| abstract |
An apparatus and method for repairing severed or unattached soft tissue of the body, such as tendons, typically includes an anchor for engaging the soft tissue and a securement mechanism designed to securely attach the anchor to the soft tissue and to abut the soft tissue against a surface. The surface may be second soft tissue, a bone, or the like. The anchor may be formed as a plate and may include a plurality of apertures formed therein. Selected apertures of the plurality of apertures formed in the anchor may be configured to receive sutures therethrough. Other apertures of the plurality of apertures formed in the anchor may be configured to permit synovial fluid to contact the soft tissue below the anchor. The anchor may also include a plurality of teeth extending generally away from one surface of the anchor in a transverse direction and configured to penetrate soft tissue. Such teeth are typically configured to substantially restrict longitudinal movement between the anchor and the soft tissue. A soft tissue repair may also include a second anchor to be secured to a second soft tissue for abutting the second soft tissue substantially against the soft tissue secured by the first anchor. |