Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
An anchor for securing a suture to a bone, comprising: an elongated body having a proximal region terminating in a proximal end, and a distal region with a successively narrower cross-section terminating in a distal end to facilitate insertion into a hole drilled in the bone; means, disposed in said proximal region, for engaging a driver for insertion of said anchor into the drilled hole; at least one ridge, disposed continuously about the exterior surface of said body, for engaging the bone after insertion to resist withdrawal of said anchor; and means, defined by said elongated body, for carrying a portion of the suture to hold the suture at a selected position in the bone; said means for carrying including a passage traversing said elongated body through which the portion of the suture is insertable; and said means for carrying further including a pair of grooves extending proximally from said passage to said proximal end of said elongated body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
An anchor for securing a suture to a bone, comprising: an elongated body having a proximal region terminating in a proximal end, and a distal region with a successively narrower cross-section terminating in a distal end to facilitate insertion into a hole drilled in the bone; means, disposed in said proximal region, for engaging a driver for insertion of said anchor into the drilled hole; at least one ridge, disposed continuously about the exterior surface of said body, for engaging the bone after insertion to resist withdrawal of said anchor; and means, defined by said elongated body, for carrying a portion of the suture to hold the suture at a selected position in the bone; said means for carrying including a passage traversing said elongated body through which the portion of the suture is insertable; and said means for carrying further including a pair of grooves extending proximally from said passage to said proximal end of said elongated body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The anchor of claim 1 in which said means for engaging includes means for interlocking with a corresponding element of the driver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The anchor of claim 2 in which said means for interlocking includes a force-fit established between said means for engaging and the corresponding driver element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The anchor of claim 1 in which said means for engaging includes a socket defined by said elongated body which has an opening communicating with said proximal end of said body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The anchor of claim 1 in which said elongated body is substantially cylindrical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The anchor of claim 1 in which said elongated body is substantially circular in cross-section to facilitate insertion into a round drilled hole having a lesser diameter than the outer diameter of said ridge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The anchor of claim 1 in which said distal end is substantially rounded.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The anchor of claim 1 in which said ridge includes a bone engaging surface and an inclined leading surface which extends from said bone engaging surface distally and inwardly to said elongated body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The anchor of claim 8 in which said bone engaging surface is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said elongated body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The anchor of claim 1 in which said passage is disposed between said means for engaging and said ridge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The anchor of claim 1 in which said elongated body is formed of a polymer having sufficient resiliency to enable said means for engaging to form a force-fit engagement with the driver.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The anchor of claim 11 in which said polymer is bioabsorbable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The anchor of claim 1 further including at least a second, discontinuous ridge disposed between said passage and said means for engaging.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
An anchor for fastening a suture into a hole in a bone or bone-like structure, said anchor comprising: an elongated rod-like body member having a leading end and a trailing end; at least one annular ridge substantially surrounding and forming a ring around the periphery of said body member; said annular ridge having a substantially flat outer surface; an opening through said body member adjacent said leading end; and a pair of opposed grooves in said body member extending from said opening to said trailing end.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
86 words
An anchor for fastening a suture into a hole in a bone or bone-like structure, said anchor comprising: an elongated rod-like body member having a leading end and a trailing end; at least one annular ridge substantially surrounding and forming a ring around the periphery of said body member; said annular ridge having a substantially flat outer surface; an opening through said body member adjacent said leading end; and a pair of opposed grooves in said body member extending from said opening to said trailing end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The anchor of claim 14 in which said opening is adapted to carry a portion of the suture to hold the suture at a selected position in the bone.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The anchor of claim 14 further including means, disposed in said trailing end, for engaging a driver for insertion of said anchor into the hole.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
138 words
An anchor and driver assembly comprising: an anchor member including an elongated body having a proximal region terminating in a proximal end, and a distal region with a successively narrower cross-section terminating in a distal end to facilitate insertion into a hole drilled in a bone; a driver member having a handle member and a shaft member, said shaft member having a drive element at its distal end; means, disposed in said proximal region, for releasably engaging said driver for insertion of said anchor into the drilled hole; at least one non-helical ridge, disposed about the exterior surface of said body, for engaging the bone after insertion to resist withdrawal of said anchor; and means, defined in said elongated body, for carrying a portion of a suture to hold the suture at a selected position in the bone.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
138 words
An anchor and driver assembly comprising: an anchor member including an elongated body having a proximal region terminating in a proximal end, and a distal region with a successively narrower cross-section terminating in a distal end to facilitate insertion into a hole drilled in a bone; a driver member having a handle member and a shaft member, said shaft member having a drive element at its distal end; means, disposed in said proximal region, for releasably engaging said driver for insertion of said anchor into the drilled hole; at least one non-helical ridge, disposed about the exterior surface of said body, for engaging the bone after insertion to resist withdrawal of said anchor; and means, defined in said elongated body, for carrying a portion of a suture to hold the suture at a selected position in the bone.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The assembly of claim 17 wherein said shaft member has a projecting member thereon as said drive element and said anchor member has a socket therein, said socket and said projecting member being dimensioned to allow mating assembly of said anchor member on said shaft member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The anchor of claim 18 in which said socket is narrower in cross-section along a first dimension than along another dimension.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The assembly of claim 17 wherein said driver member has suture fixation means thereon for securely retaining a different portion of the suture to assist attachment of said anchor member to said shaft member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assembly of claim 20 further comprising at least one groove on said shaft member in which the suture is positionable.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The assembly of claim 21 wherein said suture fixation means includes opposing posts and two opposed grooves are provided on said shaft member in alignment with said posts.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The assembly of claim 17 further comprising a guide member for limiting the dept insertion of the anchor member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The assembly of claim 23 wherein said guide member comprises a hollow cylinder positionable over said shaft member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The assembly of claim 23 wherein said guide member by an integral shoulder of said shaft member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The assembly of claim 17 further including a suture slidably mounted within said means for carrying.