Apparatus and method for manipulating and anchoring tissue

An apparatus for insertion into and through tissue to provide a mechanism for manipulating and anchoring tissue within a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• an elongated anchor member insertable into and through the tissue and shaped to normally assume a substantially straight configuration;
• a suture attached to the anchor member between opposite ends of the anchor member the suture having an end free for manipulating the tissue, the suture being flaccid in the vicinity of the anchor member so that the suture and anchor member do not assume a predetermined relative orientation;
• insertion means for inserting the anchor member into and through the tissue, including:
• a hollow needle having a tip and a butt:
• an expulsion member positionable within the hollow needle to be slidable therein, the anchor member being positionable within the needle tip and expelled therefrom by the expulsion member;
• and
• a retainer that is slidable with relatively little resistance along the suture toward the anchor member and slidable with relatively high resistance away from the anchor member, the retainer and suture configured for retaining tissue near the anchor member.

An apparatus for insertion into and through tissue to provide a mechanism for manipulating and anchoring tissue within a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• an elongated anchor member insertable into and through the tissue and shaped to normally assume a substantially straight configuration;
• a suture attached to the anchor member between opposite ends of the anchor member the suture having an end free for manipulating the tissue, the suture being flaccid in the vicinity of the anchor member so that the suture and anchor member do not assume a predetermined relative orientation;
• insertion means for inserting the anchor member into and through the tissue, including:
• a hollow needle having a tip and a butt;
• an expulsion member positionable within the hollow needle to be slidable therein, the anchor member being positionable within the needle tip and expected therefrom by the expulsion member;
• and
• the anchor member being formed of resilient material and deformable into the deformed position within the needle tip, wherein the opposing ends of the anchor member are near each other when the anchor member is in the deformed position, the ends of the anchor member moving apart when the anchor member is expelled from the needle.

A method for anchoring an end of a suture to tissue within the joint of a patient during a surgical procedure, comprising:

• (a) piercing a piece of fibrous tissue with the tip of a hollow needle having lodged therein an anchoring device and a suture threaded through an aperture in said anchoring device and extending away from said tip through the bore of said hollow needle;
• (b) pushing said anchoring device out of said tip of said hollow needle into a location behind said piece of fibrous tissue;
• (c) causing said anchoring device to assume a position extending generally transversely with respect to said suture;
• and
• (d) withdrawing said needle from said fibrous tissue, leaving said suture anchored to said fibrous tissue by said anchoring device preventing said suture from being withdrawn from said fibrous tissue.

An apparatus for insertion into and through tissue to provide a mechanism for manipulating and anchoring tissue within a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• an elongated anchor member insertable into and through the tissue and shaped to normally assume a substantially straight configuration;
• and
• a suture attached to the anchor member between opposite ends of the anchor member the suture having an end free for manipulating the tissue, the suture being flaccid in the vicinity of the anchor member so that the suture and anchor member do not assume a predetermined relative orientation;
• and
• the anchor member having opposing end faces, at least one end face being formed in a plane that is slanted relative to the longitudinal axis of the anchor member.

A method for manipulating tissue within a patient characterized by the steps of:

• (a) positioning within a hollow member an elongated anchor member having a flaccid suture attached thereto;
• (b) inserting the hollow member into the tissue;
• (c) expelling the anchor member from the hollow member so that one end of the elongated anchor member follows another end of the anchor member;
• and
• (d) applying tension to the suture to manipulate the anchor member into a preselected position relative to the tissue.

An apparatus for anchoring a suture in a bone, the apparatus comprising:

• a base, the base having a tapered end;
• means for attaching a suture to the base;
• and
• two leg members extending from the base, the leg members being spaced apart by a distance such that upon insertion of the apparatus into the bone, with the tapered end inserted first, the apparatus fits tightly therein.

An apparatus for insertion into and through tissue to provide a mechanism for manipulating and anchoring tissue within a patient, characterized by:

• an elongated anchor member insertable into and through the tissue;
• a suture having a uniform cross-sectional shape along the entire length of the suture, the suture being attached to the anchor member, the suture having an end free for manipulating the tissue;
• a hollow needle having a tip and a butt;
• and
• an expulsion member positionable within the hollow needle to be slidable therein, the anchor member being positionable within the needle tip and expelled therefrom by the expulsion member.

An apparatus for insertion into and through tissue to provide a mechanism for manipulating and anchoring tissue within a patient, characterized by:

• an elongated anchor member insertable into and through the tissue;
• a suture attached to the anchor member, the suture having an end free for manipulating the tissue;
• and
• the anchor member having opposing end faces, at least one end face being formed in a plane that is slanted relative to the longitudinal axis of the anchor member.