Soft tissue repair system

A suture anchor assembly comprising:

• an anchor having a first passageway and a spaced apart second passageway each extending through at least a portion of the anchor;
• a suture comprising a proximal end and an opposing distal end, a portion of the suture between the proximal end and the distal end passing through the first passageway and the second passageway so as to form a loop, at least one of the proximal end or the distal end of the suture being passed through the loop such that pulling on at least one of the proximal end or distal end of the suture that is passed through the loop causes the suture to selectively lock against the anchor;
• and
• a retraction line threaded through the loop of the suture such that the application of tension by the retraction line on the loop causes the suture to selectively unlock from the anchor.

A suture anchor assembly comprising:

• an anchor comprising:
• a top surface and an opposing bottom surface;
• an elongated channel recessed into the bottom surface;
• and
• a first passageway and a spaced apart second passageway extending from the top surface to the channel;
• a suture comprising a proximal end and an opposing distal end, a portion of the suture between the proximal end and the distal end being formed into a loop, the loop being at least partially passed through the first passageway, at least one of the proximal end or the distal end of the suture being passed through the second passageway and then through the loop such that pulling on the proximal end or the distal end of the suture that is passed through the loop causes the suture to selectively lock against the anchor.

A suture anchor assembly comprising:

• a first anchor;
• a second anchor having a first passageway extending through at least a portion thereof;
• a suture comprising a proximal end and an opposing distal end, a portion of the suture between the proximal end and the distal end being formed into a loop, the loop being at least partially passed through the first passageway, at least one of the proximal end or the distal end of the suture being passed through the loop, the suture being secured to the first anchor at a location distal of the loop;
• and
• a retraction line threaded through the loop of the suture such that tension can be applied to the loop through the retraction line.

A suture anchor delivery system comprising:

• a tubular needle having an interior surface and an exterior surface extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the interior surface bounding a passage, a slot extending between the interior surface of the needle and the exterior surface of the needle and running from the distal end of the needle toward the proximal end thereof;
• a first anchor comprising:
• a body slidably received within the passage of the needle;
• a neck extending from the body, the neck or the body passing through the slot of the needle so that the neck outwardly projects beyond the exterior surface of the needle;
• and
• a flexible prong projecting from at least a portion of the neck or the body and resiliently biasing against the interior surface of the needle;
• and
• a suture secured to the first anchor.

A suture anchor delivery system comprising:

• a tubular needle having an interior surface and an exterior surface extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the interior surface bounding a passage, a slot extending between the interior surface of the needle and the exterior surface of the needle and running from the distal end of the needle toward the proximal end thereof;
• a handle positioned at the proximal end of the needle;
• a first anchor at least partially slidably disposed within the passage of the needle;
• a second anchor at least partially slidably disposed within the passage of the needle proximal of the first anchor, the second anchor having a first passageway extending through at least a portion thereof so as to communicate with the passage of the needle;
• and
• a suture comprising a proximal end and an opposing distal end, a portion of the suture between the proximal end and the distal end being formed into a loop, the loop being at least partially passed through the first passageway of the second anchor, at least one of the proximal end or the distal end of the suture being passed through the loop, a portion of the suture traveling continually in the passage of the needle from the loop of the suture to the handle.

A method for repairing soft tissue comprising:

• placing a first anchor into soft tissue, a suture being connected to the first anchor;
• placing a second anchor into soft tissue at a distance from the first anchor, the suture passing through at least a portion of the second anchor and terminating at a free end;
• and
• pulling on a retraction line extending through a loop formed on the suture so as to decrease the length of suture between the first anchor and the second anchor.