Bone anchor insertion system for inserter connection and disconnection

Abstract

A bone anchor and bone anchor insertion system are provided that eliminate the need for a cannula, thereby enabling a smaller bone hole for inserting the bone anchor. The smaller bone hole can facilitate a shorter patient recovery time. The bone anchor includes two flexible wings extending from a base, which are statically spread apart and away from a central axis of the base, but which can bend toward or away from the central axis in response to an applied force. The bone anchor includes a push-in feature that allows an inserter to be coupled to and detached from the bone anchor. A surgeon can push the bone anchor through the coupled inserter into the bone hole, with the bone anchor held in compression by the bone hole, and then detach the inserter when the bone anchor is properly positioned, thereby eliminating the need for a cannula.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Priority claims This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 108,672, filed November 2, 2020. This U.S. Provisional Application is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this disclosure.

[0002] This application relates generally to the insertion of bone anchors. In particular, this application provides bone anchors that include impaction features that allow the bone anchor to be placed without a cannula by coupling and decoupling the bone anchor to an inserter. [Background technology]

[0003] Bone anchors are widely used in open and minimally invasive procedures to reattach tissue to bone. The bone anchor is secured to the bone, and one or more sutures attached to the bone are used to secure the tissue to the bone. The tissue can be soft tissue from anywhere in the body, such as a torn rotator cuff or a torn ligament. Typically, the first step in reattaching tissue to bone involves drilling a hole in the bone under arthroscopic guidance. A bone anchor can be inserted into the hole, and the bone anchor can be configured to self-lock within the bone hole upon deployment. After the bone anchor is secured within the bone hole, tension can be applied to one or both ends of a suture attached to the bone anchor to approximate the placement of the tissue relative to the bone. After the tissue is positioned in the desired location, the suture can be locked in place to maintain tension on the suture. One or more free ends of the suture can be trimmed under arthroscopic guidance to complete the procedure.

[0004] The size of the bone hole drilled when inserting the bone anchor corresponds in part to the patient's recovery time. Therefore, it is desirable for the bone hole to be smaller so that the patient's recovery time is shortened. However, the bone anchor must have sufficient pull-out strength so that it remains in place and allows the tissue to properly reattach to the bone. Therefore, it is desirable for the bone anchor to be small enough to be inserted into the bone hole while also having sufficient pull-out strength so that the bone anchor does not pull back through the bone hole.

[0005] One way to achieve these properties of a bone anchor is for the bone anchor to have wings constructed using a shape memory material. The shape of the bone anchor can be set to an expanded state in which the wings splay outward, but the wings can also bend inward and compress to a smaller dimension as the bone anchor translates through a hole in the bone. When the bone anchor reaches softer bone (e.g., cancellous bone), the bone anchor returns to its expanded state. When the bone anchor is in its expanded state, the wings splay outward wider than the hole in the bone, preventing the bone anchor from translating back through the hole in the bone (e.g., cortical bone).

[0006] However, typical shape memory material bone anchors must be inserted into the bone hole using an inserter with a cannula, or may be used in other ways without a push-in feature that can be used with the inserter. In instances where the inserter has a cannula, the bone anchor is positioned within the cannula so that the cannula maintains the bone anchor in a compressed state as the cannula translates through the bone hole. The bone anchor can then be deployed from the cannula to an expanded state once the desired depth within the bone is reached. However, because the bone anchor has a cannula around it, the cannula requires a larger bone hole than if the bone anchor were inserted into the bone hole by itself. The larger bone hole can contribute to a longer recovery time for the patient.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need for a bone anchor and insertion system that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present disclosure provides a new and innovative bone anchor that includes a drive feature for coupling and decoupling the bone anchor to an inserter. The present disclosure further provides a new and innovative bone anchor insertion system that allows the bone anchor to be inserted into smaller bone holes than typical bone anchor insertion systems by eliminating the need for a cannula to insert the bone anchor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In view of the technical features described in the present disclosure, and described without limitation, in a first aspect of the disclosure of the present application, which can be combined with any other aspect unless otherwise stated, a bone anchor insertion system includes an inserter and a bone anchor. The inserter includes a rod having an insertion tip. The insertion tip is wider than at least a portion of the rod. The bone anchor includes a base and two wings extending from the base. In a static state, each of the two wings is splayed out and away from a central axis of the base, and is configured to bend toward and away from the central axis. The two wings and the central axis are all in the same plane. Each wing includes a protrusion at least partially oriented toward the central axis. The bone anchor is configured such that the insertion tip is coupled to the bone anchor by the respective protrusions of the wings.

