Transosseous suture anchor method

1. A method of attaching a suture to a bone, comprising:

passing a portion of a suture through a bone so that a first portion of the suture extends from a first opening in the bone and a second portion of the suture extends from a second opening in the bone;

passing the second portion of the suture through a portion of a suture anchor body in a proximal to distal direction, the suture anchor body having a proximal end and a distal end;

passing the second portion of the suture alongside an outer surface of the suture anchor body in a distal to proximal direction; and

then inserting the suture anchor into the bone through one of the first and second openings, the distal end being inserted first through the opening.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of passing the second portion of the suture longitudinally through a portion of a suture anchor body in a proximal to distal direction comprises engaging the second portion of the suture with a first suture threader and pulling the suture threader through the anchor, the first suture threader being preloaded on the suture anchor.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising passing the first portion of the suture longitudinally through a portion of the suture anchor body in a distal to proximal direction.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of passing the first portion of the suture longitudinally through a portion of the suture anchor body in a distal to proximal direction comprises engaging the second portion of the suture with a second suture threader and pulling the suture threader through the anchor, the second suture threader being preloaded on the suture anchor.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising after inserting the suture anchor into a hole in the bone, advancing a locking member into the suture anchor to lock the suture to the anchor.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising before advancing the locking member, tensioning the suture.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein a proximal member is joined to the proximal end of the anchor by a frangible connection, the method further comprising after advancing the locking member, separating the proximal member and anchor at the frangible connection.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the proximal member includes a hole through a sidewall adjacent the frangible portion and the suture extends through the hole, further wherein separating the proximal member and anchor transforms the hole into a distally opening slot and releases the suture distally from the slot.

9. A method of attaching a suture to a bone, comprising:

disengaging a first portion of a suture extending from a distal end of a suture anchor from a suture keeper, a second portion of the suture extending from a proximal end of the suture anchor being joined to the suture keeper;

then passing the first suture portion through a patient's body tissue;

then inserting the suture anchor body into a hole in a bone; and

then separating the suture keeper from the second portion of the suture.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the second portion includes at least first and second strands of suture, the first strand being joined to a first portion of the suture keeper and the second strand being joined to a second portion of the suture keeper, the method further comprising independently tensioning the first and second strands.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising sliding the suture anchor over the first portion of suture away from the suture keeper while the second portion remains joined to the suture keeper.

12. A method of attaching soft tissue to bone, comprising:

passing a tube through a portal in a patient's skin, the tube having a suture passing through it;

passing the suture through a soft tissue;

splitting the tube to free the suture from the tube; and

anchoring the suture to a bone.

13. A method of attaching a suture to a bone, comprising:

providing a suture anchor having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal passage extending within the suture anchor in a proximal to distal direction, a first opening communicating with the longitudinal passage nearer the proximal end than the distal end, a second opening through the sidewall of the suture anchor nearer the distal end than the proximal end, and a third opening through the sidewall of the suture anchor nearer the distal end than the proximal end, a first suture threader extending within the longitudinal passage between the first and third openings, the first suture threader extending through the first opening to a grip portion outside of the longitudinal passage, the first suture threader extending through the third opening to a suture engaging portion outside of the longitudinal passage, a second suture threader extending within the longitudinal passage between the first and second openings, the second suture threader extending through the first opening to a suture engaging portion outside of the longitudinal passage, the second suture threader extending through the second opening to a grip portion outside of the longitudinal passage;

passing a portion of a suture through a bone so that a first portion of the suture extends from a first opening in the bone and a second portion of the suture extends from a second opening in the bone;

engaging the first portion of the suture with the first suture threader;

pulling on the grip portion of the first suture threader to pass the first portion of the suture through the longitudinal passage in a distal to proximal direction;

engaging the second portion of the suture with the second suture threader;

pulling on the grip portion of the second suture threader to pass the second portion of the suture through the longitudinal passage in a proximal to distal direction; and

then inserting the suture anchor into the bone through one of the first and second openings, the distal end being inserted first through the opening.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

passing the second portion of the suture through soft tissue;

tying a knot in the second portion of the suture outside of a patient's body; and

pulling on the first portion of the suture to move the knot nearer to the soft tissue.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

passing the first portion of the suture through a tube;

placing the tube and first portion of the suture through a portal in the patient's body;

splitting the tube to free the suture laterally from the tube.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising passing the second portion alongside an outer surface of the anchor in a distal to proximal direction.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising advancing a locking member in the longitudinal passage to secure the suture within the longitudinal passage.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein a proximal member is joined to the proximal end of the anchor by a frangible connection, the proximal member housing the locking member, the step of advancing the locking member comprising pressing the locking member from the proximal member into the longitudinal passage, the method further comprising after advancing the locking member, separating the proximal member and anchor at the frangible connection.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein advancing the locking member comprises actuating an inserter to press the locking member in a first direction while applying a counterforce to the proximal member in a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein separating the proximal member and anchor comprises further actuating the inserter to break the frangible connection.