Paragraph Number

116

Referring to FIG. 32, a lateral tunnel 400 has been formed into a humerus 402. First and second medial tunnels 404, 406 have been formed into the humerus 402. The medial tunnels 404, 406 are spaced apart at the surface of the bone near the rotator cuff 408 and the medial tunnels 404, 406 intersect the lateral tunnel 400 inside the humerus 402. First and second suture shuttles 410, 412 are inserted into the medial tunnels 404, 406 and exit the bone through the lateral tunnel 400. The sutures are unwound from the suture keeper and the first pair of suture strands 310, 311 is engaged with the first suture shuttle 410 and the second pair of suture strands 320, 321 is engaged with the second suture shuttle 412. By utilizing the suture keeper 300 to manage the sutures, the various strands of sutures may be easily isolated to prevent tangling and to facilitate independent manipulation of a desired suture strand. The tube 370 may be positioned within a surgical portal (not shown) and acts to confine the suture strands to prevent them from entangling one another and/or instruments and other items passed through the portal.

Added by DJM 9 2021