[0010] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the first aspect) unless otherwise stated, the bone anchor is configured such that bending the wings a threshold amount away from the central axis allows the insertion tip to separate from the bone anchor.

[0011] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the first or second aspect) unless otherwise stated, the contour formed by a portion of each wing, the base, and the respective protrusions of each wing has a first shape, the contour of the insertion tip has a second shape, and the first shape is the same as the second shape.

[0012] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (eg, the first to third aspects) unless otherwise stated, the base of the bone anchor includes an opening.

[0013] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the first to fourth aspects) unless otherwise stated, the bone anchor is made of a shape memory material.

[0014] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the fifth aspect) unless otherwise stated, the shape memory material is nitinol.

[0015] In a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the first to sixth aspects) unless otherwise stated, the wings are configured to bend toward the central axis so that the wings are generally parallel to the central axis.

[0016] In an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the first to seventh aspects) unless otherwise stated, the bone anchor and the insertion tip are configured such that the insertion tip can be coupled to the bone anchor by translating the insertion tip along an axis perpendicular to the central axis until the insertion tip is between two wings.

[0017] In a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the first to eighth aspects) unless otherwise stated, the bone anchor is symmetrical about a central axis.

[0018] In a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the first to ninth aspects) unless otherwise stated, the wing lengths are equal.

[0019] In an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the first to tenth aspects) unless otherwise stated, the system further includes a suture coupled to the bone anchor.

[0020] In a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the first to eleventh aspects) unless otherwise stated, the bone anchor is configured such that the hardness of the opposing surfaces of the cortical bone is sufficient to maintain the wings in a bent state toward the central axis when compared to the wings in a static state.

[0021] In a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the first to twelfth aspects) unless otherwise specified, the bone anchor is configured such that the stiffness of the opposing surfaces of the cancellous bone is sufficient to maintain the wings in a bent state toward the central axis compared to the wings in a static state.

[0022] In a fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the third to tenth and twelfth and thirteenth aspects) unless otherwise stated, a bone anchor insertion system includes an inserter, a bone anchor, and a suture. The inserter includes a rod having an insertion tip. The insertion tip is wider than at least a portion of the rod. The bone anchor includes a base and two wings extending from the base. In a static state, each of the two wings is configured to spread out and away from a central axis of the base, and to bend toward and away from the central axis. The two wings and the central axis are all in the same plane. Each wing includes a protrusion that is at least partially oriented toward the central axis. A suture is disposed through an opening in the base such that the suture is coupled to the bone anchor. The bone anchor is configured such that the insertion tip is coupled to the bone anchor by each protrusion of the wing when the wings are in a static state. Bending the wings a threshold amount away from the central axis allows the insertion tip to disengage from the bone anchor.

[0023] In a fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the first to fourteenth aspects) unless otherwise stated, the inserter and bone anchor are configured so that the bone anchor can be pushed through the inserter and into the bone canal without the use of a cannula.

[0024] In a sixteenth aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the first to fifteenth aspects) unless otherwise stated, bending the wings toward the central axis increases the strength with which the bone anchor is attached to the inserter.

[0025] In a seventeenth aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the second, sixth, ninth, tenth, and twelfth to fourteenth aspects) unless otherwise stated, a bone anchor includes a base having an opening and two wings extending from the base. The bone anchor is made of a shape memory material. The shape of each of the two wings is set to a shape that spreads away from a central axis of the base. The two wings are configured to bend toward and bend away from the central axis. The two wings and the central axis are all in the same plane. Each wing includes a protrusion that is at least partially directed toward the central axis.

[0026] In an eighteenth aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the first to seventeenth aspects) unless otherwise stated, the base of the bone anchor includes a blunt, pointed tip opposite the wing.

[0027] In a nineteenth aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the first to eighteenth aspects) unless otherwise stated, the wing portion has a length greater than that of the base portion.

