Embodiments of systems and methods for fixing soft tissue are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, soft tissue may be fixed to an attachment surface (such as bone, other soft tissue, other implants, or allograft or xenograft materials) by providing a helical suture in the soft tissue, wherein the soft tissue has a longitudinal axis along which the soft tissue undergoes tension under normal physiological conditions, and wherein a longitudinal axis of the helical suture in the soft tissue is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the soft tissue; and securing the helical suture to an anchor secured to the attachment surface.

A repaired tendon includes a proximal tendon section having a free end, and a distal tendon section having a free end that opposes the free end of the proximal tendon section. Four bidirectional barbed sutures are implanted in the repaired tendon for approximating the free end of the proximal tendon section with the free end of the distal tendon section. Each of the four bidirectional barbed sutures includes a proximal section having proximal barbs that engage the proximal tendon section, a distal section having distal barbs that engage the distal tendon section, and a stop located between the proximal and distal barbs that engages the approximated free ends of the proximal and distal tendon sections. The bidirectional barbed sutures have first suture bites and second suture bites that are shorter than the first suture bites.

Systems and methods for preparing a ligament graft for a ligament reconstruction procedure are provided. In general, the described techniques utilize a graft preparation system having a holder and a delivery suture assembly removably coupled thereto. The delivery suture assembly can include a spine coupled with an anchor suture configured to form a self-tightening knot used to position the assembly around a graft and a plurality of suture windings configured to be affixed to the graft when the assembly is deployed. The assembly is delivered to the graft using the holder and the sutures can be affixed to the graft without penetrating therethrough. The spine helps to evenly distribute the load among the windings compressing the graft which are thus are capable of withstanding increased loads. Thus, an improved, simplified, and time- and labor-saving approach to preparing ligament grafts is provided.

An Achilles tendon repair device comprises a handle for physician gripping and base having a first set of tendon rods disposed in an arcuate or U-shaped pattern about the base to engage the posterior surface of the tendon and impart a contour, or drape, the tendon in the posterior-anterior plane to increase the surface area for suturing. A second set of suture guide rods extend from the sides of the base and are spaced apart to allow insertion of suture needles along the entire length of the suture guide rods, and at any angle. A suture needle housing guide can be slidingly attached to the suture guide rods and includes sidewalls with predefined suture holes/angles. An adjustable clamping arm can engage the tendon's posterior surface such that the device grasps the tendon on both the anterior and posterior tendon surfaces simultaneously, while increasing posterior-anterior plane surface area to facilitate suturing.

A method for repairing an Achilles tendon without an instrument guide to reduce nerve damage and improve the recovery of the tendon. The method includes a limited open incision technique with a posterior midline approach and a plurality of sutures with varying orientations to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon of a prone patient.

Devices, systems and/or methods for repairing soft tissue adjacent a soft tissue repair site. In one embodiment, a repair device includes an anchor member, a capture member and one or more flexible members. The anchor member includes a base with at least four legs extending integrally from the base, the at least four legs configured to be moveable from a straight first position to a formed second position. The capture member is configured to be coupled to the anchor member such that the at least four legs of the anchor member move around structural portions of the capture member with the at least four legs of the anchor member in the formed second position. The one or more flexible members are coupled to the base of the anchor member, the one or more flexible members extending at least partially along the base of the anchor member.