Bioabsorbable suture anchor system for use in small joints

A system for anchoring tissue to a bone, comprising:

• a bioabsorbable suture anchor having:
• an elongate body defined by a longitudinal axis of symmetry, a first leading end and a second, trailing end, the elongate body comprising two opposed surfaces between the first and second ends, and a plurality of sidewalls extending between the two opposed surfaces;
• a bore extending into the elongate body from the second trailing end thereof;
• a flared portion formed on the second end and extending from one of the sidewalls, the flared portion being adapted to engage and anchor into bone tissue, wherein the suture anchor is configured to toggle and anchor inside a bone cavity based on tension being applied to a suture in the suture channel;
• and
• a suture channel formed in the elongate body for passage of a suture strand therethrough, the suture channel extending between the two opposed surfaces, being oriented substantially transverse at right angles to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the body, and having a centerline that is transverse to and laterally offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the body in a direction opposite to the direction of the flared portion;
• a length of suture thread attached to the suture anchor;
• and
• a suture anchor insertion tool, the tool having an elongate member with a proximal, handle end and a distal, attachment end.

A method of attaching tissue to a bone in a patient's body, comprising the steps of:

• providing a system for anchoring tissue to bone, the system including a bioabsorbable suture anchor having an elongate body defined by a longitudinal axis of symmetry, a first leading end and a second, trailing end, the elongate body comprising two opposed surfaces between the first and second ends, and a plurality of sidewalls extending between the two opposed surfaces, a flared portion formed on the second end and extending from one of the sidewalls, the flared portion being adapted to engage and anchor into bone tissue, wherein the suture anchor is configured to toggle and anchor inside a bone cavity, and a suture channel formed in the elongate body for passage of a suture strand therethrough, the suture channel extending between the two opposed surfaces, being oriented substantially transverse at right angles to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the body, and having a centerline that is transverse to and laterally offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the body in a direction opposite to the direction of the flared portion, the system further including a length of suture thread attached to the suture anchor;
• forming a bone cavity in the bone where the tissue is to be anchored;
• securing the suture strand to a portion of tissue to be attached to the bone;
• inserting the suture anchor at least partially within the bone cavity;
• and
• toggling the suture anchor by pulling on the attached suture strand such that the flared portion of the anchor penetrates into an inner surface of the bone cavity.