Transosseous method

1. A method for placing an element transosseously through first and second transverse, intersecting bone tunnels, the method comprising:

inserting a first tunnel member into a bone along a first insertion axis, the first tunnel member having a proximal end and a distal end, the first tunnel member having a first longitudinal passage at least partway through the first tunnel member;

inserting a second tunnel member into the bone along a second insertion axis, the second insertion axis intersecting the first insertion axis, the second tunnel member having a proximal end and a distal end, the second tunnel member having a second longitudinal passage at least partway through the second tunnel member;

continuously inserting a passer from a second bone tunnel to a first bone tunnel until the passer extends from the proximal end of the second bone tunnel, through the second bone tunnel, through the first bone tunnel, and out of the proximal end of the first bone tunnel in one continuous path; and

passing an element from the first bone tunnel to the second bone tunnel by withdrawing the passer back through the first bone tunnel and back through the second bone tunnel.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising drilling the first bone tunnel to receive the first tunnel member and drilling the second bone tunnel to receive the second tunnel member.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein inserting a first tunnel member into a bone comprises punching the first tunnel member into the bone to form a first bone tunnel and wherein inserting a second tunnel member into a bone comprises punching the second tunnel member into the bone to form a second bone tunnel.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein continuously inserting the passer comprises inserting the passer from the proximal end of the second tunnel member, through the second longitudinal passage, through the first longitudinal passage, and out of the proximal end of the first longitudinal passage in one continuous path, such that the passer extends between the proximal end of the first longitudinal passage, the distal end of the first longitudinal passage, the distal end of the second longitudinal passage, and the proximal end of the second longitudinal passage.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein continuously inserting the passer comprises inserting the passer so that it extends between an outer end of the first tunnel member spaced from the bone, an inner end of the first tunnel member buried in the bone, an inner end of the second tunnel member buried in the bone, and an outer end of the second tunnel member spaced from the bone.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein continuously inserting the passer comprises advancing the passer into a proximal end of the second tunnel member, along the second longitudinal passage, through a second side opening in the second tunnel member, through a first side opening in the first tunnel member, along the first longitudinal passage, and out a proximal end of the first tunnel member.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the distal end of the second tunnel member is inserted into the first side opening of the first tunnel member.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein an angled surface is formed adjacent the second side opening in the second tunnel member and the angled surface deflects a tip of the passer out of the second side opening and into the first side opening.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the passer comprises a wire forming a loop in a first plane, the loop being bent so that a portion of the loop forms a curved profile in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane, the method further comprising passing the bent loop from the second side opening to the first side opening.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the passer comprises a wire and an outer tube moveable relative to the wire between a first position in which the outer tube encloses a portion of the length of the wire and a second position in which the outer tube encloses less of the length of the wire, the method further comprising:

inserting the wire into the second tunnel member while the outer tube is positioned in the first position; and

subsequently moving the tube to the second position.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

engaging a first element with the passer; and

withdrawing the passer to pass the first element through the first and second tunnel members.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising, after withdrawing the passer to pass the element:

withdrawing the second tunnel member from the bone;

inserting the second tunnel member into the bone along a third insertion axis, the third insertion axis intersecting the first insertion axis;

inserting a passer through the first and second tunnel members, the passer simultaneously extending through the first and second longitudinal passages and out of the proximal end of the first tunnel member and out of the proximal end of the second tunnel member;

engaging a second element with the passer; and

withdrawing the passer to pass the second element through the first and second tunnel members.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

passing the first element through soft tissue adjacent to the bone; and

securing the soft tissue to the bone.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of inserting the first tunnel member into the bone results in the first tunnel member being positioned in a first bone tunnel, and wherein the step of securing the soft tissue to the bone comprises inserting a knotless anchor into the first bone tunnel and securing the first element with the knotless anchor.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the bone is a human humeral bone adjacent to a shoulder joint; wherein inserting a first tunnel member into a bone comprises inserting the first tunnel member into the humeral bone; wherein inserting the second tunnel member into the bone comprises inserting the second tunnel member into the humeral bone; wherein the element is a suture; and wherein the method further comprises:

engaging the suture with the passer outside of the tunnel members;

withdrawing the passer to pass the suture through both of the tunnel members in one continuous motion;

engaging the suture with soft tissue of the rotator cuff of the shoulder; and

securing the soft tissue by securing the suture with a knotless anchor that is inserted into the humeral bone.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the bone is a heel bone of a human foot; wherein inserting a first tunnel member into a bone comprises inserting the first tunnel member into the heel bone; wherein inserting the second tunnel member into the bone comprises inserting the second tunnel member into the heel bone; wherein the element is a suture; and wherein the method further comprises:

engaging the suture with the passer outside of the tunnel members;

withdrawing the passer to pass the suture through both of the tunnel members in one continuous motion;

engaging the suture with an Achilles tendon; and

securing the Achilles tendon by securing the suture with a knotless anchor that is inserted into the heel bone.

17. A method for placing suture transosseously through first, second, and third transverse, intersecting bone tunnels, the method comprising:

forming a first bone tunnel in a bone with a first tunnel member;

forming a second bone tunnel transverse to and intersecting the first bone tunnel with a second tunnel member;

placing a first portion of suture through the first and second bone tunnels and at least partway through the first tunnel member;

forming a third bone tunnel transverse to and intersecting the first bone tunnel with the second tunnel member while the first portion of suture is present in the first tunnel member; and

placing a second portion of suture through the first and third tunnels and at least partway through the first tunnel member while the first portion of suture is present in the first tunnel member.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the first tunnel member defines a first insertion axis and wherein forming the third bone tunnel comprises:

withdrawing the second tunnel member from the second bone tunnel;

rotating a guide engaged with the first and second tunnel members about the first insertion axis; and

guiding the second tunnel member or another tunnel member with the guide to form the third bone tunnel.