Patent ID: 7611521

Claim:
An apparatus for repairing soft tissue, comprising: an elongate housing having a first end and a second end, said first end configured to receive a soft tissue anchor; a handle disposed proximate said second end of said housing; a tubular shaft disposed within said housing, said shaft rotatable within and movable along a longitudinal axis of said housing and having an inner bore extending lengthwise through at least a portion of said shaft; a driving member coupled with said shaft for rotation therewith and configured to engage the soft tissue anchor, whereby rotation of said shaft imparts rotation to the soft tissue anchor via said driving member; an inner member disposed within said shaft and movable along said inner bore independently of said shaft and the soft tissue anchor, said inner member having an inner channel sized to receive an elongate tensile member or a shuttle member; a first actuating member coupled to said shaft and configured to translate said shaft along said longitudinal axis of said housing when manipulated by a user; and a second actuating member coupled to said inner member and configured to move said inner member along said inner bore between an extended position wherein said inner member extends beyond said first end of said housing and a retracted position wherein said inner member is substantially within said housing.