[0028] In a twentieth aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect (e.g., the first to nineteenth aspects) unless otherwise stated, the wing portions may be bent toward the central axis such that any portion of the wing portions is at a shorter or equal distance from the central axis than any portion of the base. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 shows a perspective view of a bone anchor according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0030] [Figure 2] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a bone anchor according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0031] [Figure 3] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an inserter according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0032] [Figure 4] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a bone anchor insertion system including an inserter coupled to a bone anchor, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0033] [Figure 5A] 1A-1D show side views of a method of inserting a bone anchor using a bone anchor insertion system according to aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 5B] 1A-1D show side views of a method of inserting a bone anchor using a bone anchor insertion system according to aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 5C] 1A-1D show side views of a method of inserting a bone anchor using a bone anchor insertion system according to aspects of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] The present disclosure provides a new and innovative bone anchor and bone anchor insertion system that allows for a smaller bone hole for insertion of the bone anchor. The bone anchor disclosed in the present disclosure includes two wings extending from a base. The two wings are in the same plane as the central axis of the base. While the wings are statically splayed away from the central axis of the base, the wings can also bend toward the central axis in response to an applied force, or bend away from the central axis in response to an applied force. For example, when the bone anchor is forced into a bone hole narrower than the outer periphery of the splayed wings, the walls of the bone hole force the splayed wings toward the central axis of the base into a compressed state so as to fit into the bone hole. When the force becomes insufficient to maintain the wings in a compressed state (e.g., in softer bone), the wings return to their original splayed state. In one example, the bone anchor is constructed of a shape-memory material that is configured to allow the wings to splay away from the central axis of the base.

[0035] The provided bone anchor further includes a push-in feature that enables the inserter disclosed herein to be coupled to the bone anchor. The inserter includes a rod having an insertion tip. The rod may be connected to a handle. A surgeon can push the bone anchor through the coupled inserter and pass it through a hole in the bone. The push-in feature includes a protrusion on each of the two wings. The protrusion is located on the wings so that the protrusion is at least partially oriented toward the central axis of the base (e.g., the protrusion changes direction as the wings are bent). The protrusion, together with a portion of each wing and the base, forms an area that matches the shape of the insertion tip of the inserter disclosed herein. The insertion tip can be positioned within this area, with the protrusion preventing the insertion tip from being removed from the bone anchor along the central axis of the base. This enables the inserter to be coupled to the bone anchor. The bone anchor insertion system disclosed herein may also include a suture that is placed through a hole in the base of the bone anchor. Sutures are used to lock the bone anchor in place and secure the tissue to the bone.

[0036] When the wings are bent toward the central axis of the base while the bone anchor is coupled to the inserter, the wings (e.g., protrusions) apply additional force to the inserter compared to the bone anchor in a static state. For example, when the bone anchor is pushed through a hole in the bone, the wings are bent toward the central axis of the base. The additional force applied by the wings to the inserter increases the strength with which the bone anchor is coupled to the inserter. Conversely, when the wings are bent a sufficient amount away from the central axis of the base, the space between the protrusions expands sufficiently to allow the insertion tip to be removed from the bone anchor along the central axis of the base.

[0037] Thus, a surgeon can push the provided bone anchor through a bone hole (e.g., a hole in cortical bone) via the provided inserter, which keeps the wings in compression and bends them toward the central axis of the base. For example, the hardness of cortical bone is sufficient to keep the bone anchor in compression. While the bone anchor is in the bone hole, the strength of the connection between the bone anchor and the inserter increases. When the bone anchor reaches softer bone (e.g., cancellous bone), the wings expand to their static state. When the inserter is removed from the bone hole, the wings of the bone anchor are forced toward the harder bone (e.g., cortical bone), which causes the wings to bend and move away from the central axis of the base. As the wings bend and move away, the distance between the prongs increases, causing the inserter to disengage from the bone anchor.

[0038] Compared to typical bone anchor insertion systems, no cannula is required to deliver the provided bone anchor. Furthermore, no cannula is required to maintain the provided bone anchor in a compressed state. Moreover, as the surgeon pushes the bone anchor through the bone hole, the bone anchor is maintained in a compressed state by the bone hole itself. Therefore, by eliminating the need for an inserter that uses a cannula to deploy the bone anchor, smaller bone holes can be drilled, which can help contribute to shorter patient recovery times.

