A surgical instrument having an anchor and a plug is capable of anchoring a suture. The suture anchor has an anchor body having a top surface, a bottom surface distal to the top surface, a transverse bore and a well, the well having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an inner bottom surface. The plug has a post, a head, and a bottom face. The anchor body and the anchor plus form a suture anchor. The suture anchor may be used during surgical procedures and can be used in the re-tensioning of a suture.

Among other things, embodiments of a retaining mechanism for holding a portion of the suture of a suture anchor are disclosed. When a suture anchor is inserted into a patient, the portion of the suture extending from the body is held in tension by a two-piece snap-fit mechanism. One piece has a base with an extending shaft portion and a bulbous head, and a lumen runs through the shaft. The second piece has a hole or space for snapping the second piece onto the first piece. The extending portion of the suture runs through the lumen in the first piece and can be wrapped around the shaft. Snapping the second piece onto the first contains the suture and prevents loss of tension in it.

A system for securing a suture to a wound, durotomy, or other hole. A first anchor is anchored against an insertion point and a suture thread is passed through a loop on the first anchor. The wound is then stitched. A second anchor at an end of the wound holds the other end of the suture thread, to keep the tension in the suture. The suture thread is connected to the second anchor via clipping.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems, methods and devices for providing embolic protection in a patient. In some embodiments, the device is configured for implantation in a body vessel including fluid flow. The device may assume, or be constrained to assume, an undeployed state and a deployed state. In the undeployed state, the device or a portion thereof has a substantially linear shape configured to reside in the lumen of a thin needle having a diameter of less than about 0.5 mm (for example), in the deployed state, the device has a primary axis. When the device is implanted the primary axis is approximately perpendicular to the fluid flow. In some embodiments, the device comprises a thin filament body. In the deployed state the filament takes a helical shape. Emboli that are larger than the distance between consecutive turns or windings of the helix are thus filtered by the device and are prevented from causing deleterious conditions such as stroke or pulmonary embolism. The device may be made of a super-elastic alloy. Thus, the device may transition between the undeployed and the deployed states without plastic deformation. Delivery systems and method for implanting such devices are also disclosed.

Apparatus for securing an object to bone, the apparatus comprising an anchor comprising a body comprising a passageway; and a movable element comprising a deformable portion; wherein the deformable portion is configured so that, (i) at a first level of force, the deformable portion restricts proximal movement of the movable element, and (ii) at a second, greater level of force, the deformable portion deforms and permits proximal movement of the movable element.

A fibrocartilage suturing device is provided to solve the problem where the conventional procedure of the surgery is inconvenient. The fibrocartilage suturing device includes a tube assembly, a tubular member, and an anchor. The tube assembly extends through the tube assembly and includes an insertion section. The movement member is coupled with the tube assembly and includes a thrust rod extending through the tubular member. The anchor is located at one end of the thrust rod and includes a body and at least two wings connected to the body is able to be folded and unfolded relative to the body. The body of the anchor is connected to an end of a thread. Another end of the thread is connected to the tubular member.

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 distal section and a proximal section, the distal section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the proximal section of the lumen; a window extending through the side wall of the elongated body and communicating with the lumen, the window being disposed in the vicinity of the intersection between the distal section of the lumen and the proximal section of the lumen and being sized to receive a first object therein; an elongated element extending through the lumen of the elongated body, the elongated element comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and a locking element mounted to the distal end of the elongated element and disposed in the distal section of the lumen; whereby, when the elongated body is disposed in a second object, and a first object extends through the window, and the locking element is thereafter moved proximally, proximal movement of the locking element causes the elongated body to capture the first object to the elongated body, whereby to secure the first object to the second object.

The present invention provides a method for stabilizing a fractured bone. The method includes positioning an elongate rod in the medullary canal of the fractured bone and forming a passageway through the cortex of the bone. The passageway extends from the exterior surface of the bone to the medullary canal of the bone. The method also includes creating a bonding region on the elongate rod. The bonding region is generally aligned with the passageway of the cortex. Furthermore, the method includes positioning a fastener in the passageway of the cortex and on the bonding region of the elongate rod and thermally bonding the fastener to the bonding region of the elongate rod while the fastener is positioned in the passageway of the cortex.

Apparatus for attaching a first object to a second object, said apparatus comprising: a distal anchor comprising a generally cylindrical body, a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said distal end comprises an inclined distal end surface, and a vertical bore extending through said generally cylindrical body, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said generally cylindrical body; a distal suture having a proximal end and a distal end, with an enlargement formed at said distal end and an eyelet formed at said proximal end, wherein said suture extends through said vertical bore of said distal anchor; a proximal anchor comprising a generally cylindrical body, a distal end and a proximal end, a vertical bore extending through said generally cylindrical body, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said generally cylindrical body, a recess formed on one side of said generally cylindrical body and a U-shaped slot formed on the opposing side of said generally cylindrical body, whereby to form a flexible finger extending distally within said generally cylindrical body, and further wherein said distal end of said finger is spaced from an opposing portion of said generally cylindrical body; and a proximal suture having a proximal end and a distal end, with an enlargement formed at said distal end, wherein said proximal suture extends through said vertical bore of said proximal anchor, through said eyelet of said distal suture, back through said vertical bore of said proximal anchor, through said recess of said proximal bore and through said U-shaped slot of said proximal anchor, with a loop of proximal suture extending through said eyelet of said distal suture.

A system and method comprising an anchor assembly including an anchor and a locking element, a tensionable fixation member (e.g., surgical suture, tape, etc.), and a release member, wherein the anchor further comprises a first end, second end and anchor body. This re-tensionable anchor is designed to be implanted into bone. One end of a suture or other tensionable fixation member is attached to the tissue on one end to assist with fixation of soft tissue. Once the anchor has been seated in the bone, the second end of the suture or tensionable fixation member is pulled through a “one-way only” passage in body of the anchor. When the tensionable fixation member enters the body of the anchor, it traverses past by bending or deflecting out of the way a locking element within the anchor that will permit passage of the suture and will stay in contact with the fixation member via elastic compression that results from the elastic bending or deflection but prevent it from passing back. This continuous locking on the suture creates fixation security, allows for optimal tensioning, and prevents loosening in the opposite direction. An instrument designed to reach the locking element and deliberately bend or deflect it will allow for loosening the suture to provide for the ability to readjust the tension to the operator's liking.