Method and apparatus for attaching connective tissues to bone using a knotless suture anchoring device

A knotless suture anchor apparatus for anchoring a length of suture with respect to a body cavity, comprising:

• an anchor body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen opening at the proximal end such that a length of suture may be introduced into the lumen from the proximal end, the anchor body being sized to fit within the body cavity;
• bone anchoring structure for securing said anchor body within adjacent bone;
• and
• a plurality of suture-locking elements radially movable within the lumen from respective first positions to second positions, the locking elements in their first positions together defining at least one axial passage sized to permit axial movement of the length of suture therethrough, and in their second positions reducing the size of the passage so as to clamp the length of suture therein and substantially restrict axial movement of the length of suture therethrough.

A method of securing soft tissue with respect to a body cavity without knots, comprising:

• passing a length of suture through soft tissue so that a loop of suture material is embedded in the soft tissue resulting in two free ends;
• providing an anchor body having an open proximal end and a lumen, and a plurality of suture-locking elements located within the anchor body lumen and each movable within the lumen from respective first positions to second positions, the locking elements in their first positions together defining a generally uniform cross-section axial passage sized to permit axial movement of the length of suture therethrough, and in their second positions converting the cross-section of the axial passage to be irregular and therefore substantially restricting axial movement of the length of suture therethrough;
• passing the two free ends of the length of suture into the lumen of the anchor body through the open proximal end and through the passage with the suture-locking elements in their first positions, and extending the two free ends out of the lumen through the open proximal end;
• fixing the anchor body with respect to a body cavity;
• tightening the loop of suture material by pulling on one or both of the two free ends of the length of suture;
• and
• fastening the two free ends of the length of suture with respect to the anchor body without the use of knots by displacing the suture-locking elements to their second positions.

A knotless suture anchor apparatus for anchoring a length of suture with respect thereto, comprising:

• an anchor body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen opening at the proximal end such that a length of suture may be introduced into the lumen from the proximal end;
• and
• a plurality of substantially C-shaped suture-locking elements located within the anchor body lumen and each movable within the lumen from respective first positions to second positions, the locking elements in their first positions together defining a generally uniform cross-section axial passage sized to permit axial movement of the length of suture therethrough, and in their second positions converting the cross-section of the axial passage to be irregular and therefore substantially restrict axial movement of the length of suture therethrough;
• wherein the axial passage is located generally in the center of the lumen and the suture-locking elements each surround and define approximately three-quarters of the axial passage and move toward the center of the lumen from their first to their second positions.

A knotless suture anchor apparatus for anchoring a length of suture with respect thereto, comprising:

• an anchor body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen opening at the proximal end such that a length of suture may be introduced into the lumen from the proximal end;
• and
• a plurality of suture-locking elements located within the anchor body lumen and each movable within the lumen from respective first positions to second positions, the locking elements in their first positions together defining a generally uniform cross-section axial passage sized to permit axial movement of the length of suture therethrough, and in their second positions converting the cross-section of the axial passage to be irregular and therefore substantially restrict axial movement of the length of suture therethrough;
• wherein the axial passage is located generally in the center of the lumen and the suture-locking elements each move toward the center of the lumen from their first to their second positions and further wherein at least one of the suture-locking elements moves in a different direction than the others from their respective first to their second positions.

A knotless suture anchor apparatus for anchoring a length of suture with respect thereto, comprising:

• an anchor body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen opening at the proximal end such that a length of suture may be introduced into the lumen from the proximal end;
• a plurality of suture-locking elements located within the anchor body lumen and each movable within the lumen from respective first positions to second positions, the locking elements in their first positions together defining a generally uniform cross-section axial passage sized to permit axial movement of the length of suture therethrough, and in their second positions converting the cross-section of the axial passage to be irregular and therefore substantially restrict axial movement out of the length of suture therethrough;
• and
• a suture-locking plug that is axially displaceable within the lumen so as to contact at least some of the suture-locking elements and move them from their first to their second positions.

A knotless suture anchor apparatus for anchoring a length of suture with respect to a body cavity, comprising:

• an anchor body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen opening at the proximal end such that a length of suture may be introduced into the lumen from the proximal end, the anchor body being sized to fit within the body cavity;
• and
• a plurality of suture-locking elements radially movable within the lumen from respective first positions to second positions, the locking elements in their first positions together defining at least one axial passage sized to permit axial movement of the length of suture therethrough, and in their second positions reducing the size of the passage so as to clamp the length of suture therein, the axial passage being located generally in the center of the lumen and the suture-locking elements each moving toward the center of the lumen from their first to their second positions;
• wherein the suture-locking elements are substantially C-shaped and each surrounds and defines approximately three-quarters of the axial passage.

A knotless suture anchor apparatus for anchoring a length of suture with respect to a body cavity, comprising:

• an anchor body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen opening at the proximal end such that a length of suture may be introduced into the lumen from the proximal end, the anchor body being sized to fit within the body cavity;
• and
• a plurality of suture-locking elements radially movable within the lumen from respective first positions to second positions, the locking elements in their first positions together defining at least one axial passage sized to permit axial movement of the length of suture therethrough, and in their second positions reducing the size of the passage so as to clamp the length of suture therein, the axial passage being located generally in the center of the lumen and the suture-locking elements each moving toward the center of the lumen from their first to their second positions;
• wherein at least one of the suture-locking elements moves in a different direction than the others from their respective first to their second positions.

A knotless suture anchor apparatus for anchoring a length of suture with respect to a body cavity, comprising:

• an anchor body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen opening at the proximal end such that a length of suture may be introduced into the lumen from the proximal end, the anchor body being sized to fit within the body cavity;
• a plurality of suture-locking elements radially movable within the lumen from respective first positions to second positions, the locking elements in their first positions together defining at least one axial passage sized to permit axial movement of the length of suture therethrough, and in their second positions reducing the size of the passage so as to clamp the length of suture therein;
• and
• a suture-locking plug that is axially displaceable within the lumen so as to contact at least one of the suture-locking elements and move it from its first to its second position.