Flexible anchors for tissue fixation
An anchor for securing tissue to bone can include a flexible first tubular member, a flexible second tubular member, and a first suture member. The first tubular member can include a first wall defining a first passage between first and second ends. The second tubular member can include a second wall defining a second passage between first and second ends. The first suture member can couple the first tubular member and the second tubular member. The first suture member can pass through the first wall and the first passage and the second wall and the second passage. The first tubular member and the second tubular member can engage each other and deform to form an anchoring mass upon tensioning the first suture member. A method of preparing an anchor for securing tissue to bone and a method of securing a tissue to a bone are also provided.
1. An anchor for securing tissue to bone, comprising:
a flexible first tubular member including a first wall defining a first passage between first and second ends;
a flexible second tubular member including a second wall defining a second passage between first and second ends, the flexible second tubular member extends in a plane laterally spaced apart from the flexible first tubular member; and
a first suture member coupling the first tubular member and the second tubular member together, the first suture member passing through the first wall and the first passage and the second wall and the second passage, the first suture member extends from the flexible first tubular member to the flexible second tubular member and back to the flexible first tubular member, and then back to the flexible second tubular member;
wherein the first tubular member and the second tubular member engage each other and deform to form an anchoring mass upon tensioning the first suture member.
2. The anchor according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first suture member passes through the first wall and first passage and the second wall and the second passage a plurality of times to form a first loop and a second loop,
the first loop couples the first end of the first tubular member and the first end of the second tubular member, and
the second loop couples the second end of the first tubular member and the second end of the second tubular member.
3. The anchor according to claim 1 , wherein the first tubular member and the second tubular member have a braided construction.
4. The anchor according to claim 1 , wherein the anchoring mass has a locking configuration.
5. The anchor according to claim 1 , wherein the first tubular member and the second tubular member each deform from a first shape to a second shape upon tensioning the first suture member and directly engaging the first tubular member to the second tubular member.
6. The anchor according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first suture member intersects first sections of the first tubular member and second sections of the second tubular member, and
the first sections engage the second sections upon tensioning the first suture member.
7. The anchor according to claim 1 , wherein the first tubular member extends substantially parallel to the second tubular member.
8. The anchor according to claim 1 , wherein the first suture member forms a loop extending between the flexible first tubular member and the flexible second tubular member.
9. An anchor for securing tissue to bone, comprising:
a flexible first tubular member including a wall defining a passage extending along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends; and
a first suture member passing through the wall and the passage a plurality of times to create a plurality of intersecting sections and at least one loop section coupling the plurality of intersecting sections;
wherein each of the intersecting sections extends along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the flexible first tubular member between a first aperture in the wall through which the first suture member enters the passage and a second aperture in the wall through which the first suture member exits the passage, and wherein at least two of the plurality of intersecting sections move towards each other and deform a section extending between them upon tensioning the first suture member;
wherein the first suture member forms a loop extending between the first tubular member and a second tubular member spaced apart therefrom to couple the flexible first tubular member and the flexible second tubular member together, the first suture member extending from the first tubular member to the second tubular member and back to the first tubular member, and then back to the second tubular member.
10. The anchor according to claim 9 , wherein:
the first suture member passes through the wall a plurality of times to create a first pair of nested loop sections, a second pair of nested loop sections disposed adjacent the first pair of nested loop sections, and a third loop section coupling the first pair of nested loop sections and the second pair of nested loop sections, and
the first pair of nested loop sections, the second pair of nested loop sections, and the third loop section move the at least two of the intersecting sections towards each other.
11. The anchor according to claim 9 , wherein the first suture member passes through the wall between a first side and a second side a plurality of times.
12. The anchor according to claim 9 , wherein the loop is a compression loop.
13. An anchor for securing tissue to bone, comprising:
a flexible first elongate member having a first end and a second end, a first longitudinal axis extending along a length of the flexible first elongate member between the first and the second ends thereof;
a flexible second elongate member having a first end and a second end, a second longitudinal axis extending along a length of the flexible second elongate member between the first and the second ends thereof; and
a suture member coupling the first elongate member and the second elongate member, the suture member extending from the first elongate member to the second elongate member, back to the first elongate member, and then back to the second elongate member, the suture member passing through both the first elongate member and the second elongate member a plurality of times, such that the flexible first elongate member and the flexible second elongate member are spaced apart and extend generally parallel to one another relative to their respective lengths such that the first longitudinal axis extends generally parallel to the second longitudinal axis;
wherein the first elongate member and the second elongate member engage each other and deform to form an anchoring mass upon tensioning the suture member.
