System, device and method for repairing a rotator cuff tear

1 . A method of repairing a torn rotator cuff tendon having an articular or a bottom side and a bursal or top side of a patient's shoulder joint comprising the steps of:

establishing an arthroscopic or anterior portal through a rotator cuff interval of a shoulder that can access a glenohumeral space of the shoulder;

establishing a lateral portal within the shoulder, the lateral portal positioned opposite the articular side of the torn rotator cuff tendon;

inserting a delivery device having a proximal and distal end, through the arthroscopic portal;

inserting a spinal needle through the lateral portal and introducing at least two traction sutures through the rotator cuff interval and then using a grasper to pull the two traction sutures out through the arthroscopic portal and then removing the spinal needle;

providing a biological construct that has at least two suture tails on an end of the biological construct and tying the suture tails to the traction sutures;

advancing the biological construct via an inserter through the delivery device, the construct being in a first unrolled position at the proximal end of the delivery device, then inserted through the delivery device in a second rolled position, and then advanced through the delivery device into a third unrolled position into the glenohumeral space of the shoulder;

positioning the biological construct onto the articular or bottom side of the torn rotator cuff tendon and tightening the traction sutures on the articular or bottom side;

withdrawing the construct suture tails out of the lateral portal and clipping off the traction sutures, tying the suture tails on the bursal side of the torn tendon with the construct compressed to the articular side of the torn tendon with the suture tails tied off on the bursal or top side of the torn tendon; and

maintaining the biological construct in place to heal the tendon.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

establishing a viewing portal through a posterior portal of the shoulder and distending the joint through the viewing portal.

3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

attaching a pledget or a second biological construct to the suture tails for connection on the bursal side of the torn rotator cuff tendon for additional support.

4 . A method of repairing a torn rotator cuff tendon of a patient's shoulder joint comprising the steps:

establishing an arthroscopic or anterior portal through a rotator cuff interval of a shoulder that can access a glenohumeral space of the shoulder;

establishing a lateral portal within the shoulder, the lateral portal positioned opposite an articular or a bottom side of the torn rotator cuff tendon;

inserting a delivery device having a proximal and distal end, through the arthroscopic portal;

inserting a cannula through the lateral portal and introducing at least two traction sutures through the rotator cuff interval and then removing the cannula;

providing a biological construct that has retention means on an articular or a bottom side of the construct and securing the retention means to the traction sutures;

advancing the biological construct through the delivery device, the construct being in a first unrolled position at the proximal end of the delivery device, then inserted through the delivery device in a second rolled position, and then advanced through the delivery device into a third unrolled position into the glenohumeral space of the shoulder;

positioning the biological construct onto the articular or bottom side of the torn rotator cuff tendon and tightening the traction sutures via tensioning means on the articular or bottom side; and

maintaining the biological construct in place to heal the tendon.

5 . The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

establishing a viewing portal through a posterior portal of the shoulder and distending the joint through the viewing portal.

6 . The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

attaching a pledget or a second biological construct to the retention means for connection on the bursal side of the torn rotator cuff tendon for additional support.