Method and apparatus for securing an object to bone, including the provision and use of a novel suture assembly for securing an object to bone

A method for attaching an object to an anatomical structure, the method comprising:

• providing apparatus comprising:
• a suture assembly comprising:
• a first suture having a generally U-shaped configuration comprising a first arm, a second arm and a first bridge connecting the first arm of the first suture to the second arm of the first suture;
• a second suture comprising a first arm, a second arm and a second bridge connecting the first arm of the second suture to the second arm of the second suture;
• the first arm of the second suture being wound helically around the first arm of the first suture in a single first direction, and the second arm of the second suture being wound helically around the second arm of the first suture in a single second, opposite direction;
• wherein the first arm of the second suture is wound three times around the first arm of the first suture and the second arm of the second suture is wound three times around the second arm of the first suture;
• the suture assembly being capable of assuming (i) a longitudinally-extended, radially-contracted first configuration, and (ii) a longitudinally-contracted, radially-expanded second configuration;
• wherein at least one of the first suture and the second suture comprises a hollow tubular structure;
• inserting the suture assembly into an opening in the anatomical structure while the suture assembly is in its longitudinally-extended, radially-contracted first configuration, with the first and second arms of the first suture extending from the opening in the anatomical structure;
• and
• transforming the suture assembly from its longitudinally-extended, radially-contracted first configuration to its longitudinally-contracted, radially-expanded second configuration in order to secure the suture assembly to the anatomical structure.

Apparatus for attaching an object to bone, the apparatus comprising:

• a suture assembly comprising:
• a first suture having a generally U-shaped configuration comprising a first arm, a second arm and a first bridge connecting the first arm of the first suture and the second arm of the first suture;
• a second suture comprising a first arm, a second arm and a second bridge the first arm of the second suture and the second arm of the second suture;
• the first arm of the second suture being wrapped around the first arm of the first suture in a first direction, and the second arm of the second suture being wrapped around the second arm of the first suture in a second, opposite direction;
• wherein the first arm of the second suture is wound three times around the first arm of the first suture and the second arm of the second suture is wound three times around the second arm of the first suture;
• the suture assembly being capable of assuming (i) a longitudinally-extended, radially-contracted first configuration, and (ii) a longitudinally-contracted, radially-expanded second configuration;
• wherein the first arm of the first suture passes through the first arm of the second suture, and further wherein the second arm of the first suture passes through the second arm of the second suture.

A method for attaching an object to an anatomical structure, the method comprising:

• providing apparatus comprising:
• a suture assembly comprising:
• a first suture having a generally U-shaped configuration comprising a first arm, a second arm and a first bridge connecting the first arm of the first suture and the second arm of the first suture;
• a second suture comprising a first arm, a second arm and a second bridge connecting the first arm of the second suture and the second arm of the second suture;
• the first arm of the second suture being wrapped around the first arm of the first suture in a first direction, and the second arm of the second suture being wrapped around the second arm of the first suture in a second, opposite direction;
• wherein the first arm of the second suture is wound three times around the first arm of the first suture and the second arm of the second suture is wound three times around the second arm of the first suture;
• the suture assembly being capable of assuming (i) a longitudinally-extended, radially-contracted first configuration, and (ii) a longitudinally-contracted, radially-expanded second configuration;
• wherein the first arm of the first suture passes through the first arm of the second suture, and further wherein the second arm of the first suture passes through the second arm of the second suture;
• inserting the suture assembly into an opening in the anatomical structure while the suture assembly is in its longitudinally-extended, radially-contracted first configuration, with the first and second arms of the first suture extending from the opening in the anatomical structure;
• and
• transforming the suture assembly from its longitudinally-extended, radially-contracted first configuration to its longitudinally-contracted, radially-expanded second configuration in order to secure the suture assembly to the anatomical structure.