Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus comprising a suture anchor inserter, said suture anchor inserter including an outer tube and an inner tube, said inner tube being at least partially disposed in said outer tube and being slidable relative to said outer tube, said inner tube having surface means for defining a central channel, a thin elongated member at least partially disposed in said central channel, said thin elongated member having an end portion adapted to be disposed in engagement with body tissue, a suture at least partially disposed in said central channel, and an anchor, said anchor having surface means for defining a passage through which said thin elongated member and said suture extend, said anchor being movable along said thin elongated member from a first position in which said anchor is at least partially disposed within said outer tube to a second position in which said anchor is outside of said outer tube and is disposed in engagement with body tissue, said suture and said thin elongated member being disposed in said passage in said anchor throughout movement of said anchor from the first position to the second position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus comprising a suture anchor inserter, said suture anchor inserter including an outer tube and an inner tube, said inner tube being at least partially disposed in said outer tube and being slidable relative to said outer tube, said inner tube having surface means for defining a central channel, a thin elongated member at least partially disposed in said central channel, said thin elongated member having an end portion adapted to be disposed in engagement with body tissue, a suture at least partially disposed in said central channel, and an anchor, said anchor having surface means for defining a passage through which said thin elongated member and said suture extend, said anchor being movable along said thin elongated member from a first position in which said anchor is at least partially disposed within said outer tube to a second position in which said anchor is outside of said outer tube and is disposed in engagement with body tissue, said suture and said thin elongated member being disposed in said passage in said anchor throughout movement of said anchor from the first position to the second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inner tube has surface means for applying force against said anchor to move said anchor from the first position to the second position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said outer tube includes surface means for engaging the body tissue to retain said outer tube against movement relative to the body tissue during movement of said anchor from the first position to the second position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
99 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said outer tube has inner side surface means for defining a channel in which said inner tube is received, said inner tube having outer side surface means for engaging said inner side surface means on said outer tube to guide movement of said inner tube relative to said outer tube, a portion of said suture being disposed between said inner side surface means on said outer tube and said outer side surface means on said inner tube during movement of said anchor from the first position to the second position.