Suture anchor

A method of anchoring a suture, said method comprising the steps of forming a piece of connective body tissue to have first and second end portions, an outer side surface extending between said first and second end portions, and a passage extending through the piece of connective body tissue, said step of forming a piece of connective body tissue includes removing at least a portion of a tendon from the patient's body, inserting a suture into the passage in the piece of connective body tissue, and inserting the piece of connective body tissue into a patient's body with the first end portion of the piece of connective body tissue leading and with the suture extending from the passage in the piece of connective body tissue, said step of inserting the piece of connective body tissue into the patient's body includes applying force against the second end portion of the piece of connective body tissue.

A method of anchoring a suture, said method comprising the steps of forming a piece of connective body tissue to have first and second end portions, an outer side surface extending between said first and second end portions, and a passage extending through the piece of connective body tissue, said step of forming a piece of connective body tissue includes compressing connective body tissue to form a sheet having a thickness corresponding to the distance between opposite ends of the piece of connective body tissue, cutting a portion from the sheet of connective body tissue to at least partially form the outer side surface of the piece of connective body tissue, and inserting a thin elongated member into the connective body tissue to at least partially form the passage, inserting a suture into the passage in the piece of connective body tissue, and inserting the piece of connective body tissue into a patient's body with the first end portion of the piece of connective body tissue leading and with the suture extending from the passage in the piece of connective body tissue, said step of inserting the piece of connective body tissue into the patient's body includes applying force against the second end portion of the piece of connective body tissue.

A method of anchoring a suture, said method comprising the steps of forming a piece of connective body tissue to have first and second end portions, an outer side surface extending between said first and second end portions, and a passage extending through the piece of connective body tissue, said step of forming a piece of connective body tissue includes placing the connective body tissue in a press, and operating the press to apply pressure against the connective body tissue in the press to shape the connective body tissue in the press during operation of the press, inserting a suture into the passage in the piece of connective body tissue, and inserting the piece of connective body tissue into a patient's body with the first end portion of the piece of connective body tissue leading and with the suture extending from the passage in the piece of connective body tissue, said step of inserting the piece of connective body tissue into the patient's body includes applying force against the second end portion of the piece of connective body tissue.

A method of anchoring a suture, said method comprising the steps of forming a piece of connective body tissue to have a passage extending through the piece of connective body tissue, said step of forming a piece of connective body tissue includes compressing the connective body tissue to remove fluid from the connective body tissue, inserting a suture into the passage in the piece of connective body tissue, and inserting the piece of connective body tissue into a patient's body.

A method of anchoring a suture, said method comprising the steps of forming a piece of connective body tissue to have a passage extending through the piece of connective body tissue, said step of forming a piece of connective body tissue includes forming a sheet of connective body tissue having a thickness corresponding to a distance between opposite ends of the piece of connective body tissue, cutting a portion from the sheet of connective body tissue, and inserting a thin elongated member into the portion of the connective body tissue, inserting a suture into the passage in the piece of connective body tissue, and inserting the piece of connective body tissue into a patient's body.

A method of anchoring a suture, said method comprising the steps of forming a piece of connective body tissue to have first and second end portions, an outer side surface extending between said first and second end portions, and a passage extending through the piece of connective body tissue, said step of forming a piece of connective body tissue includes reducing the volume of connective body tissue from a first volume to a second volume which is less than the first volume by compressing the connective body tissue, inserting a suture into the passage in the piece of connective body tissue after having performed said step of reducing the volume of the connective body tissue, and inserting the piece of connective body tissue into a patient's body with the first end portion of the piece of connective body tissue leading and with the suture extending from the passage in the piece of connective body tissue, said step of inserting the piece of connective body tissue into the patient's body includes applying force against the second end portion of the piece of connective body tissue.

A method of anchoring a suture, said method comprising the steps of forming a piece of cartilage to have a passage extending through the piece of cartilage, inserting a suture into the passage in the piece of cartilage, and inserting the piece of cartilage into a patient's body with the suture extending into the passage in the piece of cartilage.

A method of anchoring a suture, said method comprising the steps of forming a piece of tendon to have a passage extending through the piece of tendon, inserting a suture into the passage in the piece of tendon, and inserting the piece of tendon into a patient's body with the suture extending into the passage in the piece of tendon.