Method and apparatus for anchoring surgical ties to bone

Abstract

An elongated anchor and an attached surgical tie are secured to a bone region for use in suturing ligaments, tendons, and the like to the bone. First, an entry hole of predetermined size is drilled in the bone, extending through the cortical layer into the cancellous layer. The hollow shaft of a disposable installation tool is inserted into the entry hole. The shaft has a distal end attached to an apertured deflecting nose, which preferably includes an rounded formation of resilient fingers. The tool houses an elongated anchor with a pair of sides closely interconnected by a bridge, where the sides together define an anchor body having a relatively small cross-section and a pair of opposing ends. The tool also houses a continuous tie that passes around the bridge. A plunger is slidably advanced down the tool's hollow shaft, advancing the anchor lengthwise through the tool shaft and nose into the cancellous layer of bone. Tightening the tie pulls a rounded end of the anchor against the deflecting nose; by tightening the tie even more, the anchor is rotated against the rounded deflecting nose until the anchor body is at angle to the entry hole. Further tightening of the tie pulls the anchor body firmly against the cortical layer, such that the anchor body spans the entry hole and locks the anchor in place.