[0039] 1 and 2 show perspective and side views, respectively, of an exemplary bone anchor 100. The exemplary bone anchor 100 includes a base 102. The base 102 may include an aperture 104. In some embodiments, the base 102 may include a blunt, pointed tip 106. The pointed nature of the tip 106 allows the bone anchor to be 100 The tip 106 can be easily pushed through tissue and into soft bone (e.g., cancellous bone). The blunt nature of the tip 106 helps prevent accidental damage to tissue and bone.

[0040] Opposite the tip 106, two flexible wings 108A and 108B extend from the base 102. In a static state, each of the flexible wings 108A and 108B is splayed away from the central axis 112 of the base 102. The bone anchor 100 may be constructed, for example, from a shape memory material, and the shape of the flexible wings 108A and 108B may be set to splay away from the central axis 112. The flexible wings 108A and 108B can bend toward the central axis 112 in response to an applied force. For example, the flexible wings 108A and 108B can bend so that they are generally parallel to the central axis 112. The flexible wings 108A and 108B can bend away from the central axis 112 in response to an applied force, and can also be splayed away from the central axis 112. In either example, when the applied force is removed, wings 108A and 108B return to the static state shown.

[0041] The length of flexible wings 108A and 108B may be longer than base 102, as in the illustrated example. In various embodiments, the length of flexible wing 108A and the length of flexible wing 108B may be equal. In such embodiments, bone anchor 100 may be symmetrical about central axis 112. In other embodiments, the length of flexible wing 108A and the length of flexible wing 108B may not be equal. In some examples, flexible wing 108A and flexible wing 108B may extend away from central axis 112 by different amounts in a static state.

[0042] Each of wings 108A and 108B includes a protrusion 110. Although only the protrusion 110 of wing 108A is shown, this is for illustrative purposes only. As illustrated, protrusions 110 are located on wings 108A, 108B such that protrusions 110 are at least partially oriented toward central axis 112. The orientation of protrusions 110 changes as wings 108A, 108B are bent toward or away from central axis 112.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a side view of an exemplary inserter 300. The inserter 300 can be used with the bone anchor 100. The inserter 300 includes a rod 304 having an insertion tip 306. The rod 304 includes recesses 308A and 308B on either side of the rod 304. The recesses 308A and 308B are located near the insertion tip 306. The recesses 308A and 308B cause the width of the insertion tip 306 to be wider than the width of at least a portion of the rod 304 immediately adjacent to the insertion tip 306. The insertion tip 306 begins to protrude from at least a portion of the rod 304, allowing the insertion tip 306 to be coupled to the exemplary bone anchor 100, as will be described further below. The exemplary inserter 300 can include a handle 302 that is removably or fixedly connected to the rod 304.

[0044] 4 shows a side view of an exemplary bone anchor insertion system 400. The bone anchor insertion system 400 includes an exemplary inserter 300 and an exemplary bone anchor 100. The bone anchor 100 includes a push-in feature that allows a surgeon to couple the inserter 300 to the bone anchor 100 and push the bone anchor 100 through a hole in the bone. The surgeon can also use the push-in feature to separate the inserter 300 from the bone anchor 100.

[0045] An enlarged view of the impaction feature is shown in Figure 4 to better illustrate how the inserter 300 is coupled to the bone anchor 100. The contour formed by the protrusion 110, a portion of each flexible wing 108A, 108B, and the base 102 of the bone anchor 100 matches the contour of the insertion tip 306 so that the shape of the insertion tip 306 fits within the space formed by the contour of the bone anchor 100. The protrusion 110 secures the insertion tip 306 within this space and prevents the insertion tip 306 from translating along the central axis 112 away from the bone anchor 100, thereby coupling the inserter 300 to the bone anchor 100.

[0046] To position the insertion tip 306 within the space defined by the shape of the bone anchor 100, the insertion tip 306 is translated along the central axis 112 until it snaps into place. In other words, the flexible wings 108A, 108B further spread apart away from the central axis 112 to allow the insertion tip 306 to pass between the protrusions 110, and then return to their static state. Alternatively, the insertion tip 306 can be slid into the space from the side (e.g., perpendicular to the central axis 112). As the flexible wings 108A, 108B bend away from the central axis 112, the distance between the protrusions 110 increases. Once this distance exceeds the width of the insertion tip 306, the protrusions 110 no longer prevent the insertion tip 306 from translating along the central axis 112, allowing the inserter 300 to separate from the bone anchor 100.

