Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a bone

A method for attaching a fixation device to a bone, the method comprising:

• bringing a bone cutting tool having a helical flute into engagement with an outer surface of the bone;
• rotating the bone cutting tool about a longitudinal axis to form a first bore having a helical flute groove extending from the outer surface of the bone to a depth within the bone;
• continuously rotating the bone cutting tool at the depth to establish a second bore having a shoulder and a continuous sidewall, the shoulder extending around a circumference between the second bore and the first bore;
• aligning the bone cutting tool with the first bore;
• drawing the bone cutting tool out of the second and first bores;
• inserting the fixation device into the second bore through the first bore;
• and
• positioning the fixation device against the shoulder of the second bore.

A method for attaching a fixation device to a bone, the method comprising:

• advancing a bone cutting tool through cortical bone about a longitudinal axis of the tool to a predetermined depth in cancellous bone to form a bore having a helical groove, the bone cutting tool including
• a body portion extending from a proximal end to a distal end along the longitudinal axis,
• a first member extending radially outwardly from the distal end of the body portion, the first member having a first diameter defined by at least one transverse cutting flute, and
• a second member extending radially outwardly from the body portion proximal the first member and having a second diameter greater than the first diameter;
• and
• continuously rotating the bone cutting tool at a substantially stationary position at the predetermined depth to establish an enlarged bone pocket having a cylindrical sidewall at a distal end of the bore, the bone pocket defining a shoulder extending around a circumference between the bone pocket and the bore.