end, the first passageway disposed adjacent to the first recess, the second passageway disposed adjacent to the second recess, the first continuous surface extending from the first portion proximal end to the first portion distal end and defining a portion of the first passageway and the first recess.