A multi-suture knotless anchor and related method for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone are described. The suture anchor includes a body, a sleeve, and an outer deformable bone locking structure. The bone locking structure has a first low profile configuration for insertion into the bone, and a second larger profile configuration for engaging the bone when actuated. The bone anchor and methods permit a suture attachment that lies beneath the cortical bone surface and does not require tying of knots in the suture.

An apparatus for anchoring a tensile member to bone includes a housing with first and second ends and a hollow interior space. A collet is disposed in the interior space, the collet defining a central bore for accepting a tensile member therethrough, and an exterior surface. A sleeve has opposed interior and exterior surfaces and is disposed in the interior space axially adjacent to the collet, and is movable axially between first and second positions. At least one of the exterior surface of the collet and the interior surface of the sleeve is tapered and the sleeve and the collet are arranged such that movement of the sleeve from the first position to the second position will cause the interior surface of the sleeve to bear against the exterior surface of the collet, causing the collet to swage radially inwards around and against the tensile member, without moving axially.

A perforated sheath is anchored in a tissue opening with the aid of a tool, wherein the anchorage is achieved with the aid of mechanical vibration and a material which is liquefiable by the vibration. The tool includes a vibrating element and a counter element. Distal portions of both elements are introduced into the sheath to be in contact with each other at an interface. The vibrating element is connected to a vibration source and the vibrating element and the counter element are held against each other for effecting liquefaction of the liquefiable material at the interface. Under the effect of the force applied to the vibrating and counter element for holding them against each other, the liquefied material flows from the interface through the sheath perforation and penetrates the tissue.

Devices and methods for occluding or promoting fluid flow through openings are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment an occlusion device is provided having an expandable outer elongate tubular body, a guide member extending from a distal end of the outer body, and a slide tube disposed within the outer body, the proximal portions of the outer body and the slide tube being fixedly mated. The slide tube is configured to slide distally within the outer tubular body when the tubular body is expanded to form wings. A tether can be included as part of the device and it can be used to assist in positioning and locking a location of the device in an opening. Exemplary methods for delivering devices disclosed herein are also provided.

Apparatus for securing a first object to a second object, the apparatus comprising: an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the lumen comprising a first section and a second section, the first section of the lumen being disposed distal to the second section of the lumen, and with the first section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the second section of the lumen; at least one longitudinally-extending slit extending through the side wall of the elongated body and communicating with the lumen, the at least one longitudinally-extending slit having a distal end and a proximal end, with the distal end of the at least one longitudinally-extending slit being spaced from the distal end of the elongated body; and an elongated element extending through the lumen of the elongated body.

Apparatus for securing an object to bone, the apparatus comprising: an anchor, the anchor comprising: a body comprising an opening for receiving a filament therein; and a locking element movably mounted to the body for selectively locking the filament to the body; and an inserter for deploying the anchor in bone, the inserter comprising: a handle; an overtube extending distally from the handle; a carriage movably mounted to the handle; a shaft movably mounted within the overtube and connected to the carriage and releasably connected to the body of the anchor, the shaft being hollow; and a rod movably mounted within the shaft and connected to the locking element.

A method for anchoring a tensile member to a bone includes: providing an anchor, including: a housing having first and second ends, and a hollow interior; a collet in the hollow interior, and having a central bore and an exterior surface; a sleeve having interior and exterior surfaces, the sleeve disposed in the hollow interior axially adjacent the collet, and axially movable between first and second positions. At least one of the collet exterior surface and the sleeve interior surface is tapered such that sleeve movement from the first position towards the second position causes the sleeve to bear against the collet exterior surface, causing the collet to swage inwards around and against the tensile member without moving axially; passing the tensile member through the central bore; seating the housing into a bore formed in the bone; and driving the sleeve from the first position towards the second position.

The technology includes an anchor assembly for tissue repair having an open helical coil sleeve and a tip structure. The tip structure includes an aperture for passing a suture and a suture capture member for capturing a suture. The technology also includes an anchor driver for installing an anchor into bone. The anchor driver includes an outer shaft and a sleeve advancement member for advancing the sleeve as well as an inner shaft and a suture capture advancement member for advancing the suture capture member. The technology also includes a system for tissue repair having an anchor assembly and an anchor driver for installing the anchor assembly into bone.

Surgical devices and methods are provided for anchoring tissue to bone, and more particularly methods and devices are provided for preventing over-insertion of an expander into a sheath of a two-piece anchor. For example, a tendon anchoring system is provided with an anchor assembly and an inserter tool. The anchor assembly includes a sheath with a threaded lumen and a threaded expander screw configured to be threadably disposed within the sheath to cause the sheath to expand outward. The inserter tool includes an elongate outer shaft with a distal end configured to couple to a proximal end of the sheath, and an elongate inner shaft with a distal drive tip configured to engage a proximal end of the expander screw. In one embodiment, the inner shaft can be rotatable relative to the outer shaft to thread the expander screw into the sheath, and the inner shaft can be prevented from rotating relative to the outer shaft when the expander screw is fully threaded into the sheath to prevent over-insertion of the expander screw into the sheath.

A device for fixating a suture anchor beyond a hard tissue opening with the aid of a material having thermoplastic properties and energy transmitted to the suture anchor for in situ liquefaction of at least part of the material having thermoplastic properties. The device includes a tool and a suture anchor. The tool has a proximal end suitable for being coupled to an energy source and a distal end suitable for arrangement of the suture anchor including the suture. The distal end includes a distal tool face and an axial channel with a distal mouth located in the distal tool face. The suture anchor has an anchor foot and a thermoplastic sleeve including the material having thermoplastic properties. The anchor foot holds a loop of a suture such that end sections of the suture reach through the thermoplastic sleeve and a portion of the distal tool face.