[0047] The bone anchor insertion system 400 may further include a suture. The suture may be placed through the opening 104 in the bone anchor 100 and attached to the bone anchor 100. The suture may also be attached to the inserter 300 during insertion of the bone anchor 100. Once the bone anchor 100 is inserted, the suture may be removed from the inserter 300 and used in conjunction with the bone anchor 100 to secure tissue to the bone.

[0048] 5A-5C illustrate side views of an exemplary process for inserting a bone anchor 100 using an inserter 300. While a suture is not shown, it can be threaded through the opening 104 and attached to the bone anchor 100. The exemplary process 500 in FIG. 5A shows the inserter 300 coupled to the bone anchor 100 as the surgeon pushes the bone anchor 100 in the direction of arrow 504 through a bone hole 502. The bone hole 502 may be formed by drilling into the cortical bone. In some instances, the bone hole 502 may extend into the cancellous bone. In other instances, the bone hole 502 is formed only in the cortical bone. In other such instances, the bone anchor 100 may be driven into the cancellous bone. While a gap is shown between the wall of the bone hole 502 and the bone anchor 100, this is for clarity only. When the surgeon pushes bone anchor 100 through bone hole 502, the outer surface of bone anchor 100 abuts the walls of bone hole 502, causing flexible wings 108A and 108B to collapse, i.e., bend, toward central axis 112, as shown. The stiffness of cortical bone is sufficient to create a reaction force that keeps flexible wings 108A and 108B in their collapsed, or compressed, state.

[0049] In some instances, such as the illustrated example, after the surgeon drives bone anchor 100 into softer bone, such as cancellous bone, the stiffness of the cancellous bone is insufficient to generate such a reaction force. Therefore, flexible wings 108A and 108B expand into the cancellous bone, away from central axis 112, to return to the static state shown in exemplary process 510 of FIG. 5B . At this stage, insertion tip 306 is still coupled to bone anchor 100 by prongs 110. In other instances, softer bone, such as cancellous bone, is stiff enough to generate a reaction force that maintains flexible wings 108A and 108B in compression, i.e., a stiffness that at least prevents flexible wings 108A and 108B from fully returning to the static state. In such other instances, flexible wings 108A and 108B are at least partially compressed toward each other at this stage of the exemplary process (e.g., the process of FIG. 5B ).

[0050] 5C illustrates an exemplary process 520 in which the surgeon withdraws the inserter 300 from the bone hole 502 in the direction of arrow 522. Because the bone anchor 100 remains coupled to the inserter 300, as the surgeon translates the inserter 300 in the direction of arrow 522, the base 102 of the bone anchor 100 moves with the inserter 300. However, the cortical bone prevents the flexible wings 108A and 108B from translating in the direction of arrow 522. Furthermore, the cortical bone causes the flexible wings 108A and 108B to spread or bend away from the central axis 112. When the flexible wings 108A and 108B spread or bend apart a sufficient amount, the distance between the prongs 110 becomes large enough to allow the insertion tip 306 to pass through. This separates the inserter 300 from the bone anchor 100. Tensioning of the suture can then be applied to secure the bone anchor 100 in this position. Removal of the inserter 300 causes the flexible wings 108A and 108B to spread or bend away from the central axis 112 and release the inserter 300, regardless of whether the softer bone (e.g., cancellous bone) is soft enough to allow the flexible wings 108A and 108B to bend away from one another. For example, removing the inserter 300 in the direction of arrow 522 causes the flexible wings 108A and 108B to bend away from one another. each other This can cause the wings to separate and the inserter 300 to be released, all in one motion.

[0051] Thus, the bone anchor insertion system disclosed in the present disclosure allows for smaller bone holes compared to typical bone anchor insertion systems by eliminating the need for a cannula to deliver the bone anchor. Unlike a cannula, the bone anchor insertion system disclosed in the present disclosure includes a bone anchor with a push-in feature that allows a surgeon to couple an inserter to the bone anchor and use the inserter to push the bone anchor through the bone hole, thereby maintaining the bone anchor in a collapsed or compressed state (e.g., FIG. 5A). Additionally, the push-in feature allows the surgeon to separate the inserter from the bone anchor (e.g., FIG. 5C).

[0052] Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can use the preceding description to make full use of the claimed invention. The examples and embodiments disclosed herein should be construed as merely illustrative and in no way limit the scope of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes can be made to the details of the above-described examples without departing from the basic principles described. In other words, various modifications and improvements of the examples specifically disclosed in the above description are within the scope of the appended claims. For example, any suitable combination of features of the various examples described is contemplated.

