System, method, and apparatus for an anterior portal guide for partial thickness rotator cuff repair

An anchor placement jig for partial thickness rotator cuff repair comprising:

• a frame;
• a target extending from a distal end of the frame, the target comprising:
• a perimeter structure;
• an aperture extending through the target sized to receive a suture anchor, the perimeter structure extending at least partially around the aperture;
• wherein the perimeter structure extends less than entirely around the aperture, and wherein the perimeter structure comprises a gap extending into the aperture and running the entire height of the target, the gap sized to allow a suture having constrained ends to be passed from outside of the perimeter structure to the aperture via the gap;
• a guide disposed on the frame and aligned with the target the guide having a guide axis that intersects the aperture of the target.

A system for repairing a partial thickness rotator cuff tear comprising:

• an anchor placement jig for partial thickness rotator cuff repair comprising:
• a frame;
• a target extending from a distal end of the frame, the target comprising:
• a perimeter structure;
• an aperture extending through the target sized to receive a suture anchor, the perimeter structure extending at least partially around the aperture;
• a perimeter clearance between an exterior border of the perimeter structure of the target and the aperture of less than one sixteenth of an inch;
• a guide disposed on the frame and aligned with the target, the guide having a guide axis that intersects the aperture of the target;
• an anchor attachable to bone, the anchor comprising a suture connection and having a size smaller than the aperture of the target;
• a driver removably interfaceable with the anchor, the driver to drive the anchor into bone and sized to fit within the guide.

A method for repairing a partial-thickness rotator cuff tear comprising the steps of:

• abrading the humerus in an abrasion region near a partially attached rotator cuff tendon;
• providing an anchor placement jig for partial thickness rotator cuff repair comprising:
• a frame;
• a target extending from a distal end of the frame, the target comprising:
• a perimeter structure;
• an aperture extending through the target sized to receive a suture anchor, the perimeter structure extending at least partially around the aperture;
• a perimeter clearance between an exterior border of the perimeter structure of the target and the aperture of less one sixteenth of an inch;
• a guide disposed on the frame and aligned with the target, the guide having a guide axis that intersects the aperture of the target;
• positioning the target at a desired locations on the abrasion region;
• inserting an anchor through the guide and the aperture;
• attaching the anchor to the humerus in toe abrasion region;
• securing a tendon to the anchor with one or more sutures.