A suture anchor device and method for attaching soft tissue to bone includes an anchor body and a suture locking wedge movably disposed within the anchor body. The suture locking wedge includes lateral portions which engage slots or windows in the anchor body. Tension applied to one limb of a suture causes the suture locking wedge to translate and rotate to a position which compresses the suture, thereby locking the suture in the anchor.

A knotless interference or contact fixation anchor assembly comprising an anchor body with a removable inserter/driver that fully supports the suture anchor over its entire working length. The anchor body may also incorporating a suture trap that is housed within a proximal eyelet of the anchor body. The anchor body may include a plurality of elongate ribs extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the anchor body. The plurality of ribs comprise flexible barbs. When inserted into bone or a bone tunnel, the barbs compress slightly, resulting in less bone compression around the anchor due to the forces required for insertion, and increased pull-out resistance.

Methods and devices for tissue graft fixation include fixation devices attached to an adjustable fixation loop of suture without compromising the graft or requiring additional material to complete the repair. Other fixation devices are attachable to an independent adjustable suture system. Adjustable fixation loops minimize slip/creep of the suture within the loop.

Devices, systems and methods for compressing, cutting, incising, reconfiguring, remodeling, attaching, repositioning, supporting, dislocating or altering the composition of tissues or anatomical structures to alter their positional or force relationship to other tissues or anatomical structures. In some applications, the invention may be used to used to improve patency or fluid flow through a body lumen or cavity (e.g., to limit constriction of the urethra by an enlarged prostate gland).

Systems and methods of placing one or more suture loops into tissue, such as the base of the tongue, are described. A system can include a variable-thickness suspension line for suspending tissue, including a suture having a first thickness dimension; an elastomer surrounding a portion of the suture and defining a central segment of the suspension line having a second thickness dimension greater than the first thickness dimension, and at least one transition zone extending from the central segment of the suspension line to a lateral end of the suspension line, the transition zones having a thickness dimension that tapers from the second thickness dimension to the first thickness dimension.

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.

A suture anchor comprises a tubular body having an axial bore therethrough and having one or more purchase enhancements on an exterior surface of the body adapted to enhance purchase of the body within a bone hole, such as threads. A lateral port passes through the body from the bore to the exterior surface. A length of suture for attaching soft tissue to bone passes down along the exterior surface over the one or more purchase enhancements, over a distal end of the body, up into the bore through and then back out of the bore and up along the exterior surface over the one or more purchase enhancements.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices for delivering artificial chordae tendineae in a patient. A system for adjusting tension in an artificial chordae tendineae includes an artificial chordae tendineae coupleable between a clip and an anchor. The clip is engageable with a leaflet of a heart valve while the anchor is engageable with a papillary muscle or heart wall. The anchor includes a body portion, and a locking portion coupleable with the artificial chordae tendineae and configured to allow movement of the artificial chordae tendineae in a first direction while preventing movement of the artificial chordae tendineae in a second direction opposite the first direction. An actuator is coupled to the locking portion for selectively releasing the locking portion to enable selective movement of the artificial chordae tendineae in the second direction.

An adjustable artificial chordae tendineae fixing assembly includes an occlusion device and an adjusting rod which are both a hollow structure allowing the artificial chordae tendineae to pass through. The occlusion device is configured to be clamped on the interventricular septum. The occlusion device is provided with a switch adjusting device which controls the artificial chordae tendineae to move and to be fixed. The adjusting rod is connected to the occlusion device, and is capable of repeatedly adjusting the switch adjusting device on the occlusion device. The artificial chordae tendineae fixing assembly can fix the artificial chordae tendineae on the interventricular septum, and can also overcome the problem of unsuitable length of the artificial chordae tendineae in most of patients after the procedure due to cardiac changes. The artificial chordae tendineae is retained at the skin puncture point for a short time.