# US 2017/0281153 A1 · Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to bone > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0281153 A1 - Document ID: US20170281153A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/629,798 - Filed: 2017-06-22 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-10 - Assignees: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC - Applicants: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC - Inventors: Jacy C. Hoeppner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170281153A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/0401: {Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811)} - A61B 17/17: Guides {or aligning means} for drills {, mills, pins or wires} - A61B 2017/0406: {Pledgets} - A61B 2017/0409: {Instruments for applying suture anchors} - A61B 2017/2925: {Pistol grips} - A61B 2017/2933: {camming or guiding means} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A method and apparatus for securing a suture to bone can include grasping a first suture portion with a grasping member on a positioning tool. The first suture portion can be located into a first cannulation defined in the positioning tool. A cutting member can be advanced through a second cannulation defined on the positioning tool and out through a distal opening defined on the positioning tool. A first bone hole can be cut into the bone with the cutting member. A flexible member advancing tool can be advanced through the first cannulation. The first suture portion can be urged out of the distal opening and into the first bone hole. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of securing a suture to bone, comprising: grasping a first suture portion with a grasping member on a positioning tool; locating the first suture portion into a first cannulation defined in the positioning tool; advancing a cutting member through a second cannulation defined on the positioning tool and out through a distal opening defined on the positioning tool; cutting a first bone hole into the bone with the cutting member; advancing a flexible member advancing tool through the first cannulation; and urging the first suture portion out of the distal opening and into the first bone hole. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: subsequent to urging the first suture portion into the hole, grasping a second suture portion with the grasping member, the second suture portion located a distance along the suture from the first suture portion; advancing the cutting member through the second cannulation and out through the distal opening of the positioning tool; cutting a second bone hole into the bone with the cutting member; advancing the flexible member advancing tool through the first cannulation; and urging the second suture portion out of the distal opening and into the second bone hole. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein grasping the first suture portion comprises: rotating an arm pivotally coupled to the positioning tool. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein rotating the arm further comprises: advancing a user actuating portion on an actuating tool causing an actuating member on the actuating tool to urge the arm to rotate from a closed securing position to an open grasping position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein advancing a flexible member advancing tool comprises: urging the first suture portion from the first cannulation to a converging cannulation portion where the first and second cannulations converge and out of the distal opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein grasping the first suture portion comprises: moving a user actuating portion on an actuating tool causing an actuating member to ride on a surface of the positioning tool and urge a tang on the grasping member away from the first cannulation. ### Claim 7 A method of securing a suture to bone, comprising: actuating an arm movably coupled to a positioning tool from a normally closed position to an open grasping position; grasping a first suture portion with the grasping member; locating the first suture portion relative to a first cannulation defined on the positioning tool; locating the positioning tool at a first position against a bone surface; advancing a cutting member through a second cannulation defined on the positioning tool and out through a distal opening defined on the positioning tool; cutting a first bone hole into the first bone hole with the cutting member; with the positioning tool at the first position, advancing a flexible member advancing tool through the first cannulation; and urging the first suture portion out of the distal opening and into the first bone hole. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising: grasping a second suture portion with the arm, the second suture portion located a distance from the first suture portion and with the positioning tool at least partially located within tissue. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: locating the positioning tool at a second location against the bone, distinct from the first position; advancing the cutting member through a second cannulation defined on the positioning tool and out through a distal opening defined on the positioning tool; cutting a second bone hole into the bone with the cutting member; with the positioning tool at the second position, advancing the flexible member advancing tool through the first cannulation; and urging the second suture portion out of the distal opening and into the second bone hole. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein grasping the first suture portion comprises: rotating the arm about a pivot pin configured on a body of the positioning tool. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein rotating the arm further comprises: advancing a user actuating portion on an actuating tool causing an actuating member on the actuating tool to urge the arm to rotate from a closed securing position to an open grasping position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein advancing a flexible member advancing tool comprises: urging the first suture portion from the first cannulation to a converging cannulation portion where the first and second cannulations converge and out of the distal opening. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein urging the first suture portion with the flexible member advancing tool includes locating a distal fork of the flexible member advancing tool around the first suture portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising: subsequent to urging the first suture portion into the first bone hole, applying tension to the first suture portion causing a tubular sleeve on the first suture portion to change configuration from a flaccid configuration to a bunched-up configuration that provides a retaining force for the first suture portion in the first bone hole. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising: subsequent to urging the first suture portion into the first bone hole, moving the positioning tool away from the first position while passing a section of the suture through a slot defined on the positioning tool.