Soft tissue implant systems, instruments, and related methods

A method of forming a bone and/or tissue joining implant system, the method comprising:

• obtaining an instrument system for implanting a bone and/or tissue joining implant system, the instrument system comprising:
• a handle portion;
• an inserter portion comprising an insertion portion extending from a distal handle end portion of the handle portion to a tip portion that defines a free end of the inserter portion;
• and
• a guide portion comprising a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a passageway extending through the guide portion between the medial and distal end portions,
• wherein the guide portion and the inserter portion are mated such that the inserter portion extends through the passageway of the guide portion and the guide portion is freely slidably received on the inserter portion,
• wherein the guide portion and inserter portion are configured such that in a pre-implant arrangement thereof, the tip portion of the inserter portion is positioned past the distal end portion of the guide portion,
• wherein the tip portion comprises a pair of grooves extending proximally from a forked free end, and
• wherein the distal end portion of the guide portion comprises a distal engagement portion that is narrower than a proximal portion of the distal end portion of the guide portion, wherein the distal engagement portion of the distal end portion of the guide portion extends about and engages an exterior surface of the inserter portion, and the proximal portion of the distal end portion is spaced from the exterior surface of the inserter portion;
• and
• mounting a first soft bone anchor of the bone and/or tissue joining implant system on the forked free end, the bone and/or tissue joining implant system further comprising at least one suture member extending through the first soft bone anchor in a configuration that deforms the first soft bone anchor via tensioning of the at least one suture member.

A bone and/or tissue joining system, comprising:

• an instrument system for implanting a bone and/or tissue joining implant system, comprising:
• a handle portion;
• an inserter portion comprising an insertion portion extending from a distal handle end portion of the handle portion to a tip portion that defines a free end of the inserter portion;
• and
• a guide portion comprising a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a passageway extending through the guide portion between the medial and distal end portions,
• wherein the guide portion and the inserter portion are mated such that the inserter portion extends through the passageway of the guide portion and the guide portion is freely slidably received on the inserter portion,
• wherein the guide portion and inserter portion are configured such that in a pre-implant arrangement thereof, the tip portion of the inserter portion is positioned past the distal end portion of the guide portion,
• wherein the tip portion comprises a pair of grooves extending proximally from a forked free end,
• wherein the inserter portion comprises a second passageway through the insertion portion from the distal handle end portion of the handle portion to the tip portion, and
• wherein the guide portion extends from a distal end portion of the handle portion to the tip portion of the inserter portion.