Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A ligament anchor for fastening an artificial ligament in a bone, said anchor comprising an anchoring sleeve for insertion in a bone opening, said sleeve having a conical inner surface defining a bore extending therethrough; and a radially deformable clamp sleeve for insertion within said bore of said anchoring sleeve, said clamp sleeve having a conical outer surface for frictionally engaging with said conical inner surface of said anchoring sleeve and an inner surface having a plurality of inwardly facing saw tooth segments for engaging with a ligament passing through said clamp sleeve, each said segment having a plurality of teeth for engaging in a received ligament with each tooth having a steep flank directed towards an enlarged end of said clamp sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A ligament anchor for fastening an artificial ligament in a bone, said anchor comprising an anchoring sleeve for insertion in a bone opening, said sleeve having a conical inner surface defining a bore extending therethrough; and a radially deformable clamp sleeve for insertion within said bore of said anchoring sleeve, said clamp sleeve having a conical outer surface for frictionally engaging with said conical inner surface of said anchoring sleeve and an inner surface having a plurality of inwardly facing saw tooth segments for engaging with a ligament passing through said clamp sleeve, each said segment having a plurality of teeth for engaging in a received ligament with each tooth having a steep flank directed towards an enlarged end of said clamp sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said segments are circumferentially spaced about said clamp sleeve and said teeth define segments of an internal screwthread.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 1 where each said surface is disposed on an angle of taper of the order of magnitude of 10° and is roughened to effect a self-locking fit with the other surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamp sleeve has a conically tapered entry at a smaller end for passage of a ligament therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said anchoring sleeve has a plurality of longitudinal ribs on a conical outer surface thereof for penetrating into a bone to prevent rotation of said anchoring sleeve therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said anchoring sleeve has an enlarged end having a bevel and wherein said clamp sleeve is of a longitudinal length to extend completely within said bevelled anchoring sleeve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
120 words
A ligament anchor comprising an anchoring sleeve for insertion in a bone opening, said sleeve having a conical outer surface tapering inwardly in a first direction and a conical inner surface defining a longitudinal bore; and a radically deformable clamp sleeve for insertion within said bore of said anchoring sleeve, said clamp sleeve having a conical outer surface for frictionally engaging with said conical inner surface of said anchoring sleeve and a plurality of oppositely directed circumferentially spaced slots defining a plurality of segments and permitting said clamp sleeve to be inwardly radially deformable, each said segment having a plurality of inwardly directed teeth formed on the inner surface for engaging in a ligament passing longitudinally through said clamp sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
120 words
A ligament anchor comprising an anchoring sleeve for insertion in a bone opening, said sleeve having a conical outer surface tapering inwardly in a first direction and a conical inner surface defining a longitudinal bore; and a radically deformable clamp sleeve for insertion within said bore of said anchoring sleeve, said clamp sleeve having a conical outer surface for frictionally engaging with said conical inner surface of said anchoring sleeve and a plurality of oppositely directed circumferentially spaced slots defining a plurality of segments and permitting said clamp sleeve to be inwardly radially deformable, each said segment having a plurality of inwardly directed teeth formed on the inner surface for engaging in a ligament passing longitudinally through said clamp sleeve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 7 wherein said clamp sleeve defines a cylindrical bore for receiving a ligament therein and a conically tapered entry into said bore.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 7 wherein each said surface is disposed on an angle of taper of the order of magnitude of a 10° and is roughened to effect a self-locking fit with the other surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 7 wherein said anchoring sleeve has an enlarged end having a bevel and wherein said clamp sleeve is of a longitudinal length to extend completely within said bevelled anchoring sleeve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A ligament anchor as set forth in claim 7 wherein said anchoring sleeve has a plurality of longitudinal ribs on said outer surface for penetrating into a bone to prevent rotation of said sleeve therein.