Cartridge device for suture anchor and suture management during implantation of a micro suture anchor array

A combination comprising:

• a cartridge for holding a toggle-type anchor configured for implantation in a patient's bone and having extending therefrom first and second portions of a working suture and a free end of a suture lock, the cartridge comprising:
• an inner holder having therein a boss and an upper anchor support defining a space for receiving an anchor therebetween;
• a cover slidably disposed relative to the inner holder with an open position and a closed position, wherein, when an anchor is received in the space for receiving an anchor, if the cover is closed the anchor is not removeable from the space for receiving an anchor, and if the cover is open the anchor is removeable from the space for receiving an anchor;
• and
• a spool for receiving the free end of the suture lock;
• and
• a pre-strung toggle type anchor including an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, a proximal passage, a middle passage, and a distal passage, a working suture threaded through each of the proximal and distal passages, and a suture lock extending through the middle passage and having a loop surrounding a portion of the working suture outside of a first end of the middle passage and a free end extending from a second end of the middle passage;
• wherein the elongate body is positioned in the space for receiving an anchor, and the free end of the suture lock is received on the spool;
• and
• wherein the elongate body of the anchor defines an axial direction from the proximal to distal ends thereof, and a lateral direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and the cover when open allows the anchor to be removed in the lateral direction.

A combination comprising:

• a cartridge for holding a toggle-type anchor configured for implantation in a patient's bone and having extending therefrom first and second portions of a working suture and a free end of a suture lock, the cartridge comprising:
• an inner holder having therein a boss and an upper anchor support defining a space for receiving an anchor therebetween;
• a cover slidably disposed relative to the inner holder with an open position and a closed position, wherein, when an anchor is received in the space for receiving an anchor, if the cover is closed the anchor is not removeable from the space for receiving an anchor, and if the cover is open the anchor is removeable from the space for receiving an anchor;
• and
• a spool for receiving the free end of the suture lock;
• and
• a pre-strung toggle type anchor including an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, a proximal passage, a middle passage, and a distal passage, a working suture threaded through each of the proximal and distal passages, and a suture lock extending through the middle passage and having a loop surrounding a portion of the working suture outside of a first end of the middle passage and a free end extending from a second end of the middle passage;
• wherein the elongate body is positioned in the space for receiving an anchor, and the free end of the suture lock is received on the spool;
• and
• wherein the free end of the suture lock is secured to the spool to allow unspooling of the free end from the cartridge while preventing release of the free end from the cartridge.

A magazine for use in attaching a tendon to bone, the magazine comprising:

• a carrier;
• a plurality of cartridges held within the carrier;
• and
• a cartridge ejector configured to eject the cartridges from the carrier one at a time;
• each cartridge comprising:
• an inner holder having therein a boss and an upper anchor support defining a space for receiving an anchor therebetween;
• a cover slidably disposed relative to the inner holder with an open position and a closed position, wherein, when an anchor is received in the space for receiving an anchor, if the cover is closed the anchor is not removeable from the space for receiving an anchor, and if the cover is open the anchor is removeable from the space for receiving an anchor;
• and
• a spool for receiving the free end of the suture lock;
• each cartridge containing a pre-strung toggle type anchor including an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, a proximal passage, a middle passage, and a distal passage, a working suture threaded through each of the proximal and distal passages, and a suture lock extending through the middle passage and having a loop surrounding a portion of the working suture outside of a first end of the middle passage and a free end extending from a second end of the middle passage, wherein the elongate body is positioned in the space for receiving an anchor, and the free end of the suture lock is received on the spool.

A system for implanting anchors into bone, comprising:

• a combination including:
• a cartridge for holding a toggle-type anchor configured for implantation in a patient's bone and having extending therefrom first and second portions of a working suture and a free end of a suture lock, the cartridge comprising:
• an inner holder having therein a boss and an upper anchor support defining a space for receiving an anchor therebetween;
• a cover slidably disposed relative to the inner holder with an open position and a closed position, wherein, when an anchor is received in the space for receiving an anchor, if the cover is closed the anchor is not removeable from the space for receiving an anchor, and if the cover is open the anchor is removeable from the space for receiving an anchor;
• and
• a spool for receiving the free end of the suture lock;
• and
• a pre-strung toggle type anchor including an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, a proximal passage, a middle passage, and a distal passage, a working suture threaded through each of the proximal and distal passages, and a suture lock extending through the middle passage and having a loop surrounding a portion of the working suture outside of a first end of the middle passage and a free end extending from a second end of the middle passage, wherein the elongate body is positioned in the space for receiving an anchor, and the free end of the suture lock is received on the spool;
• wherein the elongate body of the anchor defines an axial direction from the proximal to distal ends thereof, and a lateral direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and the cover when open allows the anchor to be removed in the lateral direction;
• and
• an anchor insertion tool having a slot for receiving the cartridge, the slot configured to force the cover of the cartridge therein to move from the closed position to the open position, the anchor insertion tool further comprising a plunger having an extended position and a depressed position, wherein the plunger is configured to release the anchor from the cartridge when the plunger is depressed while the cartridge is in the slot.

A system for implanting anchors into bone, comprising:

• at least one pre-strung anchor having a working suture passing therethrough and a suture lock having a loop surrounding the working suture and a free end extending therefrom;
• a cartridge configured to carry one pre-strung anchor, the cartridge comprising a spool to receive the free end of the suture lock, carrying means for carrying the pre-strung anchor, and cover means for selectively preventing the anchor from falling out of the cartridge, the cover means defining open and closed positions;
• and
• an anchor insertion tool having a slot for receiving a cartridge, the slot configured to open the cover means of the cartridge when a cartridge is received therein;
• wherein the carrying means includes a boss adjacent the anchor, and the working suture passes around the boss causing a portion of the working suture to be distant from the anchor.

A system for implanting anchors into bone, comprising:

• at least one pre-strung anchor having a working suture passing therethrough and a suture lock having a loop surrounding the working suture and a free end extending therefrom;
• a cartridge configured to carry one pre-strung anchor, the cartridge comprising a spool to receive the free end of the suture lock, carrying means for carrying the pre-strung anchor, and cover means for selectively preventing the anchor from falling out of the cartridge, the cover means defining open and closed positions;
• and
• an anchor insertion tool having a slot for receiving a cartridge, the slot configured to open the cover means of the cartridge when a cartridge is received therein;
• wherein the suture lock is configured to break when the free end is pulled with sufficient force, and the free end is secured to the spool to allow a user, relative to the anchor once the anchor is implanted, to unspool the free end and then break the suture lock by pulling on the cartridge.