Bone anchor installer and method of use
Systems, apparatuses and methods for securing tissue to bone using a bone anchoring system are described. Methods and apparatuses may allow transformation between locked and unlocked states, thereby allowing adjustment of the tension in the suture. The apparatus and/or methods may allow unidirectional movement of a suture, while preventing slippage or movement of the suture and tissue in the opposite direction. Ends of a suture may be individually tensioned to adjust positioning of a tissue with respect to a bone.
1. A method comprising:
releasably attaching a bone anchor to a distal end of a loading portion;
removably coupling at least a first portion of an anchor holder to the distal end of the loading portion;
removably coupling a second portion of the anchor holder to the first portion, wherein the first and second portions are separable halves of the anchor holder;
threading a suture through the bone anchor and the anchor holder; and
removing the anchor holder from the distal end of the loading portion.
2. A method comprising:
releasably attaching a bone anchor to a distal end of a loading portion, wherein releasably attaching comprises retaining the bone anchor to the loading portion with a tether;
removably coupling at least a first portion of an anchor holder to the distal end of the loading portion;
removably coupling a second portion of the anchor holder to the first portion;
threading a suture through the bone anchor and the anchor holder; and
removing the anchor holder from the distal end of the loading portion.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the tether extends from the bone anchor to a proximal end of the loading portion.
4. The method of claim 2 , comprising varying a tension on the tether.
5. The method of claim 2 , comprising releasing the tether from near a proximal end of the loading portion.
6. The method of claim 1 , comprising delivering the bone anchor and the loading portion to a surgical site through a cannula.
7. A method comprising:
releasably attaching a bone anchor to a distal end of a loading portion;
removably coupling at least a first portion of an anchor holder to the distal end of the loading portion;
removably coupling a second portion of the anchor holder to the first portion;
threading a suture through the bone anchor and the anchor holder, wherein threading the suture comprises coupling a suture puller to the anchor holder and the bone anchor; coupling the suture to a distal end of the suture puller; and pulling the suture puller through the anchor holder and the bone anchor to couple the suture to the bone anchor; and
removing the anchor holder from the distal end of the loading portion.
8. A method comprising:
releasably attaching a bone anchor to a distal end of a loading portion;
removably coupling at least a first portion of an anchor holder to the distal end of the loading portion;
removably coupling a second portion of the anchor holder to the first portion;
threading a suture through the bone anchor and the anchor holder, wherein threading the suture comprises threading the suture through a two bar locking mechanism of the bone anchor; and
removing the anchor holder from the distal end of the loading portion.
9. The method of claim 8 , comprising the steps of:
threading the suture between a first locking bar and the bone anchor from a side opposite a second locking bar;
threading the suture around the second locking bar; and
threading the suture back through a space between the first and second locking.
10. A method comprising:
releasably attaching a bone anchor to a distal end of a loading portion;
removably coupling at least a first portion of an anchor holder to the distal end of the loading portion;
removably coupling a second portion of the anchor holder to the first portion, wherein the first and second portions completely encircle the distal end of the loading portion;
threading a suture through the bone anchor and the anchor holder; and
removing the anchor holder from the distal end of the loading portion.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions completely encircle the bone anchor.
12. A method comprising:
releasably attaching a bone anchor to a distal end of a loading portion;
removably coupling at least a first portion of an anchor holder to the distal end of the loading portion;
removably coupling a second portion of the anchor holder to the first portion;
threading a suture through the bone anchor and the anchor holder, wherein threading the suture comprises coupling the suture to a first end of a suture puller; and pulling a second end of the suture puller through the anchor holder and the bone anchor; and
removing the anchor holder from the distal end of the loading portion.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first end and the second end both protrude laterally from the anchor holder.
14. A method comprising:
releasably attaching a bone anchor to a distal end of a loading portion;
removably coupling an anchor holder with a cavity to the distal end of the loading portion and the bone anchor;
threading a suture through the bone anchor and the anchor holder, wherein threading the suture comprises threading the suture through a two bar locking mechanism of the bone anchor;
uncoupling the anchor holder from the loading portion while the distal end of the loading portion and the bone anchor are within the cavity; and
removing the anchor holder from the distal end of the loading portion.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
threading the suture between a first locking bar and the bone anchor from a side opposite a second locking bar;
threading the suture around the second locking bar; and
threading the suture back through a space between the first and second locking bars.
16. A method comprising:
releasably attaching a bone anchor to a distal end of a loading portion;
removably coupling at least a first portion of an anchor holder to the distal end of the loading portion, wherein the first portion defines a first inner surface of a cavity, wherein the first inner surface is on one side of the bone anchor;
removably coupling a second portion of the anchor holder to the first portion, wherein the second portion defines a second inner surface of the cavity, wherein the second inner surface is on another side of the bone anchor;
threading a suture through the bone anchor and the anchor holder, wherein threading the suture comprises threading the suture through a two bar locking mechanism of the bone anchor; and
removing the anchor holder from the distal end of the loading portion.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
threading the suture between a first locking bar and the bone anchor from a side opposite a second locking bar;
threading the suture around the second locking bar; and
threading the suture back through a space between the first and second locking bars.