Patent ID: 7833244
Filing Date: 2010-11-16
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for performing a surgical repair, comprising: forming a passageway in bone by forming a first hole extending from a first opening into the bone and forming a second hole extending from a second opening into the bone such that the first and second holes intersect each other, the first opening being located near a soft tissue or implant material to be secured relative to the bone and the second opening being located remotely from the soft tissue or implant material; providing a suture in the passageway, without passing a suture fixation device attached to the suture through the passageway from the first hole to the second hole, so that the suture extends from within the bone toward the second opening; securing a portion of the suture located near the first opening to the soft tissue or implant material; providing a suture fixation device having an inner end, an outer end, and a non-tortuous pathway extending between the inner end and the outer end, the suture fixation device including restriction in the non-tortuous pathway that permits movement of a knotless suture portion through the pathway in a first direction and resists movement of the knotless suture portion in a second direction opposite the first direction; providing the suture in the pathway of the suture fixation device so as to provide a proximal portion of the suture extending from the outer end of the suture fixation device; pulling the proximal portion of the suture to move a knotless portion of the suture in the first direction relative to the restriction and to apply tension to the portion of the suture near the first opening to secure the soft tissue or implant material relative to the bone near the first opening; and releasing the proximal portion of the suture such that the knotless portion of the suture is held by the restriction to resist movement of the knotless portion of the suture in the second direction and to maintain tension on the suture and the soft tissue or implant material at the first opening, the suture fixation device having a portion positioned outside of the second opening and in contact with portions of cortical bone outside of and adjacent to the second opening.