APARATO PARA REPARACION DE TENDON O LIGAMENTO

Aparato para la reparación de tendón o ligamento, comprendiendo el aparato de: un miembro tensor alargado (376) que tiene una longitud adaptada para extenderse en el interior del tendón o ligamento; una primera ancla (390, 440) que tiene un interior con una superficie interna, dicha primera ancla (390, 440) siendo insertable en el tendón o ligamento; caracterizado en que un primer miembro retenedor (410, 442) se posiciona en el interior de dicha primera ancha (390, 440) de tal modo que las fibras de dicho tendón o ligamento se agarran con compresión entre dicho primer miembro retenedor (410, 442) y dicha superficie interna de dicha primera ancla (390, 440). Apparatus and methods for repairing damaged tendons or ligaments. Various repair apparatus include an elongate tensile member (376) and a pair of anchor structures (390, 410) connected for movement along the tensile member (376) on either side of a repair site (370, 372), such as a tear or laceration. The anchor structures may take many forms, and may include barbed, helical, and crimp-type anchors (126, 390, 840). In the preferred embodiments, at least one anchor structure (390, 410) is movable along the elongate tensile member (376) to assist with adjusting a tendon segment (356) to an appropriate repair position and the anchor structure or structures (390, 410) are then lockable onto the elongate tensile member (376) to assist with affixing the tendon at the repair position. The invention further provides tendon-to-bone repair apparatus (250) and methods employing similar concepts. Tendon retrieval devices (750) of the invention include helical members (756) for rotating into a tendon end (752) and subsequently moving the tendon to an appropriate operating position.