Tissue repair assembly

1 . A tissue repair assembly for repairing tissue comprising:

a rotatable anchor for insertion through a tissue tear on a surface of the tissue;

a threaded fastener for insertion into the tissue, the threaded fastener having a longitudinal bore and a plurality of apertures communicating with the bore; and

a flexible member coupled to the rotatable anchor and passing through the longitudinal bore such that tensioning the flexible member compresses the tear.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flexible member defines a main loop extending from the anchor through the bore of the threaded fastener and terminating at the slip knot outside the bore.

3 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the main loop passes through an end loop coupled to the rotatable anchor.

4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable anchor includes:

a substantially flat base;

a rounded slanted end;

a rectangular slanted end; and

a curved projection having a hole and guiding formations extending from the hole for guiding the flexible member.

5 . The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the rounded end, the slanted end and the curved projection are operable for rotating the rotatable anchor after or during implantation.

6 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an inserter for implanting the anchor.

7 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the inserter includes a shaft having a longitudinal slot for receiving the anchor.

8 . The assembly of claim 6 , further including a depth delimiting sleeve.

9 . The assembly of claim 6 , further including a thumb-actuated slider for advancing another anchor.

10 . The tissue repair assembly of claim 3 , wherein the end loop comprises two sub-loops.

11 . The tissue repair assembly of claim 1 , wherein the threaded fastener is resorbable.

12 . The tissue repair assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a biologic fluid agent injectable through the longitudinal bore of the threaded fastener.

13 . A method for repairing a tear in tissue, the method comprising:

providing an inserter having a shaft loaded with a rotatable anchor and a threaded fastener, the rotatable anchor and the threaded fastener connected with a flexible member passing through a bore of the fastener, the flexible member defining a self-locking slip knot outside the fastener and having a free end;

deploying the rotatable anchor through a first surface of the tissue across the tear onto a second surface of the tissue;

deploying the threaded fastener through the first surface of the tissue across the tear into the tissue; and

tensioning the free end of the flexible member to reduce the tear.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein deploying the rotatable anchor comprises:

inserting the inserter through the first surface of the tissue across the tear to the second surface of the tissue; and

withdrawing the inserter.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein withdrawing the inserter comprises rotating the rotatable anchor.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein deploying the threaded fastener comprises:

advancing the threaded fastener in a deployment position in the inserter;

inserting the inserter through the first surface of the tissue across the tear into the tissue;

threadably implanting the threaded fastener; and

withdrawing the inserter.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein tensioning the free end of the flexible member includes reducing the distance between the rotatable anchor and the threaded fastener.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein tensioning the free end of the flexible member includes reducing a length of a main loop of the flexible member between the rotatable anchor and the threaded fastener.

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the tissue is a meniscus, the first surface is an anterior surface of the meniscus, and the second surface is a posterior surface of the meniscus.

20 . A method for repairing a tear in tissue, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of rotatable anchors and a threaded fastener connected with a flexible member, the flexible member passing through a bore of the threaded fastener and defining loop terminating at a self-locking slip knot;

inserting each rotatable anchor through a first surface of the tear onto a second surface of the tear such that the flexible member passes through the tear between successive anchors;

inserting the threaded fastener through the first surface of the tear into the tissue; and

tensioning the free end of the flexible member to reduce the tear and lock the slip-knot against the fastener.

21 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising allowing biological fluid flow through the bore of the threaded fastener and apertures thereon.

22 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising passing a free end of the flexible member through the slip knot using the suture passer.

23 . The method of claim 20 , wherein inserting comprises inserting using a pre-loaded inserter.