Patent ID: 8545536

Claim:
A method for fixating a suture anchor in 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 method comprising the steps of: providing a tool comprising a distal tool face and an axial channel with a distal mouth located in the distal tool face, a substantially tube-shaped interface piece fitting into the axial channel of the tool, wherein the axial channel and the interface piece are equipped with catch elements cooperating for catching a proximal end of the interface piece in the axial channel when the interface piece is moved in a proximal direction in the axial channel, providing a suture anchor and a suture, wherein the suture anchor comprises an anchor foot and a thermoplastic sleeve, wherein the anchor foot comprises a system of channels and/or grooves, the suture extending in the form of a loop through the system, wherein the thermoplastic sleeve comprises the material having thermoplastic properties and is situated between the distal face of the tool and a proximal face of the anchor foot, wherein the interface piece extends from the anchor foot through the thermoplastic sleeve and into the axial channel and end portions of the suture extend from the anchor foot through the interface piece, and wherein the anchor foot, the thermoplastic sleeve and the interface piece are held relative to the distal end of the tool by the end portions of the suture being held in a more proximal position and/or by the interface piece being caught in the axial channel of the tool, providing a hard tissue opening having a cross section slightly larger than a cross section of the suture anchor, coupling a proximal end of the tool to an energy source; straightening or tensioning the suture by pulling end sections thereof in a proximal direction, positioning the tool relative to the hard tissue in the hard tissue opening such that the distal face of the tool is positioned in the hard tissue opening, activating the energy source, thereby starting liquefaction of the material having thermoplastic properties, keeping the energy source active and moving the anchor foot relative to the tool in a proximal direction with the aid of the suture being kept straightened or tensioned, as the thermoplastic sleeve gets shorter through further liquefaction, for a time sufficient to liquefy at least part of the thermoplastic sleeve, and de-activating the energy source and releasing the end sections of the suture, and removing the distal end of the tool together with the interface piece being caught in the axial channel of the tool from the hard tissue opening.