Surgical tissue repair and attachment apparatus and method

A surgical suture member for arthroscopic reattachment of torn tissue to a tissue substrate, consisting of:

• an elongated suture member securable at one end thereof to a tissue substrate anchor and having a free end extending therefrom and further having a plurality of longitudinally spaced protuberances or notches along a portion of its length;
• a tissue retainer having a locking aperture or cavity extending therethrough adapted for locking engagement with one said protuberance or notch;
• said free end of said suture member being insertable through said locking aperture or cavity and said protuberances or notches lockingly engaging with said locking aperture or cavity as said tissue retainer is run down on said suture member to retainingly engage against an outer surface of the torn tissue;
• a torn tissue gripping member having a hole formed centrally therethrough sized to freely receive said suture member and defining a gripping surface;
• said gripping member being formed of a semi-flexible generally concaved plate of substantially greater surface area than that of said retaining member;
• said gripping member, when positioned between said tissue retainer and the torn tissue and said free end of said suture member is placed through said hole and tension applied thereto, enhanced gripping and retaining engagement of the torn tissue against the tissue substrate is maintained.