Anchor assembly and method of use

1. A flexible member securing assembly to secure a flexible member relative to tissue comprising:

a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end;

an arm extending from the shaft second end;

a closed loop suture;

an anchor removably positioned at the shaft second end; and

a flexible member grasper formed on a distal end of the arm to position the flexible member in relation to the anchor, the flexible member grasper including a U-shaped region open on a distal end of the arm, the U-shaped region defining a channel, the closed loop suture positioned within and fused to the channel of the U-shaped region with the flexible member extending through the closed loop suture, wherein the closed loop suture is sized and configured to accommodate a flexible member that is larger than the channel of the U-shaped region and such that the flexible member is positioned at the distal end of the arm distally from the anchor, and wherein the flexible member is separate from and not integral to the closed loop suture, wherein the flexible member securing assembly has a delivery configuration in which the closed loop suture is separate from and remote from the anchor so that during implantation the closed loop suture and the flexible member extending through the closed loop suture can be positioned at a bottom of a hole in bone before the anchor is implanted in the hole and wherein the anchor is operable to retain the flexible member in the tissue.

2. The flexible member securing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shaft, the arm, and the anchor are concentric along the longitudinal axis.

3. The flexible member securing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flexible member grasper is remote from the anchor.

4. The flexible member receiving assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shaft defines an opening to axially move the arm independent of the shaft.

5. The flexible member securing assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the flexible member grasper is removably fixed to the distal end of the arm.

6. The flexible member securing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flexible member grasper is defined by a region of the distal end of the arm.

7. The flexible member securing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the anchor comprises a body defining a through bore, wherein the arm axially extends through the through bore.

8. The flexible member securing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the anchor comprises a body defining a bore, wherein the anchor bore is keyed to receive a mated shoulder defined by the shaft second end.

9. The flexible member securing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is selected from the group consisting of suture, wire, cable, and braided filaments.

10. A flexible member securing assembly to secure a flexible member relative to tissue comprising:

a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end and defining a longitudinal opening therein;

an arm positioned in the longitudinal opening and axially extendable from the shaft second end;

a closed loop suture;

an anchor removably positioned at the shaft second end and defining a passage to receive the arm; and

a flexible member grasper extending from a distal end of the arm to position the flexible member in relation to the anchor, the flexible member grasper including a U-shaped region open on a distal end of the arm, the U-shaped region defining a channel, and the closed loop suture positioned within and fused to the channel of the U-shaped region with the flexible member extending through the closed loop suture, wherein the closed loop suture is sized and configured to accommodate a flexible member that is larger than the channel of the U-shaped region and such that the flexible member is positioned at the distal end of the arm distally from the anchor, and wherein the flexible member is separate from and not integral to the closed loop suture, wherein the flexible member securing assembly has a delivery configuration in which the closed loop suture is separate from and remote from the anchor so that during implantation the closed loop suture and the flexible member extending through the closed loop suture can be positioned at a bottom of a hole in bone before the anchor is implanted in the hole, and wherein the anchor is operable to retain the flexible member in the tissue.

11. The flexible member securing assembly of claim 10 , wherein the flexible member grasper is remote from the anchor and is removable from the distal end of the arm.

12. The flexible member securing assembly of claim 10 , wherein the flexible member grasper is defined at least in part of the distal end of the arm.

13. The flexible member securing assembly of claim 12 , wherein the flexible member grasper defines a channel to receive the suture.

14. The flexible member securing assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a handle extending from the shaft.

15. The flexile member securing assembly of claim 14 , further comprising an actuator on the handle operable to move the arm.

16. A flexible member securing assembly to secure a flexible member relative to tissue comprising:

a handle;

a shaft extending from the handle;

an arm axially extendable relative to the shaft;

a closed loop suture;

a flexible member grasper at a distal end of the arm configured to position the flexible member relative to the tissue; and

an anchor removably positioned at a distal end of the shaft, the flexible member grasper including a U-shaped region open on a distal end of the arm, the U-shaped region defining a channel, and the closed loop suture positioned within and fused to the channel of the U-shaped region with the flexible member extending through the closed loop suture, wherein the closed loop suture is sized and configured to accommodate a flexible member that is larger than the channel of the U-shaped region and such that the flexible member is positioned at the distal end of the arm distally from the anchor, and wherein the flexible member is separate from and not integral to the closed loop suture, wherein the flexible member securing assembly has a delivery configuration in which the closed loop suture is separate from and remote from the anchor so that during implantation the closed loop suture and the flexible member extending through the closed loop suture can be positioned at a bottom of a hole in bone before the anchor is implanted in the hole, and wherein the anchor is configured to retain the flexible member in the tissue.

17. The flexible member securing assembly of claim 16 , wherein the flexible member grasper includes a U-shaped channel formed in the distal end of the arm to retain the flexible member.