Implant placement systems, devices and methods

Abstract

Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft or 'suture anchor', threaded, knotless or otherwise, by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. The simplified placement system and method of the present invention allows the surgeon to establish the graft position and, while maintaining that position, secure the anchor without changing the suture tension or causing a shift in the graft position and furthermore, when the anchor is threaded, without spinning of the suture. In certain preferred embodiments, the distal end of the device includes a resiliently deformable polymeric distal element, optionally including a 'split' suture-capturing loop, that allows for the retention of multiple sutures. In other embodiments, the distal end may further include a depth or penetration-limiting element formed of a suitable metallic or polymeric material that serves to prevent the distal end of the device from excessively penetrating, damaging or tearing a tissue graft of interest.