Claims

1. an inserter including a rod having an insertion tip, the insertion tip being wider than at least a portion of the rod; A bone anchor, base, and two wings extending from the base, each of the two wings in a static state splaying away from a central axis of the base, the two wings configured to bend toward and away from the central axis, the two wings, the base, and the central axis all lying in the same plane, and each wing including a protrusion at least partially directed toward the central axis; and a bone anchor including Equipped with the bone anchor is configured such that the protrusions on each of the wings couple the insertion tip to the bone anchor; Bone anchor insertion system.

2. 2. The bone anchor insertion system of claim 1, wherein the bone anchor is configured such that bending the wings a threshold amount away from the central axis allows the insertion tip to separate from the bone anchor.

3. 2. The bone anchor insertion system of claim 1, wherein a contour formed by a portion of each wing, the base, and the protrusion of each wing has a first shape, and a contour of the insertion tip has a second shape, and the first shape is the same as the second shape.

4. The bone anchor insertion system of claim 1 , wherein the base of the bone anchor includes an opening.

5. The bone anchor insertion system of claim 1 , wherein the bone anchor is constructed from a shape memory material.

6. The bone anchor insertion system of claim 5 , wherein the shape memory material is nitinol.

7. The bone anchor insertion system of claim 1 , wherein the wings are configured to bend toward the central axis so that the wings are generally parallel to the central axis.

8. 2. The bone anchor insertion system of claim 1, wherein the bone anchor and the insertion tip are configured such that the insertion tip can be coupled to the bone anchor by translating the insertion tip along an axis perpendicular to the central axis until the insertion tip is between the two wings.

9. The bone anchor insertion system of claim 1 , wherein the bone anchor is symmetrical about the central axis.

10. The bone anchor insertion system of claim 1 , wherein the wings are equal in length.

11. The bone anchor insertion system of claim 1 , further comprising a suture coupled to the bone anchor.

12. 2. The bone anchor insertion system of claim 1, wherein the bone anchor is configured such that the stiffness of opposing surfaces of cortical bone is sufficient to maintain the wings in a bent state toward the central axis when compared to the wings in a static state.

13. 2. The bone anchor insertion system of claim 1, wherein the bone anchor is configured such that the stiffness of opposing surfaces of cancellous bone is sufficient to maintain the wings in a bent state toward the central axis when compared to the wings in a static state.

14. an inserter including a rod having an insertion tip, the insertion tip being wider than at least a portion of the rod; A bone anchor, a base having an opening; and two wings extending from the base, each of the two wings in a static state splaying away from a central axis of the base, the two wings configured to bend toward and away from the central axis, the two wings, the base, and the central axis all lying in the same plane, and each wing including a protrusion at least partially directed toward the central axis; a bone anchor comprising: a suture placed through the opening in the base such that the suture is coupled to the bone anchor; and Equipped with the bone anchor is configured such that the protrusions on each of the wings couple the insertion tip to the bone anchor when the wings are in a static state; bending the wings a threshold amount away from the central axis allows the insertion tip to disengage from the bone anchor; Bone anchor insertion system.

15. The bone anchor insertion system of claim 14 , wherein the inserter and the bone anchor are configured such that the bone anchor can be pushed through the inserter and into the bone canal without the use of a cannula.

16. 15. The bone anchor insertion system of claim 14, wherein bending the wings toward the central axis increases the strength of the connection of the bone anchor to the inserter.

17. a base having an opening; two wings extending from the base; A bone anchor comprising: the bone anchor is made of a shape memory material; The shape of each of the two wings is set to a shape that spreads out and moves away from the central axis of the base, the two wings are configured to bend toward and away from the central axis; the two wings, the base, and the central axis all lie in the same plane; Each wing includes a protrusion directed at least partially toward the central axis. Bone anchor.

18. 18. The bone anchor of claim 17, wherein the base includes a blunt pointed tip opposite the wing.

19. 18. The bone anchor of claim 17, wherein the wing portions have a length greater than that of the base portion.

20. 18. The bone anchor of claim 17, wherein said wings are bendable toward said central axis such that any portion of said wings is at a shorter or equal distance from said central axis than any portion of said base.

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