SOFT TISSUE FIXATION DEVICES AND METHODS

1 . A method for securing soft tissue to bone, the method comprising:

accessing the soft tissue and the bone;

passing a filament through the soft tissue;

preparing a bore hole in the bone;

loading the filament into a filamentary fixation device;

implanting the filamentary fixation device, with the filament, into the bore hole; and

tensioning the filament so that the filamentary fixation device and filament are secured within the bore hole.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the soft tissue includes a shoulder labrum, a hip labrum or a rotator cuff.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the filamentary fixation device has a substantially tubular shape including a hollow interior and first and second ends, wherein the filament is loaded through the hollow interior of the filamentary fixation device.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the filament has a first end, a second end, and a length therebetween, such that during the passing step the first and second ends extend from the soft tissue.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein, during the loading step, the first and second ends of the filament each pass through both the first and second ends of the filamentary fixation device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein after the filament is loaded into the filamentary fixation device, the method further comprises engaging the filament and filamentary fixation device on a distal end of an inserter.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of implanting the filamentary fixation device and filament includes inserting the distal end of the inserter into the bore hole.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein after the accessing step, the method is performed through a cannulated guide.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the cannulated guide includes a length between a distal end adapted to engage the bone and a proximal end having a handle, wherein the cannulated guide includes a curved portion along at least a portion of the length.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the preparing step is performed using a drill having a length and a drilling tip at a distal end, and the implanting step is performed using an inserter having a length and an engagement structure for the filamentary fixation device at a distal end, wherein each of the drill and inserter includes a flexible portion along at least a portion of the respective lengths adapted to pass through the curved portion of the cannulated guide.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the filament includes first and second ends, and a length therebetween, and is passed through the soft tissue so that the filament is generally folded over onto itself and the first and second ends extend from a proximal end of the cannulated guide.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the cannulated guide includes a distal tip having an engagement surface including a generally angled face and an at least one edge engagement feature.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the cannulated guide includes a distal tip having an engagement surface including at least one prong.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, once the filament is passed through the soft tissue, the end of the filament is engaged by a threading filament, wherein the threading filament extends through the hollow interior of the filamentary fixation device, the threading filament extending and entering through a first end of the filamentary fixation device and exiting through a second end of the filamentary fixation device.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of loading includes tensioning the threading filament such that the end of the filament is pulled through the hollow interior of the filamentary fixation device.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the threading filament extends first in a transverse direction, with respect to the hollow interior, and second lengthwise through the filamentary fixation device, such that the threading filament enters through the first end of the filamentary fixation device and exits through the second end of the filamentary fixation device.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of loading includes tensioning the threading filament such that the end of the filament is pulled transversely through the filamentary fixation device and then lengthwise through the hollow interior of the filamentary fixation device.

18 . A method for repairing a torn rotator cuff, the method comprising:

implanting a bone anchor in a medial location, underneath the rotator cuff, having a filament being associated with the bone anchor, the filament having a length and an end portion having an end;

passing the end through the rotator cuff and positioning the end portion over the rotator cuff in a lateral direction;

preparing a bore hole in the bone in a position lateral to the rotator cuff;

loading the filament into a filamentary fixation device;

implanting the filamentary fixation device, with the filament, into the lateral bore hole such that the end of the end portion is positioned outside of the bore hole; and

tensioning the end of the filament so that the filamentary fixation device and filament are secured within the lateral bore hole and the rotator cuff is drawn towards the lateral bore hole.

19 . The method of claim 18 , the method further comprises the filament having a second end portion and a second end, wherein the end portions of the filament extend from the bone anchor.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:

passing the ends of the filament through the rotator cuff and positioning the end portions over the rotator cuff in a lateral direction;

preparing a second bore hole in the bone in a position lateral to the rotator cuff and adjacent to the first bore hole;

loading the second end portion of the filament into a second filamentary fixation device;

implanting the second filamentary fixation device, with the second end portion, into the second lateral bore hole such that the ends of the end portions are positioned outside of the bore holes; and

tensioning the end of the second end portion so that the filamentary fixation device and second end portion are secured within the second lateral bore hole and the rotator cuff is drawn towards the second lateral bore hole.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein after the ends of the filament are passed through the rotator cuff, the end portions are tied into a knot to compress a portion of the rotator cuff between the knot and the bone anchor.

22 . The method of claim 19 , the method further comprises:

passing the ends of the filament through the rotator cuff and positioning the end portions over the rotator cuff in a lateral direction;

loading the end portions of the filament into the filamentary fixation device;

implanting the filamentary fixation device, with the filament, into the lateral bore hole such that the ends of the end portions are positioned outside of the bore hole; and

tensioning the ends of the filament so that the filamentary fixation device and filament are secured within the lateral bore hole and the rotator cuff is drawn towards the lateral bore hole.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein, once the end portions are passed through the rotator cuff, the loading step includes engaging one end of the filament by a first end of a first threading filament and the second end of the filament by a first end of a second threading filament, wherein the first and second threading filaments extend through the filamentary fixation device, the first threading filament extending and entering through a first end of the filamentary fixation device and exiting through a second end of the filamentary fixation device and the second threading filament extending and entering through the second end of the filamentary fixation device and exiting through the first end of the filamentary fixation device.

24 . The method of claim 18 , wherein, once the end portion is passed through the rotator cuff, the loading step further comprises engaging the end of the filament by a first end of a threading filament, wherein the threading filament extends through the filamentary fixation device, the threading filament extending and entering through a first end of the filamentary fixation device and exiting through a second end of the filamentary fixation device.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the step of loading further comprises tensioning the threading filament such that the end of the filament is pulled through the filamentary fixation device.