14. The anchor according to claim 13 , wherein:
at least one of the first elongate member and the second elongate member includes a tubular construction having a wall defining a passage between the first and second ends, and
the suture member passes through the wall at a plurality of different locations and extends through a length of the passage.
15. The anchor according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first elongate member and the second elongate member has a braided construction.
16. The anchor according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first elongate member and the second elongate member has a substantially solid construction.
17. The anchor according to claim 13 , wherein:
the suture member passes through the first elongate member and the second elongate member to form a first loop and a second loop,
the first loop couples the first end of the first elongate member and the first end of the second elongate member, and
the second loop couples the second end of the first elongate member and the second end of the second elongate member.
18. The anchor according to claim 13 , wherein the first elongate member extends substantially parallel to the second elongate member.
19. An anchor for securing tissue to bone, comprising:
a first flexible tubular member having a first wall defining a first passage extending between first and second ends of the first flexible tubular member along a first axis, the first axis extending between the first and the second ends along a length of the first flexible tubular member;
a second flexible tubular member having a second wall defining a second passage extending between first and second ends of the second flexible tubular member along a second axis, the second axis extending between the first and the second ends along a length of the second flexible tubular member, the second flexible tubular member is separate from the first flexible tubular member, the first and the second flexible tubular members configured to be arranged such that the first axis and the second axis extend generally parallel to one another; and
a suture member coupling the first tubular member and the second tubular member together, the suture member passing through the first wall and the first passage and the second wall and the second passage a plurality of times to form a first adjustable loop and a second adjustable loop, the suture member extending along at least a portion of the length of the first flexible tubular member along the first axis, the suture also extending along at least a portion of the length of the flexible second tubular member along the second axis, the suture member extending from the first flexible tubular member to the second flexible tubular member and back to the first flexible tubular member, and then back to the second flexible tubular member.
20. The anchor according to claim 19 , wherein the first loop couples the first end of the first tubular member and the first end of the second tubular member and the second loop couples the second end of the first tubular member and the second end of the second tubular member.
21. The anchor according to claim 19 , wherein the first flexible tubular member and the second flexible tubular member are configured to directly engage each other and deform to form an anchoring mass upon tensioning the suture member.
22. The anchor according to claim 19 , wherein the first flexible tubular member extends substantially parallel to the second flexible tubular member in an untensioned state.
23. The anchor according to claim 19 , wherein the first flexible tubular member and the second flexible tubular member are each formed of a braided suture construct.
24. The anchor according to claim 19 , wherein the suture member passes through a first aperture in the first wall of the first flexible tubular member along a first portion of the first passage and exits out a second aperture in the first wall of the first flexible tubular member, passes through a first aperture in the second wall of the second flexible tubular member, extends along a first portion of the second passage, and exits out a second aperture in the second wall of the second flexible tubular member, and enters a third aperture in the first wall of the first flexible tubular member to form the first loop.
25. The anchor according to claim 24 , wherein the suture member passes through a second portion of the first passage and exits out a fourth aperture in the first wall of the first flexible tubular member, passes through a third aperture in the second wall of the second flexible tubular member, passes along a second portion of the second passage, and exits out a fourth aperture in the second wall of the second flexible tubular member, passes through a fifth aperture in the first wall of the first flexible tubular member, and extends along a third portion of the first passage, and exits out a sixth aperture through the first wall of the first flexible tubular member to form the second loop.
26. The anchor according to claim 19 , wherein the suture member passes through the first and second flexible tubular members a plurality of times to form a plurality of intersecting sections in the first flexible tubular member and the second flexible tubular member that are configured to be drawn toward each other upon pulling on ends of the suture member.
27. The anchor according to claim 26 , wherein the first flexible tubular member includes three intersecting sections and the second flexible tubular member includes two intersecting sections formed by the first and second loops.