Device and method for fixating a suture anchor with a suture or a headed anchor in hard tissue

A device for anchoring a suture in hard tissue with the aid of in situ liquefaction of a material having thermoplastic properties, the device comprising:

• the anchor, a tool, and a support element,
• wherein the anchor comprises the material having thermoplastic properties and a distal end portion that is equipped for being forced into or through hard tissue, the anchor being a one piece anchor and having a system of passages and/or grooves for holding at least one suture,
• wherein the anchor material having thermoplastic properties is liquefied by a combined action of the axial compressive force and the mechanical vibration to yield liquefied material, whereby said the liquefied material is laterally displaced while an axial dimension of the anchor is simultaneously reduced;
• wherein the tool has a distal end that is connected or connectable to the anchor by the connection,
• wherein the connection between the distal end of the tool and the anchor
• is capable of being disconnected and
• is adapted to transmit the axial compressive force well as mechanical vibration from the tool to the anchor;
• and
• support element sits on a proximal face of the anchor with the tool extending through the support element.

A surgical device comprising:

• an anchor comprising a material having thermoplastic properties for in situ liquefaction of the material having thermoplastic properties and
• a tool,
• wherein the anchor comprises an anchor piece with a distal end portion being equipped to be forced into or through hard tissue, and
• wherein the tool extends through the material having thermoplastic properties and has a distal end that is directly connected to the anchor piece, wherein the direct connection provides physical contact between the distal end of the tool and the anchor piece, and
• wherein the direct connection between the distal end of the tool and the anchor piece
• is capable of being disconnected and
• is adapted to transmit an axial compressive force as well as mechanical vibration from the tool to the anchor piece
• wherein the anchor material having thermoplastic properties is adapted to be liquefied by combined action of the axial compressive force and the mechanical vibration, to yield liquefied material, whereby said the liquefied material is laterally displaced while an axial dimension of the anchor is simultaneously reduced.