Knotless suture anchor for soft tissue repair and method of use

A knotless suture anchor, comprising:

• a rotatable shaft having a diametrical aperture for receiving an end of a suture thread;
• a shell disposed about the rotatable shaft, the shell having a diametrical aperture through which an end of a suture thread may be passed into engagement with the rotatable shaft;
• a ratchet mechanism disposed in contact with the rotatable shaft and shell and configured to permit the rotatable shaft to rotate in a first direction in relation to the shell but prevent the shaft from rotating in a second direction;
• wherein the outer diameter of the shaft and the inner diameter of the shell are selected such that as the shaft is rotated, the suture thread is drawn through the aperture of the shell and wraps onto the shaft thereby increasing the diameter on the shaft as the shaft is rotated, the wrapped suture thread coming into contact with the shell which applies force to the wrapped suture thread to retain it in position on the shaft.

A method for holding soft tissue in apposition with a bone using a suture, comprising

• implanting a rotatable shaft in the bone;
• engaging the soft tissue with an engaging portion of a suture thread;
• engaging an end of the suture thread with the rotatable shaft implanted in the bone;
• rotating the shaft in a first direction to wrap the engaged suture thread onto the shaft thereby increasing tension on the suture and on the soft tissue;
• and
• preventing the rotatable member from counter-rotation with a pawl and a plurality of teeth of a ratchet mechanism.